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iPad miniiPad mini Cellular Issues with ATT
  • Thread starter Z6128
  • Start date Sep 25, 2021
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Z6128

macrumors regular
Original poster Jun 20, 2005 240 227 New Jersey Anyone have issues activating a cellular iPad mini on their postpaid ATT account? Didn't work from Settings, kept getting error message. Called ATT and they said there's an issue with the IMEI and it says its not ATT compatible, even though it's unlocked. First ATT rep told me I needed a physical SIM and eSIM wouldn't work. Which didn't sound right to me. Went to Apple, got a SIM card and they looked at me like I had 3 heads. Still had issues and when I called again they said they can't continue past their IMEI input screen and there's nothing they could do and bring it back to Apple. Kind of annoying and I think it's ATTs problem, not Apple's. Anyone else have/had issues? rui no onna

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013 15,690 14,463 USA
Z6128 said: Anyone have issues activating a cellular iPad mini on their postpaid ATT account? Didn't work from Settings, kept getting error message. Called ATT and they said there's an issue with the IMEI and it says its not ATT compatible, even though it's unlocked. First ATT rep told me I needed a physical SIM and eSIM wouldn't work. Which didn't sound right to me. Went to Apple, got a SIM card and they looked at me like I had 3 heads. Still had issues and when I called again they said they can't continue past their IMEI input screen and there's nothing they could do and bring it back to Apple. Kind of annoying and I think it's ATTs problem, not Apple's. Anyone else have/had issues? Click to expand...
If the device is too new, it usually takes a while before they get added to AT&T's automated system. You can get around that by getting a physical SIM card from AT&T (not Apple) and activating in-store. Rafterman

Rafterman

macrumors 604
Apr 23, 2010 7,267 8,811
Z6128 said: Anyone have issues activating a cellular iPad mini on their postpaid ATT account? Didn't work from Settings, kept getting error message. Called ATT and they said there's an issue with the IMEI and it says its not ATT compatible, even though it's unlocked. First ATT rep told me I needed a physical SIM and eSIM wouldn't work. Which didn't sound right to me. Went to Apple, got a SIM card and they looked at me like I had 3 heads. Still had issues and when I called again they said they can't continue past their IMEI input screen and there's nothing they could do and bring it back to Apple. Kind of annoying and I think it's ATTs problem, not Apple's. Anyone else have/had issues? Click to expand...
Mine activated just fine with the built in app. I had to wait for a while for 5G support to activate (it was LTE only for a bit), but that could have been the network congestion from iPhone launch day. Did you try calling/chatting with a different rep? Some are better than others. Z

Z6128

macrumors regular
Original poster Jun 20, 2005 240 227 New Jersey Yeah I called yesterday when I first picked it up. Then tried again today, both said the same thing. I'm not sure if a store will give me a different answer. Spent a lot of time going back and forth the last two days trying to get it to work. Rafterman

Rafterman

macrumors 604
Apr 23, 2010 7,267 8,811 Since the IMEI is device specific and not SIM card (ICCID) specific, what AT&T told you (get a physical SIM card) made no sense. A SIM card wouldn't work any better than an eSIM would. rui no onna

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013 15,690 14,463 USA
Rafterman said: Since the IMEI is device specific and not SIM card (ICCID) specific, what AT&T told you (get a physical SIM card) made no sense. A SIM card wouldn't work any better than an eSIM would. Click to expand...
It kinda does. ATT can activate SIM cards (ICCID) separately from the device. A fake 000000000000000 IMEI works for physical SIM activation. Meanwhile, for eSIM, the system automatically gets the EID/CSN for the device based on IMEI so that fails if the device is not recognized. The IMEI should get added to ATT's system sooner or later. In the meantime though, getting a physical SIM and activating at a corporate store should do the trick. You could try using ATT's BYOD page and see if it might recognize the IMEI there. Bring Your Own Phone or Device (BYOD) to AT&T Z

Z6128

macrumors regular
Original poster Jun 20, 2005 240 227 New Jersey
rui no onna said: It kinda does. ATT can activate SIM cards (ICCID) separately from the device. A fake 000000000000000 IMEI works for physical SIM activation. Meanwhile, for eSIM, the system automatically gets the EID/CSN for the device based on IMEI so that fails if the device is not recognized. The IMEI should get added to ATT's system sooner or later. In the meantime though, getting a physical SIM and activating at a corporate store should do the trick. You could try using ATT's BYOD page and see if it might recognize the IMEI there. Bring Your Own Phone or Device (BYOD) to AT&T Click to expand...
I'll try a store tomorrow since I tried eSIM and physical SIM over the phone. When I try the eSIM online on the BYOD tool, I enter the IMEI number and the eSIM number auto-populates, but the option to continue is greyed out and won't let me proceed. rui no onna

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013 15,690 14,463 USA
Z6128 said: I'll try a store tomorrow since I tried eSIM and physical SIM over the phone. When I try the eSIM online on the BYOD tool, I enter the IMEI number and the eSIM number auto-populates, but the option to continue is greyed out and won't let me proceed. Click to expand...
Bug on ATT's webpage. Try to delete then retype the last digit of the eSIM and see if that allows you to continue. Z

Z6128

macrumors regular
Original poster Jun 20, 2005 240 227 New Jersey
rui no onna said: Bug on ATT's webpage. Try to delete then retype the last digit of the eSIM and see if that allows you to continue. Click to expand...
Tried that. Let me get to submit order and said I tried my payment too many times. Even though there was no payment. Ended up returning it to apple since no one could figure out why the IMEI wouldn’t work after trying to activate it since Friday. You must log in or register to reply here. Share: Facebook X (Twitter) Reddit Email Share Link Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads. Sign Up
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