If your iPad Pro keeps dropping its cellular signal for no clear reason, you’re not alone. Whether it happens randomly or consistently in certain areas, losing signal can be frustrating—especially if you rely on your iPad for data on the go. This guide walks you through all the possible fixes, from quick settings tweaks to more advanced troubleshooting.
Check Your Location First
Before diving into technical fixes, make sure you’re in an area with good cellular coverage. If you’re in a dead zone—like a basement, rural area, or elevator—your iPad will naturally struggle to maintain signal.
1. Restart Your iPad Pro
A quick reboot can fix temporary glitches that mess with your iPad’s connection to your carrier.
Here’s how to restart your iPad Pro:
- Press and hold the Top button and either Volume button until the power slider shows up.
- Drag the slider to turn off your iPad.
- After 30 seconds, press and hold the Top button again until you see the Apple logo.
Let it boot up and check if the signal is back to normal.
2. Remove and Reinsert the SIM Card
A loose or slightly misaligned SIM card can lead to dropped connections.
To safely reseat your SIM card:
- Power off your iPad completely.
- Use a SIM ejector tool (or a paperclip) to open the SIM tray on the lower-right edge.
- Take out the SIM card and inspect it for damage or moisture.
- Reinsert the SIM carefully in the same orientation, then push the tray back in until it clicks.
- Turn your iPad back on and see if the signal stabilizes.
3. Toggle Airplane Mode
This trick resets your device’s network radios and often clears up weird connection issues.
To do it:
- Go to Settings > Airplane Mode and toggle it on.
- Wait a few seconds, then restart your iPad while Airplane Mode is still on.
- After restarting, go back and toggle Airplane Mode off.
- Wait for your device to reconnect to the cellular network.
4. Update iOS and Carrier Settings
Outdated software or carrier settings can cause network instability.
To check for updates:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- If an update is available, tap Download and Install.
To check carrier settings manually:
- Go to Settings > General > About.
- If there’s a carrier update, you’ll get a prompt to install it.
You can also update your iPad via a computer using Finder (macOS Catalina and up) or iTunes (on older macOS/Windows).
5. Reset Network Settings
If network glitches are still around, reset all cellular, Wi-Fi, and VPN settings.
Here’s how:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode and confirm.
Your device will reboot, and you’ll have to reconnect to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices afterward.
6. Reset All Settings
If signal issues started after a recent update or app install, some conflicting system settings might be to blame.
To reset all settings (without erasing data):
- Head to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset.
- Tap Reset All Settings.
- Confirm with your passcode.
This will revert all system preferences (like notifications, permissions, etc.) to their defaults.
7. Factory Reset via Computer (Last Resort)
Still no luck? A full restore might help if deep system bugs are affecting your iPad’s cellular functions.
Here’s how to factory reset via iTunes or Finder:
- Connect your iPad to your Mac or PC using a USB cable.
- Open Finder (macOS) or iTunes (Windows).
- Put your iPad in recovery mode:
- For Face ID models: press Volume Up > Volume Down > then hold the Top button until you see the recovery mode screen.
- Click Restore when prompted.
Important: Back up your iPad before doing this. A factory reset wipes everything.