iPad "Mobile Data Number" shows as "Unknown": Why?

As per the title, I have three new-ish iPads (two M4 Pro's, one Mini 7), and they all have pre-paid eSIMS in them from UK network Three – the "24 Gigs for 24-months" physical pSIMS you can buy online, that I had to call customer services, who then converted them all to eSIMS a couple of months ago (as the iPads only have eSIMS now).


I noticed that whilst data works fine on each iPad, annoyingly I cannot see the data eSIM's actual number in the settings where it used to show with previous identical pSIMS — under: General > About > Mobile Data Number it simply says "Unknown".


While I know this is nothing to do with messages and related features which are pushed from my iPhone, it's still really annoying when I do something like phone Three's customer services or similar reasons like wanting to check my data allowance left, and cannot simply check the data phone number in this section anymore, because it's simply not there.


I first phoned Three a couple of times (who were clueless!) and they didn't have any ideas on why it was showing "Unknown" (my Network Provider above this section shows "Three 63.0" if that's pertinent here?).


Is there any way to get the number to show anymore? If not is there some reason for it to not show?




Posted on May 20, 2025 7:01 AM

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May 20, 2025 9:33 PM in response to photeks

Re: "iPad "Mobile Data Number" shows as "Unknown": Why?

Is there any way to get the number to show anymore? If not is there some reason for it to not show? "


Thank you for your post to the community. Sorry I don't have precise answers for you.

For clues: there is a wealth of info. available:


Eg: There's an article online discussing this issue; perhaps that may be the most helpful.

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/66454/cellular-data-number-is-unknown-on-some-ipads


Eg Seems to say that if your plan is data only ... it won't have a number and "Unknown" will show


Else:

There may be some small detail (eg: during set-up / converting to eSIM / in settings ) that has been overlooked:

Apple support's article: About eSIM on iPad - Apple Support


Website: iPad + Cellular - Apple

one of their links: Set up cellular data service on your iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular model - Apple Support

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May 21, 2025 8:03 AM in response to brbo

None of those links or info are relevant.


Also, no, data sims always should show a number (whether pSIMS or eSIMS), as all SIMs need a phone number to connect to a carriers data network.


Anyone have some properly valid info on this issue?


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May 22, 2025 6:04 AM in response to brbo

Well it would help if the links/info contained the answer or otherwise lead to it, but I'm afraid they're not relevant to my question at all.


For example, here's a useful screenshot of the issue, so you can get a clearer idea of what the issue is:




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iPad "Mobile Data Number" shows as "Unknown": Why?

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