Find SIM Card Settings for This PC in Windows 11

Check that this PC can use a SIM

Windows shows SIM settings only when it detects cellular hardware. Check this first so you do not spend time looking for a page that cannot appear.

• Look for a SIM tray. It is a small pinhole slot on the side of the laptop or tablet, or a slot under a panel or the battery cover. Check the maker’s spec sheet if you cannot find one.
• Look for the model name. Laptop names often include “LTE” or “5G” when a modem is fitted. A model without these letters often has no modem.
• Check for an eSIM. An eSIM is a SIM built into the device. You load a carrier profile onto it digitally, so there is no tray. Some PCs have only an eSIM.

A USB mobile broadband stick is different. Many sticks use their own software and appear as an ordinary network connection, so they may not show up on the Cellular page at all. Use the stick maker’s app for those.

Mobile hotspot is a different feature. It shares this PC’s internet connection with other devices, but it does not control the SIM.

Open the SIM card settings for this PC

Follow these steps to reach the SIM card settings:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Network & internet.
3. Select Cellular.

Each control on the page is described below. Insert the SIM first if you use a physical one, with the PC powered off and the card seated in the tray the right way round.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings. The Settings window opens on the System page.

   

2. Select Network & internet in the left pane. The page lists Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPN and other connection types. A Cellular row appears when Windows detects a modem.

   

3. Select Cellular. If this row is missing, go to the "Cellular is missing or greyed out" section below.
4. Check the Cellular toggle at the top. Set it to On if you want the PC to connect through the SIM. The toggle label may read On or Off beside the switch.

   

5. Find the carrier name under the toggle. It is usually the name of your mobile network, with a signal indicator. Windows lists one entry for each SIM or eSIM profile.
6. Select the carrier entry, or the SIM settings link if your device shows one. This opens the settings for that SIM.
7. Turn on Use this SIM for cellular data if the PC has more than one SIM or profile. This tells Windows which SIM to use for internet traffic.

   

8. Select Advanced options if it appears. On many devices this is where roaming, metered connection and data limit controls sit.
9. Select Connect if the PC shows your network but is not connected. Windows connects to the carrier and shows the connection status under the name.
10. Select the back arrow, or open Settings › Network & internet › Cellular again, to return to the main page. Confirm the signal bars and the status text. A connected SIM shows the status "Connected" under the network name.

Some devices show a slightly different page, or additional controls supplied by the carrier or manufacturer. If your page differs, look for the carrier name and the word SIM, because those entries always lead to the right controls.

What each SIM setting does

Your page may show some or all of the settings below. Their order and wording depend on your device, your carrier and your Windows build.

Use this SIM for cellular data

This choice matters on PCs that hold two SIMs, or one SIM plus an eSIM. Windows uses the SIM you select for internet traffic. The other SIM stays registered on its network but does not carry your data. Switch it back by selecting the other SIM and turning on the same setting.

Data roaming and metered connection

Roaming means using a network other than your carrier's own, usually abroad. It can cost a lot, so check your plan before you allow it. If your device offers roaming options, choose the one that blocks roaming unless you need it.

A metered connection tells Windows that the connection has a data cap. Windows then limits background downloads such as some updates. Windows normally treats cellular connections as metered by default. If you see a Metered connection toggle, leave it On unless you have an unlimited plan.

Data usage and data limits

Windows tracks how much data each connection uses. Open Settings › Network & internet › Data usage to see the totals, grouped by connection. Select your cellular connection if the page lists several.

If an Enter limit button is available, you can set a monthly or one-time limit. Windows shows a warning as you approach it. The limit is a guide only and does not cut off your connection, so your carrier's own usage figure is the one that counts.

SIM PIN

If your device offers a SIM PIN option, Windows asks for the code when the SIM starts. If you enter the wrong PIN too many times, the SIM locks. Your carrier can then give you a PUK (PIN unblocking key) to restore access.

Do not guess the PIN if you do not know it. Contact your carrier first.

eSIM profiles

On a PC with an eSIM, the Cellular page offers a way to add a mobile plan, which Windows describes as an eSIM profile. The carrier gives you either a QR code or an activation code. The wording differs by device, so look for an option to use an eSIM or to manage eSIM profiles.

Some carriers require their own app to complete setup. If the PC does not show eSIM options, the hardware or the carrier may not support it. Check with the PC maker.

Turn cellular on or off quickly

Windows has two faster routes than the full Settings page.

• To open Quick Settings, press Windows + A, or select the network, volume and battery icons on the taskbar. Then select the Cellular tile to switch the connection on or off. The tile appears only on PCs with a cellular modem. Select the pencil icon to add it if you removed it earlier.
• To turn off all wireless connections at once, select the Airplane mode tile in Quick Settings. This includes cellular. Select the tile again to turn them back on. Cellular does not reconnect while Airplane mode is on, even if the Cellular toggle shows On.

Cellular is missing or greyed out

If the Cellular row is absent, or the controls cannot be selected, one of the causes below applies. Check them in this order, which runs from the quickest check to the most involved.

The PC has no cellular modem

Windows shows the Cellular page only when it finds a cellular modem. Wi-Fi-only laptops never show it, whatever SIM you insert. Check the spec sheet for your model number. No setting adds a modem to a PC that lacks one.

Airplane mode is on

Open Quick Settings and check the Airplane mode tile. If it is highlighted, select it to turn Airplane mode off. Wait a few seconds for the signal strength icon to show bars again. Also check for a physical wireless switch or a function key with an airplane symbol on the keyboard.

The modem is disabled or has no driver

The modem can be switched off in Device Manager, or it can lack a working driver (the software that lets Windows talk to the hardware). You need administrator rights to turn the modem on in Device Manager. Check that your account has them before you start.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. The Device Manager window opens.
2. Expand Network adapters. Look for an entry that mentions Mobile Broadband, WWAN, LTE or 5G. The exact name depends on the modem maker.
3. Right-click the entry. If the menu shows Enable device, select it. This step needs administrator rights, and Windows asks for approval if you are not signed in as an administrator.
4. Check for a yellow warning triangle on the entry. If one appears, right-click the device, select Update driver and choose Search automatically for drivers.
5. Restart the PC and open Settings › Network & internet again. The Cellular row should now appear.

If Device Manager shows no mobile broadband entry at all, the modem may be turned off in the PC's startup settings (the BIOS or UEFI menu) or may not be fitted. Look in the manufacturer's support pages for your model. Windows Update sometimes supplies the modem driver, so check Windows Update in Settings for optional driver updates. The maker's own site is the other source.

The SIM is not detected or is locked

Power off the PC, remove the SIM and reinsert it. Make sure it sits flat in the tray and the gold contacts face the right way. Make sure the card is the right size for the slot, as a nano SIM and a micro SIM are not interchangeable.

If the PC shows a message asking for a PIN, enter your SIM PIN. If the carrier has deactivated the SIM, or the plan is not yet active, Windows may show the SIM but report no service. Contact the carrier to confirm activation.

The PC shows a SIM but will not connect

Check that your carrier supports data on this SIM. Some voice-only or phone-only plans do not allow data on a PC. Some carriers also need an access point name (APN, the address Windows uses to reach the carrier's data network).

Windows normally fills it in on its own for known carriers. If your device offers an Add an APN or similar option, use the values from your carrier's support page. Do not guess them.

Undo or reset the changes

To stop using the SIM entirely, set the Cellular toggle to Off. This does not delete the SIM or eSIM profile. Removing an eSIM profile is a separate action and may need the carrier to issue a new code, so check before you delete one.

As a last resort for connection problems, Windows offers a network reset at Settings › Network & internet › Advanced network settings › Network reset This removes and reinstalls all network adapters and returns network settings to their defaults. It also forgets saved Wi-Fi networks and VPN setups, and it needs a restart. Try the earlier fixes first.

What to do next

If the Cellular page now shows your carrier and a connected status, test it by turning off Wi-Fi and opening a web page. Set a data limit on the Data usage page so a large download does not use up your plan. If the page is still missing after the Device Manager checks, contact the PC maker with your model number and ask whether the unit has a modem or eSIM.