Set up the LTE or 5G connection on your Surface
Applies To
Surface Devices SurfaceSet up the LTE or 5G connection on any of these Surface devices to stay connected anywhere you go:
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On Surface Pro devices with LTE Advanced or 5G
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On Surface Go devices with LTE Advanced
If you don't know if your Surface model is LTE or 5G enabled, the easiest way to find it is in the Surface app:
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Select Start , search for surface, then select the app from the list of results.Open the Surface app
Note: If you don't see the Surface app in the list of search results, you might need to download the Surface app from Microsoft Store.
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Expand Device information and look at the value next to Surface model.
Two ways to get cellular data
For specific Surface devices with LTE Advanced or 5G, there are two ways to get cellular data:
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SIM card. Use a nano SIM card and data plan from your mobile operator. Applies to: Any Surface model that has LTE Advanced or 5G.
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eSIM. Use the embedded SIM (eSIM) along with the Mobile Plans app. In the Mobile Plans app, you might be able to add your device to your current mobile operator account or sign up with a new one. Applies to: Surface Pro X, Surface Pro (5th Gen) with LTE Advanced, Surface Pro 7+ with LTE Advanced, Surface Pro 8 with LTE Advanced, Surface Pro 9 with 5G, Surface Pro 10 with 5G for Business , Surface Pro (11th Edition) with 5G, or Surface Go 3 with LTE Advanced.
Use a SIM and data plan from your mobile operator
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Contact your mobile operator to sign up for a data plan or add to your current plan.
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Insert the SIM card into your Surface that has LTE Advanced or 5G. For more info on how to do this, go to Insert a SIM into your Surface.
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After the SIM card is inserted, select Start > Settings > Network & internet > Cellular and check to see if you're connected to a cellular network.
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For Surface devices that have both a SIM card slot and eSIM, select SIM1 from Use this SIM for cellular data to use your SIM. Learn more about your cellular data settings in Cellular settings in Windows.
Use your eSIM and the Mobile Plans app
If this is your first time using an eSIM, you need to connect to Wi-Fi and open the Mobile Plans app. For more info, see Add your Windows PC to your mobile account to get online.
Note: To add your device to a new or existing mobile account through the Mobile Plans app, you’ll need to have Windows 11 installed. To check for updates, open Windows Update in Settings, then select Check for updates. Open Windows Update
Switch between data plans
If you have both types of data plans (one from your mobile operator and one from another mobile operator through the Mobile Plans app), you can switch between them at any time.
Select Start > Settings > Network & internet > Cellular to choose a data plan. To use your mobile operator SIM card, select SIM1 for Use this SIM for cellular data. To use the data plan on your eSIM, do one of the following, depending on which Surface with LTE Advanced or 5G model you have:
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For Surface Pro with LTE Advanced (5th Gen), select SIM2 for Use the SIM for cellular data.
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For all other LTE Advanced or 5G devices, select eSIM for Use this SIM for cellular data.
To learn more about your cellular settings, see Cellular settings in Windows.
Related topics
Set up the LTE connection on any of these Surface devices to stay connected anywhere you go:
-
On Surface Pro devices with LTE Advanced
-
On Surface Go devices with LTE Advanced
If you don't know if your Surface model is LTE enabled, the easiest way to find it is in the Surface app:
-
Select Start , search for surface, then select the app from the list of results.Open the Surface app
Note: If you don't see the Surface app in the list of search results, you might need to download the Surface app from Microsoft Store.
-
Expand Device information and look at the value next to Surface model.
Two ways to get cellular data
For specific Surface devices with LTE Advanced, there are two ways to get cellular data:
-
SIM card. Use a nano SIM card and data plan from your mobile operator. Applies to: Any Surface model that has LTE Advanced.
-
eSIM. Use the embedded SIM (eSIM) along with the Mobile Plans app. In the Mobile Plans app, you might be able to add your device to your current mobile operator account or sign up with a new one. Applies to: Surface Pro X, Surface Pro (5th Gen) with LTE Advanced, Surface Pro 7+ with LTE Advanced, Surface Pro 8 with LTE Advanced, or Surface Go 3 with LTE Advanced.
Use a SIM and data plan from your mobile operator
-
Contact your mobile operator to sign up for a data plan or add to your current plan.
-
Insert the SIM card into your Surface that has LTE Advanced. For more info on how to do this, go to Insert a SIM into your Surface.
-
After the SIM card is inserted, select Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Cellular and check to see if you're connected to a cellular network.
-
For Surface devices that have both a SIM card slot and eSIM, select SIM1 from Use this SIM for cellular data to use your SIM. Learn more about your cellular data settings in Cellular settings in Windows.
Use your eSIM and the Mobile Plans app
If this is your first time using an eSIM, you need connect to Wi-Fi and open the Mobile Plans app. For more info, see Add your Windows PC to your mobile account to get online.
Note: To add your device to a new or existing mobile account through the Mobile Plans app, you’ll need to have Windows 10 (version 1803 or later) installed. To check for updates, open Windows Update in Settings, then select Check for updates. Open Windows Update
Switch between data plans
If you have both types of data plans (one from your mobile operator and one from another mobile operator through the Mobile Plans app), you can switch between them at any time. Select Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Cellular to choose a data plan. To use your mobile operator SIM card, select SIM1 for Use this SIM for cellular data. To use the data plan on your eSIM, do one of the following, depending on which Surface with LTE Advanced model you have:
-
For Surface Pro with LTE Advanced (5th Gen), select SIM2 for Use the SIM for cellular data.
-
For all other LTE advanced devices, select eSIM for Use this SIM for cellular data.
To learn more about your cellular settings, see Cellular settings in Windows.
Related topics
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