The iPad Mini, the iPad Air, the iPad Pro and the “fifth generation” iPad (the model with the 9.7-inch screen that Apple still sells) use the smaller nano-SIM cards, but the more recent models in those iPad lines also support Apple SIM cards. These Apple SIMs do not start out tied to a particular company, but let you select your preferred wireless carrier when you set up the iPad. The second-generation iPad Pro with the 12.9-inch screen — along with both the 10.5-inch and 9.7-inch iPad Pro models — use embedded Apple SIM, but also come with a nano-SIM tray. Once you remove the SIM card from an older iPad, you can open this tray and stick in the card to transfer your current cellular account to the embedded SIM card on the latest models.

You need to have an active data plan already associated with that nano-SIM card, though, because if you put an empty card into the nano-SIM tray, the iPad will pop up a message about incompatibility and tell you to sign up for a new plan. (To set up a new cellular account on a new iPad, go to the home screen, tap the Settings icon, select Cellular and then “Set Up Cellular Data.”)

If both iPads use the same SIM card size, fully power down both tablets, pop out the card and swap them before you turn on the iPads again. If the old iPad has a micro-SIM and the new one uses a nano-SIM, Apple suggests visiting your wireless carrier for help.