How a SIM Card Works in a Laptop

Laptops are known as portable powerhouses and come in various shapes, sizes, and performance levels. Many people also use laptops for daily work or education activities and only need them to be energy-efficient and lightweight. But regardless of what you need the laptop for, one thing is required in most cases. You want to use the Internet, right? The trouble is that Ethernet is home-bound, you don’t always have a phone or tablet nearby, and public Wi-Fi networks are generally unsafe. For that reason, the perfect solution is learning how a SIM card works in laptop.

1. SIM card works in a laptop with native support like this:

To clarify, we mean that you can take advantage of everything a SIM card does directly, without intermediaries. Also, keep in mind that Apple doesn’t make laptops with built-in SIM card support. With that said, here’s how a SIM card functions in a laptop natively:

1. Types of SIM card connectivity in laptops

When a laptop works with a SIM card, it uses one of these types of connection:

1. 3G/4G/5G WWAN

An older type of SIM card connectivity in laptops that uses WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network). This laptop must have a WWAN modem soldered onto the motherboard or plugged into the PCIe port. The reasons manufacturers nowadays steer clear are:

1. WWAN modem adds thickness compared to LTE.
2. 3G modules are the most common type, limiting speed for modern use.
3. 4G/5G modules are known to be more expensive than LTE counterparts.
4. Network coverage is limited.

2. 4G/5G LTE (FDD, TDD, UE)

This type uses an LTE model to allow laptops to read and use SIM cards. It’s thinner than a WWAN mode and easier to replace. Most modules use the M.2 or PCIe slots on the laptop’s motherboard to connect. Also, transfer speed capabilities are split into 22 categories, ranging from NB1 to Category 19 (over 1.5 Gbps at a maximum). Many modules also support other communications technologies such as GSM, UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA+, and WCDMA.

3. 4G/5G LTE eSIM

Laptops can use embedded SIM cards, which means that the MOS chip is soldered to the laptop’s motherboard. Although hard to repair and replace, they let users add or remove profiles for the cellular network without removing a SIM card.

2. How to use a SIM card in a laptop

Follow these steps to connect to the Internet on a laptop using a SIM card:

1. Insert it

The process is nearly identical to inserting a SIM card on your smartphone. Depending on the laptop’s age and model, you’ll most likely have to use a micro-SIM or nano-SIM card. Skip this step if you’re using an eSIM card.

2. Install drivers and/or software

This step is only required on older laptops, primarily those using 3G WWAN on Windows 7 operating system. The software can be based on laptop manufacturers, for example, VAIO’s WebToGo OneClick Internet, or carriers, like Orange’s Internet EveryWhere. Windows 8 and Windows 10 usually don’t need third-party software or drivers.

3. Add APN or eSIM details before connecting

Here are ways to connect to the Internet via SIM card on a Windows 10 laptop:

1. APN (Access Point Name)

To enable an LTE or WWAN SIM card on a laptop, do this:

1. Click on the Network icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar.
2. Click on the cellular network (4 signal bars) icon.
3. You should see the name of your carrier. Click on it, then click on the Connect button to establish a connection.
4. Tip. You can also put a checkmark in front of Connect automatically and Allow roaming.
5. If you get asked to “add an APN”, you must contact your carrier for the following information before clicking on Apply this profile:
   1. APN address
   2. Username
   3. Password
   4. Authentication method
   5. IP address

2. eSIM

To make your eSIM work on a Windows 10 laptop, do this:

1. Click on the Start orb and go to Settings or repeat step 1 above.
2. Click on Network & Internet.
3. Go to the Cellular tab.
4. Put a checkmark in front of Let Windows manage this connection.
5. Find the option titled Manage eSIM profiles.
6. Click on Add a new profile.
7. You can now do one of the following:
   1. Click on Search for available profiles, then Next. When it’s found, click on Download, enter a code if prompted, then Download again. Click on Continue, then Close.
   2. Select Let me enter an activation code I have from my mobile operator then Next. Scan the QR code with your laptop camera, and when it gets loaded, click Next > Download > Close.
8. Now click on the added profile, then click on Use.
9. When asked, This will use cellular data from your data plan and may incur charges. Do you want to continue? select Yes.

3. Combining both or using SIM over Wi-Fi

Here’s how to proceed in these situations:

• Using both eSIM and APN. Repeat steps 1 through 4 above. Then, click on the SIM card option you want to use over the other > Click on Use this SIM for cellular data.
• Using eSIM/APN and Wi-Fi. Getting to step 3 (Cellular) with an added Wi-Fi connection makes 2 options appear when you click on APN/eSIM connection: Always or When Wi-Fi is poor.

2. SIM card can work in a laptop without native support

Your laptop doesn’t have a SIM card tray or your WWAN/LTE modem or eSIM stopped working? Don’t fret. Here’s how to get the benefits of a SIM card on laptop without built-in support:

1. 4G dongle

The cheapest way to enable SIM card functionality. A dedicated 4G dongle resembles a memory stick or a SIM card reader, and also uses USB 2.0 or USB 3.0/3.1 connectivity. You can also get USB-C 4G dongles for modern laptops.

2. MiFi router

Mi-Fi router uses a SIM card to create a mobile hotspot, allowing you to connect your laptop to it via Wi-Fi. 4G MiFi are available since 2011, while 5G-based models hit the market in November 2019.

3. Smartphone or tablet

Inserting a SIM card into a smartphone or tablet lets you benefit from everything a SIM card is used for. Besides creating a hotspot, you can also use “USB tethering” to share the Internet connection from your smartphone/tablet to your laptop.