Can’t get iMessages on ipad
Send and receive won’t let phone number be used for imessages
iPad, iPadOS 13
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Do you have an iPhone - or just an iPad?
An iPad, whether a Cellular model or not, is not capable of directly accessing Cellular Voice or SMS/MMS Messaging features. An iPad with either WiFi or Cellular connectivity alone can only access IP-data services.
For WiFi & Cellular models of iPad, with an active Cellular contract, the associated “phone number” is simply used to identify the account for billing purposes.
However, If paired with an iPhone, the capabilities of iPad significantly broaden to include access to Cellular Voice and Messaging services of the associated iPhone - relayed to the iPad over WiFi using Apple’s continuity features.
More information about Continuity and the relevant Cellular services can be found here:
Continuity
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204681
SMS/MMS Messaging
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208386
WiFi Calling