APN or Access Point Name is a gateway between your mobile network service provider and the public internet. Every mobile operator has a unique APN that is automatically configured on your phone as soon as you insert your SIM card. Your mobile network operator uses APN settings to connect to a secure gateway, assign an IP address to your device, and connect to the internet.
Most of the time, users don’t need to interfere with their device’s APN settings. But if your device is getting a poor network connection or slow network speeds, you can change the APN settings on any smartphone, from affordable Android smartphones to iPhones, to fix these issues. This guide explains what an APN is and how you can customize it to fix network problems on your phone.
Why is APN so important for your smartphone’s network functions?
APN is important because it simplifies the selection of IP addresses, enforces appropriate security measures, and ensures that your device complies with carrier-specific network requirements. Simply put, without the correct APN configuration, your device cannot establish a secure connection to the public internet and you cannot access mobile data.
You don’t need to change the APN settings, because most of the time your device automatically creates these settings as soon as you insert the SIM card (or enable eSIM). If you buy a carrier locked device, it is possible that you will not be able to change the APN settings on your phone.
However, if your APN settings are not locked, there may be cases where changing the APN settings can be beneficial for you. For example, if you are traveling abroad or changing your phone carrier, sometimes the correct APN settings may not be the port on your device. In this case, your device will not be able to receive mobile internet data. In such cases, you can manually enter the correct APN settings to alleviate the problem.
Understanding APN setting terminologies
When you change the APN settings on your smartphone, you will see a page with several fields. Here are some terms you need to understand:
- Name: The name of the mobile operator.
- APN: Here you enter your MNO (mobile network operator) APN address. For example, if your mobile is on T-Mobile, you will enter fast.t-mobile.com.
- Proxy: Proxy is an optional field that specifies the address of a proxy server. Usually this field is left blank. However, you can enter a custom proxy to route your mobile network through private servers.
- MMSC: Multimedia Messaging Service Center settings allow you to send MMS messages. However, this may become unnecessary in the near future as RCS messaging replaces SMS and MMS services.
- MCC and MNC: Mobile Country Code and Mobile Network Code are used together to identify a mobile network operator.
To change the APN settings on your phone, you need to find the correct APN settings. You can find your mobile carrier’s APN settings on its website.
How to change APN settings on your Android smartphone?
Now that you know how to find the APN settings for your mobile network provider, let’s see how you can change the APN settings on your Android smartphone. We are using a Samsung device, so the steps may vary slightly if you are using a non-Samsung Android smartphone.
- Launch the Settings app on your phone and open the Connections settings.
- Tap on Mobile Networks settings.
- Tap the Access Point Names setting to turn it on.
- On this page you will see your current APN settings. Tap the Add button in the upper right corner to add a custom APN.
- Enter custom APN settings and use the three-dot menu in the upper right corner to save changes.
How to change APN settings on iPhone?
If your mobile carrier allows it, you can change the APN settings on your iPhone using the steps below.
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Cellular.
- Tap Cellular Data Network and enter the APN settings.
APN settings on older iPhones Settings > Mobile > Mobile Data Network or Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options > Mobile Data Network You can find it by going to the section.
If your device does not show the APN settings by following these paths, contact your network provider.
Enjoy fast mobile data speeds and troubleshoot network issues
APN is a necessary feature that allows your smartphone to connect to the public internet. Most of the time it works without problems and you don’t need to pay attention to it. However, if you are experiencing connection issues and slow internet speed, it might be worth checking out.
We hope this guide will help you understand APN.