When you acquire a new mobile phone, the first thing you may need to do is to define the APN settings. In most cases, these settings are pushed automatically to your phone over-the-air (OTA) by your mobile carrier. But it could happen from time to time that this fails. Hence, it is important to understand how to configure APN settings and what these are used for.
APN or Access Point Name are defined by telecom providers to design packet data networks with different specifications (speed, connectivity, limitations). A mobile operator can create multiple APNs to address multiple customer segments. Then, it will assign one or many APNs to subscribers, allowing them to switch from one APN to another.
If you are a prepaid subscriber, you usually have access to one single APN with standard settings. If this APN is not set, you simply cannot access the Internet.
APN settings are used in GSM, GPRS, 3G, and 4G mobile networks. Besides Wi-Fi, no matter the network type you connect to, you should have an APN set on your mobile phone.
As we mentioned, usually APNs are automatically configured. But if you have acquired a new smartphone, and you cannot access the Internet, you may want to double-check that your APN is set properly.
How to configure the APN settings on an iPhone or iPad?
Option 1: Obtain your APN config automatically
If your mobile operator supports it, you can try to automatically populate the APN config with iOS 15 and iPad OS 15 and above:
- First, ensure your SIM card is inserted
- On your iPhone or iPad, browse to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data.
- Under Cellular Data, select Use Carrier Settings.
If the option is not available, you may need to enter the APN settings manually. See below.
Change/Update/ Create your APN settings
If your APN details are incorrect, take note that your mobile Internet will not work. You should only edit the APN configuration if your phone fails to connect to the mobile data network.
You can find your APN config in one of the following locations on iOS:
- Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Cellular Network
- Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options > Mobile Data Network
To update these settings, tap each field and enter the details from your carrier.
If you do not know the APN details of your mobile carrier, visit these pages:
Unless you’re using a configuration profile, updating iOS resets any changes made to your APN config.
Reset your APN configuration
To restore the carrier’s default APN configuration, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Network > Reset Settings.
How to Change APN Settings on Android:
These are the steps to change the APN config on Android
- Jump to Settings-> Mobile Networks->Access Point Names
- Tap the menu button and select New APN settings
- Then click on the “Name” option and Enter whatever you like, it does not matter
- Then edit the rest of the settings based on your mobile carrier settings.
If you do not know the APN settings of your mobile carrier in Myanmar, visit these pages:
Mytel (Viettel Myanmar) APN Settings
Finally, step to the menu option and click the “Save” option. That is it, if the APN config is correct, and you do have mobile top-up or an active data package, you should have access to the Internet.
How to Change APN config on Xiaomi (MIUI 11/12/13):
These are the steps to change the APN configuration on MIUI
- Tap on Settings
- Tap on SIM cards & mobile networks
- Choose a SIM card (Dual SIM)
- Tap on Access Point Names
- Tap on New APN
- Enter the corresponding data
- Tap on More
- Tap on Save
That is it, if the APN details are properly set, and you did activate a mobile data package, you should have access to the Internet.
Herbert is a nom de plume.
I am an experienced telecom professional blogging about the fastest growing Internet market in the world: Myanmar.
