At the most important information for connecting to the cellular network, the APN can be set or changed manually. Here’s how to do it
If you’ve got an Android smartphone, you may have found that the operating system asks you to choose the APN, i.e. the Access Point Name, in order to use the normal functions of the phone, such as surfing the Internet, sending a text message or even connecting to the cellular phone network.
If you’ve just changed the SIM, if you’ve switched to a phone provider that’s recently on the market or if you have a modded ROM, on the other hand, it’s very likely that it asked you. But what is an APN, how do you change it, and why should you feel the need to do so? Let’s take a look at it in detail.
What is an APN
Let’s start with the basics: an APN is all the information Android needs to connect your smartphone to your carrier. And, consequently, to manage your calls, SMS, and Internet browsing from mobile. Most Android smartphones come out of the factory with a list of APNs already in memory, so when they are turned on for the first time they are able to find and recognize the networks of the major operators and to choose autonomously the one associated with your phone SIM. The next time you start it will continue to use that APN to connect to the network of the phone company. Everything will be totally transparent to you.
How to add or change an APN
It may happen, however, that you need to change the APN because you have changed operator and the smartphone refuses to “hook” it on its own, or to add a completely new APN. For example, if you buy a SIM from an operator that has just arrived on the market, and therefore has a newer APN than your smartphone.
To change the APN you have to open the Android Settings and search for Cellular Networks. In this setting you have to tap on Access Point Names. If your phone is already connected to the right APN for your SIM card, you won’t have to do anything else: it will already be selected. If you don’t see the APN of your carrier you’ll have to add it manually by tapping on the “+” button in the upper right corner (you may also find the Add APN or New APN button). At this point you can manually enter the name and details of the APN of the operator connected to your SIM. Each operator provides them along with the SIM card, usually found in the contract or in the paper that accompanies the plastic card that contains the SIM. When you have entered all the data, tap Save.
If everything went well, then your smartphone will be able to connect to the mobile network of the operator and you can immediately use your smartphone to call, surf and send messages. If the procedure doesn’t work, make sure you’re in a place where your carrier has good coverage before calling for assistance. Finally, this procedure is often performed when you install a modified ROM on your Android smartphone: it happens, in fact, that the developers of the modded ROM do not load any APN into the ROM, leaving you the burden of setting it manually.