Set up mobile data on your new phone

Most phones we sell are global models. Your SIM usually configures them on its own. If calls work but data, hotspot or picture messages don’t, the fix is one setting called the APN. Two minutes.

Check these first

  1. Wi‑Fi off. Turn the phone fully off and on again with the SIM in.
  2. Airplane mode on for ten seconds, then off.
  3. iPhone only: Settings › General › About. Wait 30 seconds. If a Carrier Settings Update appears, tap Update.

Still no data? Pick your phone below.

Change the APN

  1. Open Settings and search for Access Point Names. It lives under Connections or Network & internet › Mobile network.
  2. If your carrier is already listed, tap it and check the APN matches the value below. If the list is empty, tap + or Add.
  3. Enter your carrier as the Name and the value from the list below as the APN. Leave every other field alone.
  4. Tap ⋮ › Save, then select the new APN so its dot is filled.
  5. Restart. Test with Wi‑Fi off.

Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus, Sony, Xiaomi, Oppo and Motorola word the menus slightly differently. Searching “APN” inside Settings always finds it.

  1. Open Settings › Cellular (or Mobile Service) › Cellular Data Network.
  2. If you see Use Carrier Settings, turn it on. Done.
  3. If you see empty fields instead, type the value from the list below into the Cellular Data APN field. Leave username and password blank.
  4. Go back and restart the iPhone.
No Cellular Data Network menu? Your carrier locks the APN and sets it automatically. Use Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset › Reset Network Settings, then restart. Apple’s own guide is here.

Your carrier’s APN

Type it exactly as shown, all lower case. The guide link has picture-message (MMS) details if you need them.

Rogersltemobile.apnRogers guide
Fidoltemobile.apnFido guide
Chatrchatrweb.apnChatr guide
Bellpda.bell.caBell guide
Virgin Pluspda.bell.caVirgin Plus support
Lucky MobileconnectLucky Mobile guide
TELUSsp.telus.comTELUS guide
Koodosp.koodo.comKoodo guide
Public Mobilesp.mb.comPublic Mobile guide
Freedom Mobileinternet.freedommobile.caFreedom guide
Videotronmedia.videotronVideotron support
SaskTelinet.stm.sk.caSaskTel support
Eastlinkwisp.mobi.eastlink.caEastlink support
T‑Mobilefast.t-mobile.comT‑Mobile guide
AT&TENHANCEDPHONEAT&T guide
VerizonvzwinternetVerizon support
Metro by T‑Mobilefast.metropcs.comMetro support
Mint MobileWholesaleMint guide
Cricket WirelessndoCricket guide
VisiblevzwinternetVisible guide
Google Fih2g2Google Fi help
Boost MobileSee guideBoost support

AT&T: 5G phones use ENHANCEDPHONE, LTE-only phones use NXTGENPHONE. Carriers change these occasionally. If a value here doesn’t work, their guide is the final word.

Data works, calls don’t?

That isn’t the APN.

Calls on modern networks use VoLTE, and some carriers only switch it on for phone models they’ve approved.

Turn VoLTE on

Android: search “VoLTE” in Settings. iPhone: Cellular › Cellular Data Options › Voice & Data › LTE.

Canada

Global models generally work on Rogers, Bell, TELUS and their sub-brands.

United States

T‑Mobile and its sub-brands are the most open to global phones. AT&T and Verizon may block calling on unapproved models even when data works. Check your IMEI on the carrier’s “bring your own phone” page before you switch.

Carrier not listed, or still stuck?

Tell us your phone model, your carrier, and what isn’t working: data, hotspot, picture messages or calls. Include your order number if you have it. We’ll send the exact settings.

Email support