An Access Point Name (APN) is a way of establishing a connection between the carrier’s network and your phone. It is the name of the gateway, that too, between a 3G, 4G, GSM, GPRS mobile network and another computer network.
In this article, we have listed below everything you need to know about the right way to set an APN on your phone and which type is best for you.
Setting an APN on your Phone
An APN can be easily set up on your phone. The settings are changed mostly to avoid the excessive overhead charges of using mobile data. So, switching from one APN to another can be quite beneficial. Here’s how to do it:
APN On iOS Devices
For all Apple users, here’s how you can change or create an APN on all of your devices, including iPads. You must go to Settings. From here, you can find the settings in either the Mobile Data tab or the Cellular Data tab.
The location can be different for users who have different iOS software. Once you find the AON settings, you can click on the tab and enter the information provided by the cellular network. This should save automatically.
APN On Android Devices
For Android, you will need to go to the Mobile Data settings and click the Access Point Name tab. You might see a plus sign at the bottom or top corner. By clicking it, you can add APNs and the respective info, and then you will need to save it; otherwise, the information will be wiped out, and you’ll need to start over.
Types of APNs
These are the 4 main types of APN settings available for smartphone users. There are some outdated types, like dun (dial-up network) and HIPRI, but these are not supported by smartphone software anymore. It is hard to say that one singular type of APN is best for you to use.
Generic/ Default
This APN type covers all data connections and is responsible for saving the location server.
MMS
If you are an MMS sender, you must configure the MMSC, Proxy, and port settings when saving an APN. This APN type will ensure that an MMS server is detected whenever you send an MMS.
SUPL
This is short for secure user plane location. This type provides a connection with the location server given by the operator's network.
FOTA
Firmware Over The Air (FOTA) is used to establish a network for updating firmware on the device since firmware requires separate connections for proper updating.
All 4 of these are used, either in combination or to serve a specific purpose, and you can easily change the preference in the device settings whenever you wish to use another type.
An APN is auto-detected so that it can be visible to your phone at most times, but if it isn’t, for some reason, you can easily click a few buttons and get a network connection from the carrier, according to your preferred type.
