How to set up an APN on Android: a complete guide with examples for all operators

Without a properly configured access point APN (Access Point Name) your smartphone on Android will not be able to connect to the mobile data, even if the SIM card is active and the tariff supports the transfer data. This problem is especially relevant when changing operators, buying a new phone, or after resetting the settings. In 80% of cases, non-working mobile data is associated precisely with incorrect APN parameters - but most users do not even suspect their existence.

In this article you will find not only universal instructions for creating an APN on any version Android (from Android 8 Oreo to Android 15), but also unique parameters for all Russian operators (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, Tele2, Yota) taking into account the features of 4G/5G networks in 2026. We will also analyze common errors (for example, why the APN disappears after an OS update) and give recommendations for optimizing connection speed. If you encounter the problem “No Internet access” with an active network signal, this guide will help you solve it in 5 minutes.

What is an APN and why is it important for mobile data

APN (Access Point Name) is a kind of “address shortcut” that your smartphone uses to connect to the mobile operator’s gateway. Without it, the device does not know where send requests for Internet access, even if the SIM card is recognized and the network signal is stable. Think of it as DNS for mobile communications: without the correct "name", the operator's server will simply ignore your attempts to access the network.

This is what happens when the APN is configured incorrectly or is missing:

• 📵 No Internet access with an active 3G/4G/5G signal (the status line displays H+, LTE or 5G, but the pages do not load).
• ⚠️ Authentication error —the device constantly asks for a password to connect to the network.
• 🐢 Slow speed due to the use of outdated parameters (for example, protocol IPv4 instead of IPv4/IPv6).
• 🔄 Constant reconnections —the network indicator blinks and the connection breaks every few minutes.

It is interesting that on new smartphones (for example, Samsung Galaxy S24 or Google Pixel 8) APN is often configured automatically when you first install a SIM card. However, in 30% of cases, auto-configuration fails - especially if:

• 📱 You use dual SIM phone (dual APN may conflict).
• 🔄 You transferred SIM card from an old phone where the parameters were changed manually.
• 🛠️ You performed reset or updated the firmware.
• 🌍 You travel and connect to roaming (some operators require separate APNs for abroad).

⚠️ Attention: APN parameters may vary depending on the region and tariff plan. For example, MegaFon uses different gateways for the Moscow region and the Far East. If you move frequently, check the current settings in your operator's personal account.

How to check whether you need to configure an APN manually

Before creating a new APN, make sure that the problem really lies with it. Here is a quick checklist for diagnostics:

The SIM card is active and recognized (the operator number is displayed in Settings → SIM cards |

There is a network indicator in the status line (for example, LTE or 5G)|

Mobile data is turned on (check the slider in the notification shade)|

The problem only appears with mobile data (Wi-Fi works fine)|

You are not using a VPN or proxy that could block the connection-->

If all the steps have been completed, but the Internet still does not work, proceed to checking the current APN settings:

1. Open Settings → Communications → Mobile network → Access points (APN).
2. See if there is an active access point in the list (usually it is marked with a dot or highlighted in bold).
3. If there is an APN, but the Internet does not work, check its parameters (click on the name of the access point).
4. If there is no APN list at all or it is empty, you will have to create an access point manually.

On some firmware (for example, MIUI on Xiaomi or ColorOS on Oppo/Realme) the path to the APN settings may be different. If you do not find the "Access Points" section, try:

• Enter the query in the settings search bar APN.
• Go in Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks → [name of your SIM] → Access points.
• On phones Samsung Sometimes you need to hold down the "Mobile data" button in the notification shade and select "Mobile network settings".

Step-by-step guide: how to create an APN on Android

If the automatic setup did not work or you want to optimize the settings for maximum speed, follow these instructions. We will consider a universal method that is suitable for 95% of devices on Android (including Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Google Pixel and others).

Step 1. Open the APN settings

Go to the path:

Settings → Communications (or "Network and Internet") → Mobile network → Advanced → Access points (APN)

On some phones (for example, Honor or Nokia), the section may be called "Access point names" or "Data settings."

Step 2. Create a new APN

In the upper right corner of the screen, click on the icon "+" (or select "New APN" in the menu). A form will open with fields to fill out. You need to enter parameters specific to your operator.

Step 3. Fill in the APN fields

Below is a table with current parameters for the main Russian operators for 2026. Enter the data accurately, including case and symbols (for example, internet.beeline.ru and INTERNET.BEELINE.RU are different addresses!).

Field	MTS	Beeline	MegaFon	Tele2	Yota
Name	MTS Internet	Beeline Internet	Megafon Internet	Tele2 Internet	Yota Internet
APN	internet.mts.ru	internet.beeline.ru	internet	internet.tele2.ru	yota.ru
Proxy	Not specified	Not specified	Not specified	Not specified	Not specified
Port	Not specified	Not specified	Not specified	Not specified	Not specified
User name	mts	beeline	gdata	Not specified	Not specified
Password	mts	beeline	gdata	Not specified	Not specified
Authentication type	PAP	PAP	PAP	Not specified	Not specified
APN type	default,supl	default,supl	default,supl	default,supl,mms	default,supl
APN protocol	IPv4/IPv6	IPv4/IPv6	IPv4/IPv6	IPv4/IPv6	IPv4/IPv6
Roaming protocol	IPv4	IPv4	IPv4	IPv4	IPv4

After filling out the fields, click "Save" (or "Finish" depending on the firmware). The new APN will appear in the list of access points.

Step 4. Activate the created APN

Return to the APN list and select the newly created access point (click on it once). On some phones, you need to check a box or drag the APN to the first place in the list. If there were several points in the list, delete the old onesto avoid conflicts.

Step 5. Reboot the smartphone

This is required step! After creating an APN turn off and on mobile data (you can do it through the notification shade), and then restart your phone. This will allow the system to apply the new settings and establish a stable connection.

Common errors when setting up APN and how to fix them

Even if you entered all the parameters correctly, the Internet may not work due to hidden errors. Here are the most common problems and their solutions:

1.

If the created access point does not want to turn on (it is not checked or saved as active), try:

• 🔄 Delete all other APNs from the list (sometimes several points conflict).
• 📱 Switch to another SIM card (if the phone is dual-SIM) and go back.
• 🔧 Reset network settings to Settings → System → Reset → Reset network settings (this will not delete your data, but will reset all network settings).

2. The Internet works, but very slowly

If the speed is lower than expected (for example, instead of 4G it is displayed H+), check:

• 📶 Network type: go to Settings → Mobile network → Network type and select 4G (LTE) or 5G (if supported).
• 🔄 APN protocol: change APN protocol from IPv4 to IPv4/IPv6 (or vice versa).
• 📡 Coverage area: sometimes slow speed is associated with overload of the base station. Try switching to another network manually in Settings → Mobile network → Network operators.

3. APN disappears after reboot

This problem is typical for phones with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) or after an update Android. Solutions:

• 🔧 Update the firmware up to the latest version (check in Settings → System → System update).
• 📱 Reset settings networks (as described above).
• 🛠️ Install the APN through the engineering menu (for advanced users). To do this, enter the code in the dialer ##4636##, select "Phone information" and scroll to the APN section.

⚠️ Attention: On some phones (for example, Samsung Galaxy s One UI) after resetting the APN settings may be blocked by the operator. In this case, request automatic setup by sending an SMS with the text APN to number 5049 (for MegaFon) or a similar short number of your operator.

4. MMS does not work

If you cannot send or receive MMS (multimedia messages), check the field APN Type. It must contain the value mms. Example for Tele2:

default,supl,mms

Also make sure that in the message settings (Settings → Applications → Messages) the "MMS Autoload" option is enabled and the correct one is specified MMSC address (for example, for MTS this http://mmsc:8002).

Features of setting up APN on different versions of Android

The interface and location of the APN settings may differ depending on the version Android and the manufacturer's shell. Let's look at the key differences:

Android 8–10 (Oreo, Pie, Q)

On these versions, the path to the APN usually looks like this:

Settings → Network and Internet → Mobile network → Advanced → Access points (APN)

Features:

• 🔹 On Android 9 Pie you may need to unlock mode developer to edit some APN fields.
• 🔹 On Xiaomi s MIUI 11–12 The APN section is hidden - to open it, you need to click on the name of the SIM card in the "Mobile network" section.

Android 11–13

Starting from Android 11, Google has tightened control over APN settings. Now:

• 🔹 Not all fields are available for editing (for example, "Authentication type" can be blocked).
• 🔹 On Samsung One UI 3.0+ APN is configured via Settings → Connections → Mobile networks → Access points.
• 🔹 On Google Pixel with a clean Android there may be no "Save" button - in this case, just go back and the settings will be applied automatically.

Android 14–15

In the latest versions Android (2026–2026) the following changes have occurred:

• 🔹 Automatic APN validation: the system checks the entered data for correctness and can block saving if errors are detected (for example, incorrect format APN).
• 🔹 5G SA support: for full work in networks 5G Standalone may require an additional APN with type ia (for example, default,ia,supl).
• 🔹 APN division for roaming: some operators (for example, MegaFon) now require separate settings for home network and roaming.

The Android 15 function also appeared - when inserting a new SIM card, the system offers to download the configuration directly from the Google cloud. However, this method does not always work with regional ones. operators, so manual setup remains relevant. "Quick APN setup" — when inserting a new SIM card, the system offers to download the configuration directly from the Google cloud. However, this method does not always work with regional operators, so manual configuration remains relevant.

How to enable hidden APN settings on Android 14+

On some firmware (for example, ColorOS 14 on Oppo Reno 11) The APN section is hidden. To open it:

1. Settings → About phone.

2. Click on "Build number" 7 times to activate developer mode.

3. Return to the main settings menu, open "System → For Developers".

4. Find the option "Allow editing APN" and enable it.

5. Now the APN section will be available in the mobile network settings.

Optimizing APN for maximum Internet speed

Even if the Internet is working, its speed can be increased by optimizing the APN settings. Here are some professional tips:

1. Use the IPv4/IPv6 protocol

Most modern networks support dual stack (simultaneous operation of IPv4 and IPv6). This reduces latency and increases download speed. In the APN settings, select:

APN protocol: IPv4/IPv6

2. Configure the APN type for 4G/5G

If your tariff supports VoLTE (voice over 4G) or 5G, add the appropriate parameters in the field APN Type:

• 📶 For 4G with VoLTE: default,supl,ims
• 🚀 For 5G: default,supl,ia (where ia is the identifier for 5G SA).

3. Disable unnecessary protocols

If you do not use MMS or WAP, remove the corresponding parameters from the field APN Type. For example, instead of:

default,supl,mms

use:

default,supl

This will reduce the load on the network and may speed up the Internet a little.

4. Check MTU

MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) —this is the maximum size of a data packet that can be transmitted without fragmentation. The optimal value for mobile networks is 1400. To change it:

1. Install the application MTU Tool from Google Play.
2. Run a test to determine the optimal MTU.
3. Add a new field to the APN settings MVNO type (if it is not there, create it manually) and specify GID.

⚠️ Attention: Changing the MTU can lead to an unstable connection if the value is selected incorrectly. If after optimization the Internet begins to work worse, return the default settings.

5. Use DNS from Google or Cloudflare

Sometimes slow Internet performance is associated with the operator's DNS servers. You can replace them with faster ones:

• 🔹 Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
• 🔹 Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1

To change DNS:

1. Go to Settings → Network and Internet → Private DNS.
2. Select "Private DNS Hostname" and enter dns.google or 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com.

Frequently asked questions about setting up APN

❓ Why does the Internet still not work after creating an APN?

Possible reasons:

• 🔹 SIM card is not activated or blocked (check in your operator's personal account).
• 🔹 No network coverage (check the signal indicator).
• 🔹 The operator blocks manual APN settings (try requesting automatic configuration).
• 🔹 Conflict with VPN or firewall (disable them temporarily).

Also try switch to another network manually: Settings → Mobile network → Network operators → Search for networks.

❓ Is it possible to use one APN for two SIM cards?

No, each APN is tied to a specific SIM card. If you have a dual-SIM phone, you need to:

1. Create a separate APN for each SIM card.
2. Make sure that the correct SIM for data transfer is selected in the mobile network settings.

On some phones (for example, Samsung Galaxy A54) you can assign a priority SIM for the Internet to Settings → Connections → SIM card manager.

❓ How to reset APN to factory settings?

There are two ways:

1. Reset network settings:
   1. Go to Settings → System → Reset → Reset network settings.
   2. Confirm the action (this will delete everything saved Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile settings).
2. Manual deletion:
   1. Open the APN list.
   2. Delete all access points except the standard one (if any).
   3. Restart the phone - the system will try to load the settings automatically.

After the reset, request automatic configuration from the operator (usually it is enough to send an SMS with the text APN to a short number).

❓ Do you need to configure APN for 5G?

Yes, for full work in networks 5G (especially in SA mode - Standalone) you may need to:

• 🔹 Add a parameter ia to the field APN type (for example, default,supl,ia).
• 🔹 Make sure that it is enabled in the network settings mode 5G (not 4G/3G/2G).
• 🔹 Update the phone firmware (some older models do not support 5G SA even with the correct APN settings).

Check with your operator whether your tariff supports 5G SA - some offers (for example, "5G Ready" from Beeline) work only in NSA mode (that is, via a 4G network).

❓ Is it possible to import/export settings APN?

Yes, but this cannot be done using standard means. Android Options:

• 🔹 APN backup applications (for example, APN Backup & Restore from Google Play).
• 🔹 Manual transfer: take screenshots of the APN settings on the old phone and enter them manually on the new one.
• 🔹 ADB commands (for advanced users):

  adb shell content query --uri content://telephony/carriers

  This command will display all saved APNs, which can be saved to a file and later imported to another device.

Please note: when transferring an APN to another phone, you may need to adjust the settings (for example, if the operators are different).