If you've ever explored the "Access Point Names" (APN) section in your Android phone’s settings, you might have seen many confusing terms like APN type, MMSC, bearer, and more. This blog will help you understand what each setting does, how it affects your mobile data, and which values you should use. Whether you're troubleshooting internet issues or setting up MMS manually, this guide is for you.
Name
Usage: This is simply the display name of the APN profile. It can be anything that helps you identify the network you're setting up.
Other Insights: It has no impact on connectivity, so you can name it "My Network" or "Jio 4G" — it’s up to you.
APN
Usage: This is the most important field. It tells your device how to connect to your carrier’s internet gateway. Without this, mobile data won’t work.
| Example Input | Used By |
|---|---|
| jionet | Jio |
| airtelgprs.com | Airtel |
| internet | Many global carriers |
Other Insights: This is a required field and varies from carrier to carrier. Check your provider’s website or support page if unsure.
Proxy & Port
Usage: These are rarely used today. They were meant to route your mobile internet traffic through a proxy server.
| Field | Common Input |
|---|---|
| Proxy | 202.56.231.117 |
| Port | 8080 |
Other Insights: If your carrier requires these, they’ll provide the details. If not, leave them blank.
Username & Password
Usage: These are used only if your mobile network requires authentication to connect to the internet.
Common Input: Most users can leave these empty.
Other Insights: If you're setting up a corporate or private network, these may be required.
Server
Usage: This field is mostly ignored by modern Android versions and is not required by most networks.
Input: Leave it blank unless your provider specifically tells you to set it.
MMSC, MMS Proxy, and MMS Port
Usage: These fields are necessary for sending and receiving MMS (picture messages, group messages, etc.).
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| MMSC | http://mmsc.operator.com |
| MMS Proxy | 10.10.10.10 |
| MMS Port | 80 |
Other Insights: If you can’t send or receive MMS, double-check these fields with your network provider.
MCC and MNC
Usage: These numbers identify your country and carrier. MCC is the Mobile Country Code and MNC is the Mobile Network Code.
| Country | MCC | Carrier | MNC |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 404 | Airtel | 10 |
| India | 405 | Jio | 857 |
Other Insights: These are usually auto-filled based on your SIM card. Changing them can cause the APN to stop working.
Authentication Type
Usage: This setting tells Android how to log in to the network, if needed.
| Option | Meaning |
|---|---|
| None | No authentication needed |
| PAP | Uses Password Authentication Protocol |
| CHAP | Uses Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol |
| PAP or CHAP | Auto-selects supported method |
Other Insights: Most public networks use "None".
APN Type
Usage: This defines what the APN is used for — internet, MMS, tethering, VoLTE, and more.
| Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| default | Internet access |
| mms | MMS messaging |
| dun | Tethering/hotspot |
| supl | Location services (AGPS) |
| ims | VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling |
| fota | Firmware updates |
| ia | Initial attach |
Other Insights: You can list multiple types with commas, like default,mms. Setting the wrong type might limit certain services.
APN Protocol & Roaming Protocol
Usage: Determines whether your phone uses IPv4 or IPv6 when connecting to the internet.
| Option | Meaning |
|---|---|
| IPv4 | Older, widely compatible protocol |
| IPv6 | Newer, future-proof but not always supported |
| IPv4/IPv6 | Supports both types |
Other Insights: Choose IPv4/IPv6 for the best balance unless your provider says otherwise.
Bearer
Usage: Lets you specify which network types the APN applies to — such as LTE, 5G, or 3G.
Common Inputs: LTE, NR (5G), UMTS, HSPA, GPRS, or leave as Unspecified.
Other Insights: Most users can leave this set to "Unspecified". Set it to "LTE" only if you're troubleshooting 4G-specific issues.
MVNO Type and Value
Usage: These settings are for users on MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators), like Google Fi or Lycamobile.
| Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| SPN | Service provider name |
| IMSI | SIM identifier |
| GID | Group ID level |
| ICCID | SIM card number |
Other Insights: Most users on major networks don’t need to touch these. Only enter them if your provider gives you specific instructions.
Conclusion
Understanding the APN settings on your Android phone can help you fix mobile data issues, enable MMS, and even troubleshoot 4G or 5G problems. Always refer to your mobile carrier’s official documentation for the exact APN values. If something goes wrong, use the "Reset to default" option to restore factory APNs. It’s always safe to start fresh.
