What Is eSIM APN And How Do I Set It Up?

As smartphones become slimmer and more versatile, eSIM (embedded SIM) technology does away with the need for a physical SIM card. With an eSIM, your mobile plan details and info are directly integrated into your phone. But if you switch to an eSIM, you may need to manually configure a key setting – the APN. This guide explains what an eSIM APN is, why you may need to update it, and how to change your APN settings on both iOS and Android.

What is eSIM APN?

APN stands for Access Point Name. It’s essentially the gateway between your carrier’s network and the internet that allows your device to get online.

When you try to use mobile data, the APN provides crucial details like:

• The IP address to assign your phone
• Which network to connect to
• Security policies to apply

So you can think of your eSIM APN as a set of instructions your carrier reads to get your new eSIM plan hooked up properly.

When Do You Need to Configure the eSIM APN?

In most cases, APN details are automatically detected when you activate a mobile plan. But sometimes the default APN settings don’t quite line up with what your new eSIM needs.

Here are some common reasons you may need to update your eSIM’s APN details manually:

• Switching to an eSIM plan for the first time – Standard SIMs and eSIMs can have different network settings pre-loaded. So your carrier may require a manual update.
• Using an eSIM for international roaming – Local carriers in different countries set custom APNs. To get online abroad, you’ll likely need to enter a travel-specific APN provided by your eSIM company.
• Provisioning issues – An incorrect APN configuration is one of the most common eSIM activation problems. Popping in the right settings from your provider should get your service up and running.
• Compatibility with older smartphones – Some older model devices don’t auto-load eSIM settings properly. Adding them manually prevents any hiccups.

So while most eSIM users won’t need to mess with the APN, it’s useful to know how just in case.

Where to Find Your eSIM APN Settings

If your eSIM service isn’t working as expected, your provider should point you to the correct APN details. Here’s how to access this info:

On iPhone

1. Open the Settings app
2. Tap Cellular > Cellular Data Options
3. Select your eSIM
4. Choose Cellular Data Network
5. You’ll see fields for APN and MMSC – this is where you’ll enter settings from your carrier

On Android

1. Open Settings
2. Select Network and Internet > SIM Cards
3. Tap your eSIM
4. Choose Access Point Names
5. Select Add new APN here

So where do you get the actual APN configuration profile? If you need to manually enter details, your eSIM provider, like Asian eSIM, will include instructions showing the exact APN and any other fields to populate.

I’ll cover examples of this in the next section.

Key eSIM APN Settings to Update

While every carrier uses different APN profiles, there are a few key settings that commonly need updating:

APN – The APN name provided by your eSIM company, usually 1-2 words.
APN Type – Defaults to “default,supl” in most cases which is fine.
MMSC – Stands for Multimedia Message Service Center; required for sending MMS messages over eSIM.
MCC and MNC – Identifies your carrier and location.

As long as you enter the APN name correctly, you can typically leave other fields blank when applying an eSIM APN profile. Keep in mind carriers may use varying terminology for the same settings across different phones though.

Here's an example eSIM APN:

Name: Asian eSIM 
APN: asian.com
MMSC: http://mms.example.com/mms/wapenc
MCC: 404
MNC: 87
Authentication Type: none 

Check your eSIM provider’s site before traveling to look for APN details like this to have handy!

How to Update Your eSIM APN on iPhone

Let’s walk through manually configuring an eSIM APN on iPhone after activation.

Here are the steps to modify mobile data settings:

1. Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options
2. Tap your Asian eSIM
3. Choose Cellular Data Network
4. Tap Configure New APN
5. Enter your specific Asian APN name under “APN”
6. Enter the corresponding content under MMSC
7. Leave other fields empty
8. Make sure Enable LTE is toggled on
9. Confirm with your carrier Support PIN
10. Hit Save in the top right corner

This will save your new APN to your iPhone eSIM account. Try toggling Airplane mode on/off to connect using the updated configuration.

How to Update Your eSIM APN on Android

The process works nearly the same way for Android devices. Just follow these steps:

1. Open Settings > Network and Internet > SIM Cards
2. Select your Asian eSIM
3. Tap Access Point Names > Add New APN
4. Enter your specific Asian APN name for the APN
5. Add the corresponding content under MMSC
6. Leave other fields empty
7. Confirm and Save

After updating your eSIM APN, you may need to restart your smartphone. But then mobile data should work anywhere the Asian plan has service coverage.

Troubleshooting Your eSIM APN

If you apply custom APN settings but still can’t connect to data, here are some next steps to try:

• Double check the exact profile with your eSIM provider – one character off can break connectivity!
• Toggle Airplane Mode on/off. This reloads all network adapters.
• Try removing spaces and dashes in APN names if entered on certain devices.
• Restart your smartphone to force apply eSIM updates.

Hopefully with correct eSIM APNs configured, you’ll be all set. But if not, contact your mobile carrier’s Support for assistance troubleshooting Activation and APN issues. With so many device settings impacting eSIM connectivity, they can best pinpoint any problems.

So while APN configuration is just one small piece of making eSIMs function, taking 60 seconds to update this setting can get your cellular data running in no time!

Now, you’ll be ready to connect with ease! For more reliable eSIM solutions, check out Asian eSIM.