APN greyed out, APN settings missing or cannot edit APN on iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Pixel or Xiaomi? Here is why it happens and what you can still change.
Last updated: October 2026 (Android 15/16, One UI 7/8, HyperOS, ColorOS, iOS 18/26).
Quick answer: the carrier has locked its APN. On Android you usually cannot edit the locked entry, but you can add a new APN with the + button and select it. On iPhone, if Mobile Data Network is missing, the carrier settings decide the APN and it cannot be typed in by hand.
Why the APN is greyed out
- Many carriers mark their APN as not editable, so the fields show in grey.
- The phone was sold by a carrier and its APN menu is limited.
- An eSIM or a carrier profile controls the settings.
- On dual SIM phones you are looking at the settings of the SIM that is not inserted or not active.
Android: what to try
- Tap + (or Add) in Access Point Names and create a new APN with the values from your carrier page on this site. Save it and select it.
- Check that you opened the APN list of the right SIM (SIM 1 or SIM 2).
- If the + button is missing too, the carrier has blocked new APNs on this phone. Install the latest software update, then try again.
- Reset the list to default: see How to Reset APN Settings to Default.
iPhone: Mobile Data Network missing
- If Settings -> Mobile Service -> Mobile Data Network is not shown, your carrier sends the APN through carrier settings, and you cannot change it.
- Update the carrier settings: Settings -> General -> About, and accept the update if one appears.
- Remove old APN or carrier profiles in Settings -> General -> VPN & Device Management, then restart.
- If you use a SIM from a carrier that is not in the iPhone carrier list, some carriers offer an APN profile to download; install it from the carrier site over Wi-Fi.
When there is nothing left to change
If the APN is locked and data still does not work, the problem is usually the line, not the APN: check your data balance and plan, then go through Mobile Data Not Working After Adding APN.