Now that it'due south become easier to swap out SIM cards on smartphones, the ability to bandy devices to most whatever network y'all want is a reality. In some cases, the unproblematic human activity of swapping out the SIM will be enough. In that location are cases, however, where the Admission Betoken Proper name (APN) on the device will not allow the phone to communicate with the new carrier cell towers.

The APN is the name of the settings the phone needs to make a connection with the carrier gateway between your cellular provider'south network and the public cyberspace. Without the right settings, your phone will be unable to reach the outside world.

Fortunately, on Android devices, you can create new APN — every bit long as the phone is unlocked (encounter my post "New freedom for unlocked United states mobile devices" for more than information). With an unlocked device, you tin edit an APN or fifty-fifty add a new APN. If your device is all the same locked, you won't be able to work with APNs.

APN settings look like this:

Proper name: Verizon
APN: internet
Proxy: <Not Set>
Port: <Not Set>
Username: <Not Set>
Password: <Not Set>
Server: <Not Set up>
MMSC: http://mms.vtext.com/servlets/mms
MMS proxy: <Non Set>
MMS port: 80
MCC: 310
MNC: 012
Hallmark type: <Not Ready>
APN type: <Not Set up> or Internet + MMS APN
Protocol: <Default>
Bearer: <Not Gear up>

It's very important to take/know all of the data shown above (if it says <Non Fix>, that information is not necessary).

Before I listing out the APN information for all of the Us carriers, I first want to show you how to create a new APN on your device. Naturally, non all Android devices are created equal (and if your device isn't unlocked, y'all'll be out of luck). Note: Y'all can have multiple APNs on a device and select which one to use.

Adding an APN

To add together an APN, you demand to tap Settings | More | Wireless & Networks | Mobile Networks, and then tap Access Point Names. From at that place (Figure A), yous should see (at least) your default APN listed.

Figure A

The default APN provided past the device carrier.

From this window, tap the plus sign [+]. Y'all should now be able to add the information for the new APN (Figure B).

Figure B

Calculation a new APN to an AT&T-branded Moto X.

One time you've added the proper information for the new APN, tap the menu button, and then tap Relieve. If the new SIM card wasn't working before, it should be working now.

If y'all're looking for APN data for a specific carrier, you should find all of the information you lot need below.

AT&T APN settings

Proper noun: ATT Phone, (ATT Broadband for tablets)
APN: phone (broadband for tablets)
Proxy: <Not Fix>
Port: <Not Set>
Username: <Not Set>
Password: <Not Ready>
Server: <Not Set>
MMSC: http://mmsc.mobile.att.internet (Not Gear up for tablets)
MMS proxy: proxy.mobile.att.net (Not Set for tablets)
MMS port: eighty
MCC: 310
MNC: 410
Authentication type: <Not Set>
APN type: default,supl,mms,hipri (Too 'fota' for tablets)
APN Protocol: IPv4 (Enabled for tablets)
Bearer: <Default>

Boost Mobile APN settings

Proper noun: Boost_Mobile
APN: Boost_Mobile
Proxy: <Not Set>
Port: <Not Set up>
User Name: Boost_Mobile
Password:
Server:
MMSC: http://mm.myboostmobile.com
MMS Proxy: 68.28.31.7
MMS Port: fourscore
MCC: 311
MNC: 870
Authentication blazon: <Not Prepare>
APN type: default,admin,fota,mms,supl,hipri
APN Protocol: <Non Set>
Bearer: <Not Prepare>

Sprint APN settings

Proper name: Sprint
APN: cinet.spcs
Proxy: <Non Set>
Port: <Non Fix>
Username: yourMSID@uscc.net
Password: your MSID
Server: wap.voicestream.com
MMSC: http://mmsc1.uscc.internet/mmsc/mms
MMS proxy: 68.28.31.7
MMS port: <Not Ready>
MCC: 234
MNC: 15
Authentication blazon: <Not Prepare>
APN type: <Non Set>
APN Protocol: iPv4
Bearer: <Not Prepare>

T-Mobile APN settings

Proper noun: T-MOBILE
APN: epc.tmobile.com, or fast.tmobile.com (LTE)
Proxy: <Not Set>
Port: <Non Prepare>
Username: <Non Set>
Password: <Not Set>
Server: wap.voicestream.com
MMSC: http://mms.msg.eng.t-mobile.com/mms/wapenc
MMS proxy: 216.155.165.50
MMS port: <Not Gear up>
MCC: 310
MNC: 260
Authentication type: <Not Set>
APN type: <Not Set> or Internet + MMS
APN Protocol: IPv4
Bearer: <Not Set>

US Cellular APN settings

Name: USCC
APN: internet
Proxy: <Not Set>
Port: <Not Set>
Username: yourMSID@uscc.internet
Password: your MSID
Server: wap.voicestream.com
MMSC: http://mmsc1.uscc.net/mmsc/mms
MMS proxy: blank
MMS port: 80
MCC: 310
MNC: 120
Authentication type: <Not Set>
APN type: <Not Set> or Cyberspace + MMS
APN Protocol: iPv4
Bearer: <Not Set>

Verizon APN settings

Name: Verizon
APN: internet
Proxy: <Not Set up>
Port: <Not Gear up>
Username: <Not Fix>
Password: <Not Set up>
Server: <Not Set>
MMSC: http://mms.vtext.com/servlets/mms
MMS proxy: <Non Set>
MMS port: fourscore
MCC: 310
MNC: 012
Authentication blazon: <Not Set>
APN type: <Not Set> or Internet + MMS
APN Protocol: <Default>
Bearer: <Not Fix>

Virgin Mobile APN settings

Proper name: Virgin Mobile
APN: Sprint
Proxy: <Non Set>
Port: <Not Set>
Username: <Not Set>
Password: <Not Ready>
Server: <Not Prepare>
MMSC: http://mmsc.vmobl.com:8080/mms
MMS proxy: 205.239.233.136
MMS port: 81
MCC: 310
MNC: <Not Set>
Authentication type: <Not Ready>
APN type: default,supl,mms
APN Protocol: iPv4
Bearer: <Non Set>

With this information, you lot should now have everything you demand to migrate your favorite (unlocked) Android device from one carrier to another.

Have you lot managed to become your device unlocked? If so, take you used it on a unlike carrier? Share your feel in the discussion thread below.