Connect your Chromebook to the mobile network through Access Point Names (APNs)

To connect to an LTE, 4G or 5G network, your device needs an Access Point Name (APN). In the majority of cases, Chromebooks are pre-configured with lists of known APNs that work without modification. Your Chromebook will attempt to connect to an automatic APN if there are no custom APNs.

Important: Some operators may require you to set up custom APNs in the mobile data settings.

Connect to a mobile network

On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
Select Settings .
Under 'Network', turn on Mobile data.
- For SIM: Your Chromebook will automatically detect an inserted SIM card and display it on the page.
- For eSIM: Installed eSIM profiles appear on the page. To install a new eSIM profile, select Add eSIM.

Tip: When your Chromebook doesn't connect to your network automatically, you'll receive an error message. It informs you that your connection has failed and that you need to contact your operator to gain access to the network. One possible solution is to connect to a custom APN provided to you by your operator or network administrator.

Add a new custom APN

Important: Only add a custom APN if instructed to do so specifically by your operator or network administrator. Creating an invalid custom APN can prevent you from connecting.

On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
Select Settings .
Under 'Network', select Mobile data.
Select your preferred eSIM or SIM profile.
Select Access Point Name (APN) More Create new APN.
- Under 'Add a new APN', you can enter your:
  - APN
  - Username
  - Password
- Under 'Advanced settings', you can choose your:
  - Authentication type
  - IP type
- Depending on the instructions from your operator, under 'APN types', you can select either or both:
  - Default
  - Attach
Select Add.

Tips:

You may experience a disconnection when you create a new custom APN as the system attempts re-connection.
You can add up to 10 new APNs.
You'll see an error message if you create a custom APN and only select the APN type 'Attach'.
You can't create an APN with a type of 'Attach only' if the APN type default isn't available or if the current APN type isn't 'Default'.

Use APNs known by your Chromebook

To connect to a mobile network, you can select from a list of available APNs associated with your operator, as known by your Chromebook. This list may contain the APN that your operator recommends for optimal performance.

Important:

If an APN is selected incorrectly, this may disable your mobile connection temporarily.
The APN that your operator recommends may not be on the list.
Only select APNs provided by your operator or network administrator.

On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
Select Settings .
Under 'Network', select Mobile data.
Select your preferred eSIM or SIM profile.
Select Access Point Name (APN) More Show known APNs.
Select an available APN.
Select Confirm.

Manage your custom APNs

You can edit, find details, disable and remove a custom APN.

Edit a custom APN

On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
Select Settings .
Under 'Network', select Mobile data.
Select your preferred eSIM or SIM profile.
Select Access Point Name (APN).
Next to the APN name, select More Edit.
You can edit the:
- APN
- Username
- Password
- Authentication type
- APN type
- IP type
Select Save.

Find details of your APN

On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
Select Settings .
Under 'Network', select Mobile data.
Select your preferred eSIM or SIM profile.
Select Access Point Name (APN).
To find the details of your APN:
- For custom APNs: Next to the APN name, select More Edit.
- For database APNs: Next to the APN name, select More Details.
Select Done.

Disable a custom APN

On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
Select Settings .
Under 'Network', select Mobile data.
Select the desired eSIM or SIM profile.
Select Access Point Name (APN).
Next to the APN name, select More Disable.

Tip: If you try to disable the last default APN and there’s a separate attach APN enabled, you'll see the error message: 'Can't disable or remove this APN. Make sure that enabled attach APNs are disabled or removed.'

Remove a custom APN

On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
Select Settings .
Under 'Network', select Mobile data.
Select your preferred eSIM or SIM profile.
Select Access Point Name (APN).
Next to the APN name, select More Remove.

Tip: If you try to remove the last default APN and there's a separate attach APN enabled, you'll see the error message: 'Can't disable or remove this APN. Make sure that enabled attach APNs are disabled or removed.'

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