Access Point Name (APN) settings allow your mobile router or hotspot to establish a connection to your carrier's network and access the Internet. APN settings must be configured for your specific carrier so that your mobile router or hotspot works correctly.
With most carriers, your Nighthawk mobile router or hotspot automatically completes APN settings based on the carrier SIM card that you use. However, some carriers might require you to manually complete the APN settings. This article provides information about manually setting up an APN on your Nighthawk mobile router or hotspot.
You must have the following to configure APN settings on your mobile router or hotspot:
- A nano SIM card with an active data plan from your carrier
- The correct APN settings for your carrier:
- Name setting (required by all carriers)
- APN setting (required by all carriers)
- Authentication settings such as a user name and password (required by some carriers only)
- Packet Data Protocol (PDP)-related settings (required by some carriers only)
With most carriers, your NETGEAR unlocked mobile router or hotspot automatically completes APN settings based on the carrier SIM card that you use. However, some carriers might require you to manually complete the APN settings.
If your mobile router or hotspot doesn't automatically find the APN for your SIM card, use the following APN lookup tool:
To find the APN for your carrier, enter your country and carrier.
Your carrier's APN settings can vary depending on the type of plan that you subscribe to. We recommend that you contact your carrier for the correct APN settings and only use the APN that your carrier instructs you to use for your specific plan.
To set up an Access Point Name on your Nighthawk M6, M6 Pro, M7, or M7 Pro mobile router or Nighthawk M3 or M7 mobile hotspot:
- Turn on your mobile router or hotspot with an active SIM card inserted.
If the screen is locked, unlock the screen by swiping up. - Depending on your product, do the following:
- M6, M6 Pro, M7, or M7 Pro mobile router: From the home screen, tap Settings > Mobile > APN.
- M3 or M7 mobile hotspot: From the dashboard, tap Settings > Advanced > Cellular.
- Tap Add.
- In the Name field, enter the name setting that your carrier provided and tap Done.
Typically, this is your carrier's name. - In the APN field, enter the APN that your carrier provided.
- (Optional) If your carrier provided details for a network authentication mode, user name, or password, select them from the corresponding menu or enter them in the corresponding fields.
- (Optional) If your carrier provided details for the Packet Data Protocol (PDP) or PDP roaming protocol, select the values from the corresponding menus.
- Depending on your product, tap Save or Add.
Your APN settings are saved and set as the new default APN.
After saving the APN settings, your mobile router or hotspot will attempt to connect to your carrier's network using the values that you entered. Wait for a few moments for your device to establish a connection, then check your device's LCD user interface or status indicators to see if it connected successfully. You can also check your connection by visiting a website on a device that is connected to your mobile router or hotspot.
If the connection attempt fails, your device will display an alert message. Double-check the information that your carrier provided and try setting up the APN again. You can also try restarting your device to attempt to establish the connection again.