Airalo eSIM APN Settings Explained

Last updated: 3 November 2026

Airalo APN settings: the short answer

Most Airalo eSIMs set the APN automatically, so you don’t need to type anything. To check yours, open the Airalo app and go to My eSIMs → your eSIM → View details → Ready to use your eSIM → How to connect. If an APN is listed there, copy it exactly (Airalo says to use all lowercase with no spaces) into Settings → Cellular → [your eSIM] → Cellular Data Network on iPhone, or Settings → Connections → Mobile networks → Access Point Names on Samsung, and leave every other field blank. If the app says the APN is set automatically, leave the phone’s APN settings alone.

The APN is not the same for every Airalo eSIM. It depends on the network partner behind the plan you bought, so the only value that matters is the one shown on your own eSIM’s instructions. Airalo’s help center uses globaldata as an example of what a listed APN can look like, but don’t copy that unless your eSIM actually shows it.

What the APN does, and why it trips people up

APN stands for Access Point Name. It’s the gateway your phone asks for when it opens a mobile data connection. With your home SIM you never see it because your carrier pushes it to the phone. With a travel eSIM, the profile usually carries the APN too, but some plans rely on you entering it by hand. When the APN is missing or wrong, the symptoms are very specific: you see signal bars and a network name, sometimes even 4G or 5G, yet no app loads. If that matches what you’re seeing, the APN is one of the first things to check, along with data roaming.

Where to find your eSIM’s APN in the Airalo app

1. Open the Airalo app and log in.
2. Go to My eSIMs (newer app versions may call this tab Packages).
3. Tap the eSIM you’re using and select View details.
4. Scroll to Ready to use your eSIM? and open Connect to a network → How to connect. On older app versions the same information sits under Installation instructions → Access data.
5. Look for the APN line. If you see an APN value, copy it. If you see a note that the APN is set automatically, no change is needed.

While you’re on that screen, also note whether it tells you to turn data roaming on and which network(s) the eSIM can use. You’ll want all three pieces of information if you end up troubleshooting at the airport.

iPhone vs Android: where the APN setting lives

Step	iPhone (iOS)	Samsung Galaxy	Other Android (e.g. Pixel)
Open APN settings	Settings → Cellular (or Mobile Data) → select your eSIM → Cellular Data Network (or Mobile Data Network)	Settings → Connections → Mobile networks → Access Point Names → choose your eSIM	Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile networks → Access Point Names
Enter the APN	Type it in the Cellular Data APN field	Tap Add, enter the APN, name it “Airalo”	Add or edit an entry and enter the APN
Other fields	Leave blank	Leave blank	Leave blank
Save / apply	Changes save when you go back	Three-dot menu → Save, then select the new APN	Save and make sure the new APN is selected
Data roaming	Can be turned on for the eSIM only	Usually applies to all SIMs	Usually applies to all SIMs

Menu names shift a little between iOS versions and Android skins, which is why both Airalo and this guide list alternatives such as “Cellular” vs “Mobile Data”. If you can’t find the menu, search “APN” in your phone’s Settings search bar.

How to set the Airalo APN on iPhone

1. Open Settings and tap Cellular (or Mobile Data).
2. Under Cellular Plans, tap your Airalo eSIM and make sure Turn On This Line is enabled.
3. Tap Cellular Data Network (or Mobile Data Network).
4. In the APN field under Cellular Data, enter the APN exactly as the Airalo app shows it.
5. Leave Username and Password empty, then go back so the setting saves.
6. Return to Cellular, tap Cellular Data and pick the Airalo eSIM as your data line.
7. If the connection doesn’t come up, restart the iPhone.

How to set the Airalo APN on Samsung Galaxy

1. Open Settings → Connections → SIM manager and check that the eSIM is switched on and chosen for Mobile data.
2. Go back to Connections → Mobile networks → Access Point Names.
3. Select your eSIM at the top of the screen, then tap Add.
4. Enter Airalo in the Name field and the APN from the app in the APN field.
5. Leave everything else blank, tap the three-dot menu and choose Save.
6. Back on the list, tap the new Airalo entry so it’s selected.

On a Pixel or another Android phone, the path Airalo gives is Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile networks → Access Point Names; the rest of the process is the same: add the APN, leave the other fields blank, save, and select it.

The settings that matter as much as the APN

In practice, a wrong APN is less common than these four settings. Airalo’s own connection guides include all of them, so go through the list before you assume the APN is the problem:

• Data roaming on the eSIM. Many Airalo eSIMs connect through partner networks, so the phone treats the connection as roaming. If your instructions say roaming is required, turn it on for the eSIM. This doesn’t add charges on the Airalo plan, which is prepaid.
• The right data line. The Airalo eSIM must be on and selected for mobile data.
• Data switching off. On iPhone, disable Allow Cellular Data Switching so the phone doesn’t quietly fall back to your home SIM.
• Your home SIM’s roaming. On iPhone you can turn data roaming off for the home SIM only. On most Android phones roaming applies to all SIMs, so Airalo suggests disabling the primary SIM to avoid charges from your home carrier.

Airalo APN not working? Troubleshooting checklist

Work through these in order. Each step takes under a minute, and most connection problems are solved before you reach the end.

1. Confirm you’re inside the coverage area. An eSIM for France only works in France. Installed at home, it won’t connect no matter what APN you enter.
2. Turn airplane mode off. Airalo lists this as one of the most common reasons an eSIM won’t connect.
3. Re-check the APN character by character. No capital letters, no spaces before or after. On Samsung, make sure the APN you created is the one actually selected.
4. Check data roaming is on for the eSIM if the app asks for it.
5. Restart the phone after changing the APN. Airalo recommends this if the connection doesn’t come up straight away.
6. Choose the network manually. On iPhone: Settings → Cellular → your eSIM → Network Selection → turn off Automatic and pick a network listed in the app. On Samsung: Connections → Mobile networks → Network operators → turn off Select automatically.
7. Disable your VPN temporarily while you test.
8. Contact Airalo support through the chat in the app if none of this works, and send screenshots of your settings.

One warning: don’t delete the eSIM to “start fresh”. Airalo states that eSIMs typically can’t be reinstalled once removed. If you need to pause it, turn the line off instead (the validity clock keeps running while it’s off).

Related Airalo guides

• When to activate an Airalo eSIM (and when validity starts)
• Airalo eSIM in India: travel checklist
• Airalo discount codes AF18 and EF18

Frequently asked questions

What is the APN for Airalo eSIM?

There is no single APN for every Airalo eSIM. It depends on the plan and its network partner. Open the Airalo app, go to My eSIMs, View details, then How to connect. Copy the APN shown there. If it says the APN is set automatically, you don’t need to enter anything.

Does Airalo set the APN automatically?

For many eSIMs, yes. Airalo says that if no APN is listed in your eSIM’s instructions, the eSIM is configured automatically and no further action is needed. Some plans do require a manual APN, and the app tells you when that’s the case.

Where do I enter the Airalo APN on iPhone?

Go to Settings, Cellular (or Mobile Data), tap your Airalo eSIM, then Cellular Data Network (or Mobile Data Network). Enter the APN in the Cellular Data APN field and leave the other fields blank.

Where do I enter the Airalo APN on Samsung or Android?

On Samsung, go to Settings, Connections, Mobile networks, Access Point Names, choose your eSIM and tap Add. Enter Airalo as the name and the APN from the app, then save from the three-dot menu and select it. On other Android phones the path is usually Settings, Network and Internet, Mobile networks, Access Point Names.

Why does my Airalo eSIM show signal but no internet?

Usually one of these is the cause: data roaming is off on the eSIM, the eSIM isn’t selected as the data line, the APN is missing or mistyped, or the phone has latched onto an unsupported network. Fix those in that order, then restart the phone.

Should I change the APN before I travel?

You can enter it before departure if your instructions list one, but the eSIM will only connect once you’re in its coverage area. Whatever you do, don’t delete and reinstall the eSIM to fix APN problems, because Airalo eSIMs typically can’t be reinstalled.