How to Change the Google Pixel 3 APN Settings

In this guide we’ll show you how to change or reset the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL APN settings. These are the setting you change to use a phone on different carriers.

APN stands for “Access Point Name” and is a gateway to carrier networks. It gives your phone the necessary information to communicate with T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T’s cell towers. They control everything from 4G LTE to sending text or picture messages.

Typically these settings change automatically when you put in a SIM card, but it doesn’t always work. As a result, owners will need to find and manually configure the APN settings themselves, or reset them in some cases. After you’re done, you can use the Pixel 3 on any carrier you want.

How to Change Pixel 3 APN Settings

The steps to find the correct menu in settings varies on different phones, but you’ll always find it in settings > networks as we’ve shown below.

Instructions

• From the Home screen, head to Settings (pull down the notification bar and hit the gear-shaped Settings button)
• In Settings go to Network & Internet
• Choose Mobile network
• Then select Access Point Names (or Advanced, then APN)
• Choose the APN info for your carrier if it’s listed. If not available, tap ADD or +
• Input new APN settings provided by your carrier of choice and tap SAVE
  To reset your APN settings, tap the Menu (3 dots) icon and then tap Reset to default.

Once you add a SIM card to your phone this info should fill in automatically, if not, you’ll have to manually enter it. Tap the ADD button in the top corner to start.

You’ll see some weird options like name, proxy, mmsc, port, and protocol. It sounds confusing, but you don’t need to know what they mean. All you need to know is what values or words to put in each category. You can get that information from your carrier, or from a quick Google search.

As you can see above, I’m adding the required info for T-Mobile’s APN settings. This way I can use my Pixel 3 XL on T-Mobile. Input all the required lines of text, skip where it says “not set” then select the three dots at the top and tap Save. You have to hit save, remember that.

Now your Pixel 3 will communicate with T-Mobile cell towers and you’ll get full 4G LTE, HDVoice, and sending picture messages will work. Unlocked devices like the Pixel 3 typically add the APN info automatically. If not, this is how you do it. Don’t know where to look? Here are the APN settings for Verizon or you can find AT&T’s here.

As a reminder, fill in each section (or leave it blank) exactly as our directions or the instructions from a carrier. If a line is blank or says “not set” just leave it that way. Don’t enter any values or lines other than you need.