Editing APN on iPhone (3G/2.x fw) for carriers who don’t allow editing the APN
The new iPhone firmware 2.x doesn’t allow users to edit the APN for some carriers. In the new iPhone 2.0 Apple gave service providers the ability to disable this setting so you’ll automatically connect to the Internet through their network and incur their data access fees. What this also means is that you wont be able to edit the APN if its set to something else and you wont be able to access the Internet on their network until you change the APN. This means even if you have an officially unlocked iPhone, you can’t access Internet if you are on the network of service providers who don’t allow editing the APN setting.
So editing APN is useful in both scenarios 1. Those who want to change the APN to be able to access Internet 2. Those who want to change the APN value to some random string to avoid the hefty data charges.
Generally APN can be easily edited by going to Settings>General>Network>Cellular Data Network. Here’s the official guide to view/edit APN settings for the carriers who do allow editing.
For those who don’t allow editing – there are 2 ways to do it:
1. For those who have officially unlocked iPhone (Not Jailbroken): This is for people who have an officially unlocked iPhone (from Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe etc…) traveling to other countries and using a local sim on their unlocked iPhone. This is for users like me – I recently travelled to India (Bombay), i was using a local Vodafone sim card and wanted to change the APN so that i could use the Internet on my iPhone. Since my iPhone didn’t allow me to do so, i contacted the vodafone customer service and they were extremely clueless about the APN stuff – instead they advised me to get on a more expensive Internet data plan when i was already on a basic data plan. Knowing how clueless they were it was pointless to expect any help from them. Finally I figured out a way myself –
- Download and Install the iPhone Configuration Web Utility 1.0 for Windows (Mac version also available here) – This is basically for the enterprise customers to help them deploy configurations within their organization.
- After installation, open your web browser and access http://localhost:3000/ (Mac users – refer the guide)
- Enter Username/Password – admin/admin
- On the General tab – Edit Name, Identifier and Organization
- Click on Advanced tab – Edit the Access Point Name (APN)
- Back on the General tab click on Export Profile and save the configuration profile as a file
- Email yourself the configuration file as an attachment and open it on your iPhone
- Once you click on the attachment on iPhone it will prompt you about making configuration changes and warn you about no trusted signature, just click continue
- Once installed you will be able to access Internet if you entered proper APN string in step 5 or you wont be able to access Internet if your purpose was to disable Internet and you entered a random string in step 5.
2. For those who have unlocked/jailbroken iPhone: All you need to do is SSH to your phone and edit the carrier.plist file in /System/Library/Carrier Bundles/<YourCarrier>. (Example – in my case it was ../Carrier Bundles/Vodafone_in.bundle). Add the following:
<key>AllowEDGEEditing</key>
<true/>
just after
<?xml version=”1.0″ encoding=”UTF-8″?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC “-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN” “http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd”>
<plist version=”1.0″>
<dict>
once done -you should be able to edit the APN on the iPhone by going to Settings>General>Network>Cellular Data Network.
For more help on edting .plist refer to the forums.
This doesn’t work with the Vodafone Malta settings. Unless I am doing something wrong – do you have to reset permissions on the carrier bundle? Any thoughts?
I’ve got a first gen iphone with OS 2.1 pwnaged. I’m based in Malta and since the carrier setting update I’ve had my GPRS hobbled… I cannot get any data services via Vodafone – they are about the launch the 3G (end Oct according to the local Apple agent).
Here is a dump of the plist… if it helps. I really want to get my GPRS back!
BookmarkURLs
BookmarkName
Vodafone
BookmarkURL
http://mobile.vodafone.com.mt
CarrierName
voda MT
MyAccountURL
http://mobile.vodafone.com.mt
MyAccountURLTitle
Vodafone
Services
ServiceCode
+356909
ServiceName
Mailbox
ServiceCode
112
ServiceName
Emergency Numbers
ShowCallForwarded
ShowCallForwarding
ShowTTY
SupportedSIMs
27801
SupportsNITZ
VisualVoicemailServiceName
none
VoicemailPilotNumber
+356909
apns
apn
iphone.vodafone.com.mt
password
iphone
username
iphone
apn
password
username
voicemail_context
0
It should work on an open internet APN – That means if Vodafone Malta is using any proxy then it wont work. They should have an open internet APN (without proxies) – try using that.
[…] or for more technical information on how to do this use the following link… Editing APN on iPhone (3G/2.x fw) for carriers who don’t allow editing the APN « altf __________________ The greatest iPhone project ever – coming […]
hi, i’m in Yemen trying to get Sabafon internet on my iphone 3g 2.1 FW. I went into Settings>General>Network>Cellular Data Network> and i changed the APN and username to “sabanet” and the password left blank, like the representative told me. Yet no interent? i tried even filling the password as sabanet? no luck, should i do anything with VPN? is there a carrier bundle for Sabafon? or can i creat my own? please help i really want internet on my iphone!!!
this works but last time i did it it only worked for a few days???
interesting… i’m also in india, and i’ve been trying to find the APN settings for Vodafone in Hyderabad so I can activate my new unlocked Google G1. the Vodafone customer service here has no clue what APN means. how did you find the settings? i’d really appreciate any pointers. thanks!
[…] (permalink) Hope this helps. Editing APN on iPhone (3G/2.x fw) for carriers who don’t allow editing the APN altf MBP 15.4",2.4Ghz, 4GB, Glossy | iPhone 3G 8GB | 1st Gen iPod Nano 4GB […]
Vodafone Malta GPRS/EDGE settings
Step 1
Check whether you have General>Network>Cellular Data Network option under “Settings”. If you do go to Step 3.
Step 2
If you don’t have that option you need to enable it via a special application in Cydia. Go to the website below which explains it.
http://digitoxies.blogspot.com/2008/11/week-of-iphone-day-3-break-free.html
Step 3
Go to General>Network>Cellular Data Network and enter “internet” (without the quotes) in all three fields.
Step 4
Go to Boss Pref and switch Edge ON.
I’m trying to use my ATT sim with data plan on my factory unlocked iPhone 3G when I am in the US.
When I am in the UK for eg with a Vodafone SIM I am able to edit the APN settings by just going into Settings>Cellular Data Network> etc.
When I am outside the US and switch back to say my Vodafone SIM will the editable APN settings reappear on my Iphone or do I need to email this file with changes each time for each country.
Thanks
@maya – editable apn settings will reappear – you don’t need to email back the file.
That’s very helpful and a very useful well written how-to.
Thank you very much.
@maya – thanks.
Well my questions are:
1. Having two carriers, one from Luxembourg LUXGSM and from the start working with a APN which I haven’t access on my network, can I access it any way and set up a second APN with my portuguese carrier which is accessible?
2. Is it possible to config the APN only with “internet” in the APN access name?
Thanks 🙂
@carla –
1. If I understand your question correctly – you cannot edit the APN settings with one carrier which allows you to edit and set it up for another carrier which doesn’t.
The minute you change the SIM all the APN/network settings are restored to defaults for that carrier.
2. Yes, its possible to config the APN with “internet” in the APN access name, but it will only work if the carrier supports it.
Question,
I have an unlocked/jailbreak iphone 2.0/ I had the full internet package, I just switched to TZones and now my APN settings are gone. How can I reinstall that so I can enter the settings? I can’t find the Tzone hack in cydia
I had the same problem, cellur data was not coming up. i used t mobile here in the us. i got on installer downloaded kate utilities and it showed up 🙂
i downloaded kate utilities and even went to cydia and downloaded apn editing.. i have an iphone 3g and a tmobile unlimited plan….plz help me rbuena@ymail.com i really wna use this iphone 3g
Question,
Ive bought a 3g iphone which is still on 2.2 from India on the vodafone network and Ive jail broken it.
I would like it to work in New Zealand on the vodafone network. ive managed to unlock it once by changing the apn but when i turned it off and turned it back on it lost its ability to read my sim! is that normal that the unlocking is sooo unstable?
Thanks a lot, this works fine for Orange Moldova network. I have edited my carrier budle plist file, after this i can edip my APN adress
Hi,
I have the same problem but after editing the plist file also i cant see the APN option. Any suggestions?
Make sure you save it after editing. Sounds crazy but its a common mistake easily overlooked.. Hope that helps
You are the man !!! Works with ATT
[…] […]
To sabafon Yemen
I have iPhone 2g and iPhone 3g and working good imean connecting to the Internet very good but I have sabanet sim card not sabafon sim card the setting for the connecting is APN:sabanet password:blank
[…] to enable APN editing ? Hello all. I have found a article about changing the proper carrier.plist to add this tag AllowEDGEEditing. But this did not work for […]
[…] Editing APN on iPhone (3G/2.x fw) for carriers who don’t allow editing the APN fa ca in tutorialul ala. __________________ I have the body of a GOD…shame it`s Buddha. […]
the website http://localhost:3000/ no longer works. what do i do?
thanks
Danke für diesen Tip – hat mir sehr geholfen. Auf meinem iPhone musste ich vor der Bearbeitung der Datei carrier.plist diese noch ins xml-Format umwandeln. Das geht einfach mit:
plutil -xml carrier.plist
Anschließend kann die Datei mit
vim carrier.plist
bearbeitet werden. Die Datei braucht nicht zurückkonvertiert werden und die Änderungen stehen im iPhone sofort zur Verfügung. Zur Deaktivierung habe ich hinter beide APN (Mobile Daten und Visual Voicemail) einfach “.off” geschrieben.
Genial einfach oder eben einfach genial. Nochmals vielen Dank für diesen Tip!
Thanx a lot dude…………………
Thank you so very much . i have activated VMC199 unlimited plan on my iphone . works great . Love you man . if you are planning to come to chennai , i would like to treat you for dinner 🙂
Hi friend, pls help, i am using 3g with vodafone.. want to activate VMC (Edge ).. Kindly guide.. how to do this at skilled.trainers@gmail.com…Rgds Man…
[…] […]
Here ia a web site to do the same fix
unlockit.co.nz
hii’
i’need to add one more apn for my iphone, becuse for geeting inside my mail and calinder at work , ineed to right the user name of 2 server’s , one is privte server.
thank y
.
I have changed my service from tmobile USA to a company called simple mobile because it was cheaper and it works with unlocked tmobile and att phones but now I only have 20 mb of data which i have found out isnt much. how can I get free internet back.. they are using a proxy address to connect to the internet. Im assuming they dont use vpn as of yet please help!!! I need my internet back
Hey,
I have 3G with 3.1.2 that is unlocked with ultrasn0w. I want to take to South Africa for world cup and use with Vodacom. When I purchase a sim at the airport when I arrive and pop it in. Will Edge (or whatever the equivalent is in South Africa R2 Mpeg?) work? Or do I need to change the APN before I leave? Will 3G work. or do I need to change APN?
Vodacom uses “internet” with blank username and password
Hi,
I edited the carrier.plist file and pasted the stuff you told me to but i am still not able to see the Settings>General>Network>Cellular Data Network option. Kindly help..
IF you’re using a client like BBEdit(mac) in conjunction with Cyberduck, its easier to modify the file from within the iphone itself. I did it using the same protocols and it worked fine on my iPhone 3GS 32GB… it is jailbroken and I am still on 3.1.2 because 3.1.3 is a pain in the backside. Make sure you save the carrier.plist file (in the iphone), disconnect, restart… essential. I hope that helps.
This also worked on 4.0… Is there a string to add internet tethering using the carrier plist file…? or should I modify another file…
Im using jailbroken iphone in lesotho which im unable to input apn information manually please help.
In case you r a 2g user & dont’ve a wifi just like me then try this..
1) download iphone folders from http://iphonefolders.com/ & plist editor from here http://download.cnet.com/Plist-Editor/3000-18551_4-10909598.html
2) after installing.. connect ur phone to pc & click on iPhone folders n navigate to \var\preferences\SystemConfiguration there look for plist file name “preferences.plist” backup this file. now open this file with plist editor n go near 73rd line. you will see
apn
make it
apn
TATA.DOCOMO.INTERNET (google for your service providers APN) save this file n copy it back to \var\preferences\SystemConfiguration n restart the phone. now you shud be good to go. 🙂
cheers
aaah this page isnt showing all the content!!!
here’s the text file
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6179007/Apn%20hack.txt
have fun
thanks for posting. It worked succesfully on iphone 3g v3.1.2. , No more movistar expensive data
Thank you so very much. Have a nice day
Thanks so much. this is the most convenient solution I have found to make the APN work.
Its worked with Vodafone India and Bharti Airtel India.
[…] https://altf.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/editing-apn-on-iphone-3g2x-fw-for-carriers-who-dont-allow-editi…References : […]
i cant find apn settings on my phone its unlocked but cant get internet service can some one tell me how to get apn settings unlocked
Hat bei mir wunderbar funktioniert Editiert habe ich die .plist mit: Download plist Editor for Windows 1.0.1 Free
tausend Dank für den Tip
sorry, blog was in english :=( worked wunderful for me, I edited the .plist via: plist Editor for Windows 1.0.1 Free
thousand thanks for the hint
Thanks – worked perfectly for me – I just had to restart the phone and the settings had changed. Cheers!
Hello There,
I have an iPhone from a Brazilian carrier that has its APN settings locked.
I’ve tried to use my iPhone in the U.S. with an AT&T SIM Card. The 3G sign is shown on the top left corner of the iPhone but I can’t get connected to the internet.
If I do the configuration on the iPhone Configuration Utility for the APN server for AT&T will it work?
Once I install this new configuration (.mobileconfig) how do I get back to my original configuration for the Brazilian carrier?
Thanks for now.
i m using iphone 3gs jailbroken,vodafone mumbai(it has APN settings locked
and i dont know how to ssh iphone…so can u please give me link where i get guidence abt how to ssh iphone and unlock APN
Hi,
I’m using an iPhone 3gs jailbroken from a Canadian carrier (Bell). I did everything as mentioned “AllowEDGEEditing
” and reboot my iPhone but I still can’t edit the APN. One thing I noticed is my carrier file is under /System/Library/Carrier Bundles/iPhone/Bell_ca.bundle; there is an iPhone folder before the carrier folder. I don’t think that’s a big deal.
missing APN dosent show in settings….. help
missing APN dosent show in settings….. help iphone 3gs
how to remove edge in 2G