Connect your Chromebook to cellular through Access Point Names (APNs)

To connect to an LTE, 4G, or 5G network, your device needs an Access Point Name (APN). For 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 carriers may require you to set up custom APNs in the mobile data settings.

Connect to a cellular network

1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings .
3. Under “Network,” turn on Mobile data.
   • For SIM: Your Chromebook automatically detects an inserted SIM card and displays 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 automatically connect to your network, you’ll get an error message. It informs you that your connection has failed and you need to contact your carrier to gain access to the network. One possible solution is to connect to a custom APN provided to you by your carrier or network administrator.

Add a new custom APN

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

1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings .
3. Under “Network,” select Mobile data.
4. Select your preferred eSIM or SIM Profile.
5. 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 instruction of your carrier, under “APN types,” you can select either or both:
     • Default
     • Attach
6. 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 find 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 cellular network, you can select from a list of available APNs associated with your carrier known by your Chromebook. This list may contain the APN that your carrier recommends for optimal performance.

Important:

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

1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings .
3. Under “Network,” select Mobile data.
4. Select your preferred eSIM or SIM Profile.
5. Select Access point name (APN) More Show known APNs.
6. Select an available APN.
7. Select Confirm.

Manage your custom APNs

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

Edit a custom APN

1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings .
3. Under “Network,” select Mobile data.
4. Select your preferred eSIM or SIM Profile.
5. Select Access point name (APN).
6. Next to the APN name, select More Edit.
7. You can edit the:
   • APN
   • Username
   • Password
   • Authentication type
   • APN type
   • IP type
8. Select Save.

Find details of your APN

1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings .
3. Under “Network,” select Mobile data.
4. Select your preferred eSIM or SIM Profile.
5. Select Access point name (APN).
6. 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.
7. Select Done.

Disable a custom APN

1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings .
3. Under “Network,” select Mobile data.
4. Select the desired eSIM or SIM Profile.
5. Select Access point name (APN).
6. Next to the APN name, select More Disable.

Tip: If you try to disable the last Default APN and there’s a separate, enabled Attach APN, you’ll find an error message: “Can’t disable or remove this APN. Make sure enabled attach APNs are disabled or removed.”

Remove a custom APN

1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings .
3. Under “Network,” select Mobile data.
4. Select your preferred eSIM or SIM Profile.
5. Select Access point name (APN).
6. Next to the APN name, select More Remove.

Tip: If you try to remove the last Default APN and there’s a separate, enabled Attach APN, you’ll find an error message: “Can’t disable or remove this APN. Make sure enabled attached APNs are disabled or removed.”

Related resources

• Can’t connect Chrome device to the network
• Set up virtual private networks (VPNs)