topic Re: APN greyed out in Get Support

APN greyed out

Amnotnick — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 17:01:40 GMT

Hi, just got a K-touch phone from aliexpress that runs Android 8.1 The APN settings are greyed out and cannot be edited. After messing around for several hours I got the adb method to open up a new APN dialog......also greyed out. From everything I've read it seems the real problem is with the sim card. It comes with 3 APN , one kodoo and two telus but of course none PM. Does anyone have a fix or know if PM can issue new sim cards with the proper APN?

Re: APN greyed out

Jb456 — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 03:53:22 GMT

Try a freedom mobile sim card if you know anyone that has one to edit the APN settings or locate a kiosk that deals with Freedom to see if they would let you borrow a sim for a few minutes to edit the APN.

A roam mobility sim card may work as well.

If you're in Mississauga area Canadian Cell Supplies offers pickup. They also ship free in Canada. A freedom sim is currently $3.33 plus tax.

https://canadiancellsupplies.com/collections/sim-cards

Can't say this will work for you however many other types of phones (from those types of sites) with greyed out APN was the solution for them.

Here are APN settings if you get a sim.

First one is from my phone.

If they don't work for you try these

Best of luck and keep us posted.

Re: APN greyed out

computergeek541 — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:05:16 GMT

@Amnotnick wrote:
Hi, just got a K-touch phone from aliexpress that runs Android 8.1 The APN settings are greyed out and cannot be edited. After messing around for several hours I got the adb method to open up a new APN dialog......also greyed out. From everything I've read it seems the real problem is with the sim card. It comes with 3 APN , one kodoo and two telus but of course none PM. Does anyone have a fix or know if PM can issue new sim cards with the proper APN?

It's pretty common for APN settings not be editable on many Android-based devices. I know that you can't edit the existing ones, but does it allow you to add a new one? On my device, I can only add, but not edit. The Freedom Mobile sim card suggestion is a good one for situations in which you can't add a new APN either.

A new Public Mobile sim card won't do anything. APN settings are not saved on the sim card. While it is true that the settings aren't changable on some Android device when using a Public Mobile sim card, this is actually a software issue of the device maker. There are many devices that allow these settings to be changed (although changes often aren't needed).

Re: APN greyed out

Amnotnick — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:24:52 GMT

It definitely is a PM sim card problem since the sim card comes with 3 incorrect APN! Also since a Freedom mobile card supposedly allows editing then it's clearly a sim card issue. When I put in my old Virgin sim I get a different set of APN. I managed to get the new APN dialog to pop up using abd but it poped up greyed.

From what I read PM should be able to push an APN setting.

Also, I had the sim in a finow android 7 phone which allowed me to add APN and it worked fine. And that confuses the issue as to where the APN data is stored. I wonder if there is a way to push a new APN with adb. I guess I'll try the Freedom card....stay tuned!

Re: APN greyed out

computergeek541 — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:34:22 GMT

@Amnotnick wrote:
It definitely is a PM sim card problem since the sim card comes with 3 incorrect APN! Also since a Freedom mobile card supposedly allows editing then it's clearly a sim card issue. When I put in my old Virgin sim I get a different set of APN. I managed to get the new APN dialog to pop up using abd but it poped up greyed.
From what I read PM should be able to push an APN setting.
Also, I had the sim in a finow android 7 phone which allowed me to add APN and it worked fine. And that confuses the issue as to where the APN data is stored. I wonder if there is a way to push a new APN with adb. I guess I'll try the Freedom card....stay tuned!

Once again, sim cards do not come with APN settings. It is up to the device manufactuer to properly program them. These settings are saved on the phone. This issue isn't specific to Public Mobile either.

While it is true that the settings aren't configurable on phones with this issue when a Public Mobile sim card is inserted, this issue also happens with some other carriers' sim cards as well. It's a device software issue. If you take your same Public Mobile sim card and insert it into a phone that doesn't disallow the changing of APN setttings, this wouldn't be an issue.

As for the settings not being already on the phone, that's 100% on the device maker.

On some devices with this identical issue, the problem was solved after the manufactuer released a software update.

Re: APN greyed out

gpixel — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:36:26 GMT

@Amnotnick can you edit the settings when you insert your virgin simcard? if you can you may not even need the freedom sim

Re: APN greyed out

Amnotnick — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:39:52 GMT

No, I can not. It apparently has to do with android 8 and higher.

Re: APN greyed out

Amnotnick — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:44:57 GMT

computergeek541 wrote:

"Once again, sim cards do not come with APN settings"

If the data is not on the sim how come it changes when I change sim ? This issue is all over the net with various phone brands. My phone is unlocked. (as far as carrier is concerned)

Re: APN greyed out

computergeek541 — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:43:16 GMT

@Amnotnick wrote:
No, I can not. It apparently has to do with android 8 and higher.

Too my knowledge, this nonsense started with Android 8.1, but it was not universal to all devices. Many running 8.1 still allowed the APN settings to either be edited or new ones to be added.

Re: APN greyed out

gpixel — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:43:58 GMT

@Amnotnick since you know how to use adb. there is a way to edit the APN settings, but you need to root your phone

Re: APN greyed out

Jb456 — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:44:57 GMT

@Amnotnick

We are merely customers like you. We can only provide a possible solution (Freedom sim)

If you would like further explanation on your other questions contact the moderators.

Two ways to reach them.

2- or via private message at link below

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437

Re: APN greyed out

computergeek541 — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:46:10 GMT

@gpixel wrote:
@Amnotnick since you know how to use adb. there is a way to edit the APN settings, but you need to root your phone

If someone is willing to root the phone, adding the APN settings probably won't be necessary. I know that a phone user can root the phone and otherwise keep stock software, but I would imagine that if going through the process of it, the customer may very well just install a custom ROM that already has the APN setting programmed in.

Re: APN greyed out

Amnotnick — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:51:53 GMT

I'll try the freedom sim first since i just ordered one! I haven't found the command line to input apn data. If you can point me in the right direction that would be great!

From what I've read, and I've been reading all day, It's the provider that locks the apn settings with android 8 which, if true, makes PM doubly silly.

Re: APN greyed out

geopublic — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:52:00 GMT

@Amnotnick Many Android 8.1 phones do not allow you to add an APN entry.

Go into network settings and set it to manually search for providers. If it finds Public Mobile select it. Make sure Bluetooth is turned off.

Can you change the values of any of the existing APN entries? If yes, select the first Telus entry. Change APN to sp.mb.com and MNVO to GID hit the back button.

If that doesn't work then you need a Freedom or Roam.com sim card as those cards are known to allow you to add an APN entry.

Re: APN greyed out

kselmak — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 15:17:17 GMT

@Amnotnick

Freedom mobile will change your settings not because there is anything on the sim but once you connect to their service they will push settings through sms.

Pubic mobile can do it to

Contact moderators give them your name model and IMEI number and ask them to push settings through sms. You will just need to accept the settings

Enjoy your new phone

Re: APN greyed out

geopublic — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 15:57:08 GMT

@Amnotnick Did you try this method? Note do it without the sim card inserted.

https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/help/android-8-1-how-to-edit-cellular-apn-t3697425/post75157321#post75157321

Re: APN greyed out

Amnotnick — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 16:31:55 GMT

Yes that is the adb method I was refering. It makes a "new APN" dialog open on the phone, but the dialog is greyed out.

Since the APN are pushed by PM it seems really ridiculous that they are not pushing a correct one.

I will contact a moderator while I wait for my Freedom sim. One of the possible problems with doing it with the Freedom sim is that the info will be overwritten when I pop the PM sim back in.

I'll keep you posted on my progress...or lack thereof !

....After banging my head against SIMon and the ticket form I have an active ticket.

Re: APN greyed out

geopublic — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 16:31:12 GMT

@Amnotnick Others have reported that even though it was greyed out they were able to go in and make changes right after issuing the ADB command. Is that not the case?

Re: APN greyed out

Amnotnick — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 16:35:09 GMT

No. Unless they issued another command unlocking the APN edit. All that

am start -a android.intent.action.INSERT content://telephony/carriers --ei simId -1

does is open a new APN window. Which is partly useful since the "+" option is not displayed. Unfortunately in my case, the fields are greyed out

Re: APN greyed out

geopublic — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 18:50:42 GMT

@Amnotnick Take a look at the OP's response further down on how he solved it.

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Phones-Hardware/Can-t-setting-my-APN/td-p/389084