How to Configure Your eSIM APN: Complete Guide by Operator (Africa & Maghreb)

The WassaSim Team · · 8 min read

Your eSIM is installed, but you have no internet? The problem often comes from the APN (Access Point Name) — the network configuration that allows your phone to connect to the operator's mobile data. This guide explains how to check and manually configure it if necessary.

Good news: in 95% of cases, the APN configures automatically when you install an eSIM. If you are reading this article, you are in the 5% who need manual intervention — usually after a temporary bug or a profile incompatibility.

What is an APN and why does it matter?

APN (Access Point Name) is the address of the gateway server that connects your phone to the operator's internet data. Without a valid APN, your phone can be connected to the network (you see signal bars) but cannot access the internet.

Each operator has its own APN. For example:

  • Orange Senegal uses APN internet
  • Mobilis Algeria uses APN internet
  • Airtel Congo uses APN airtelgprs.com

When you install an eSIM, the downloaded operator profile normally contains this information. But the configuration can sometimes fail, especially on certain Android models or after a system update.

How to check if the APN is correctly configured

On iPhone

  1. Go to Settings > Cellular
  2. Tap your eSIM (e.g., "Travel Senegal")
  3. Tap "Cellular Data Network"
  4. Check that the "APN" field in the "Cellular Data" section is not empty

If the APN field is empty, that is the cause of the problem. Enter the value for your operator (see table below).

On Android (Samsung, Pixel, Xiaomi…)

  1. Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks
  2. Select your eSIM if you have multiple lines
  3. Tap "Access Point Names" or "APN"
  4. Check that an APN is present and selected (radio button lit)

If the list is empty or the active APN does not match your operator, follow the guide below to create one manually.

Step-by-step guide to configure the APN manually

On iPhone

  1. Go to Settings > Cellular > [your eSIM] > Cellular Data Network
  2. In the "Cellular Data" section, enter the following values:
    • APN: value from the table below (e.g., internet)
    • Username: leave empty (unless otherwise stated)
    • Password: leave empty (unless otherwise stated)
  3. Tap "Settings" at the top left to save
  4. Turn on Airplane Mode for 10 seconds, then turn it off
  5. Turn off Wi-Fi and test the connection
iPhone note: APN fields may appear greyed out and uneditable if the operator has installed a locked configuration profile. In that case, go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management to check if an operator profile is present.

On Android (Samsung)

  1. Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names
  2. Tap the "+" in the top right to create a new APN
  3. Fill in the following fields:
    • Name: the operator name (e.g., "Orange SN")
    • APN: value from the table below
    • APN type: default,supl
    • Leave all other fields empty
  4. Tap the three dots in the top right > "Save"
  5. Select the new APN (tap the radio button next to it)
  6. Turn on Airplane Mode for 10 seconds, then turn it off

On Android (Google Pixel)

  1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > SIM [your eSIM]
  2. Tap "Access Point Names"
  3. Tap "+" to add an APN
  4. Fill in the fields (see table below)
  5. Save via the three-dot menu > "Save"

APN table by operator

Here are the official APN settings for the main operators covered by WassaSim. The exact APN may vary depending on operator updates. If the values below do not work, contact our support.

Country Operator APN Username Password Speed
Senegal (SN) Orange Senegal internet 3G/4G
Morocco (MA) Orange Morocco internet 3G/4G/5G
Cameroon (CM) Orange Cameroon internet 3G/4G
Algeria (DZ) Mobilis internet 3G/4G
Algeria (DZ) Ooredoo Algeria internet 3G/4G
Ivory Coast (CI) Orange CI internet 3G/4G
Tunisia (TN) Ooredoo TN internet 3G/4G
Mali (ML) Orange Mali internet 3G/4G/5G
Guinea (GN) Orange Guinea internet 3G/4G
DR Congo (CD) Vodacom DRC internet 3G/4G
Congo Brazzaville (CG) Airtel Congo airtelgprs.com 3G/4G
Madagascar (MG) Orange Madagascar internet 3G/4G
Madagascar (MG) Airtel Madagascar airtelgprs.com 3G/4G
Burkina Faso (BF) Orange Burkina internet 3G/4G
Niger (NE) Airtel Niger airtelgprs.com 3G
Chad (TD) Airtel Chad airtelgprs.com 3G/4G
Gabon (GA) Airtel Gabon airtelgprs.com 3G/4G
Benin (BJ) Celtiis Benin internet 3G/4G

Note: for WassaSim eSIMs, the generic APN is globaldata. If the local APN does not work, try globaldata first.

If it still does not work

If you have configured the APN correctly and you still have no internet, here are other possible causes:

Checks before contacting support

  • Data roaming: make sure roaming is enabled for the eSIM. On iPhone: Settings > Cellular > [eSIM] > Data Roaming = On. On Android: Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Data Roaming = On
  • eSIM selected as data line: make sure your eSIM is set as the default line for mobile data
  • Airplane Mode: turn Airplane Mode on for 30 seconds then turn it off to force a network reconnection
  • Restart: fully power off your phone (not just restart) and turn it back on
  • Active plan: check that your WassaSim plan is still valid and has not expired
  • Data used up: check your usage in the WassaSim app or by email

Reset network settings

As a last resort, you can reset all network settings:

  • iPhone: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Warning: this erases all saved Wi-Fi networks
  • Android: Settings > General Management > Reset > Reset Network Settings

After the reset, reconnect to Wi-Fi and check the APN for your eSIM.

Contact WassaSim support

If none of these solutions work, our support team can help you directly. Send us:

  • Your order number
  • Your phone model
  • The destination country
  • A screenshot of your current APN configuration
Contact support →

Frequently asked questions

Does the APN configure automatically with an eSIM?
Yes, in 95% of cases the APN configures automatically when you install an eSIM. The downloaded operator profile contains all the necessary settings. You don't need to do anything manually.
How do I know if my APN is correctly configured?
Turn off Wi-Fi and check if you have internet access via mobile data. If it works, your APN is correct. You can also check in Settings > Cellular > [your eSIM] > Cellular Data Network (iPhone) or Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names (Android).
Can I damage my phone by changing the APN?
No. If you make a mistake in the APN configuration, the worst that can happen is losing your mobile data connection. You can always go back by clearing your changes or resetting the APN to default values.
Why do APN values differ between countries?
Each mobile operator uses its own internet gateway servers. The APN is the address of that server. Orange Senegal, Orange Morocco and Orange Cameroon use different servers even though they belong to the same group.
My APN field is greyed out and I cannot modify it. What should I do?
On iPhone, APN fields may be locked if the operator has pushed a configuration profile. Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management to check if an operator profile is installed. On Android, some operators lock APN settings via the eSIM profile. In that case, contact WassaSim support.
The APN works on 3G but not 4G. Why?
Some operators use different APNs for 3G and 4G/LTE. Make sure the APN type includes 'default,supl,dun' (Android) or that the LTE configuration is present. If the issue persists, try forcing the network to 3G in settings to confirm the basic APN works.

Read more: How to activate an eSIM on iPhone & Android | Best eSIM for Africa 2026 | eSIM Morocco travel guide

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