Setting up APN on mobile in Israel: carrier-by-carrier guide, troubleshooting, and data-saving tips 2025

Let’s be honest: there’s nothing more frustrating than getting a new SIM — and being stuck without internet. Believe it or not, in most cases the problem isn’t the infrastructure, the device, or even your plan — it’s a single line in Settings called APN (Access Point Name). From our experience with customers, a tiny change to this parameter brings data back in under a minute. Sounds complicated? Not at all. The fix is easier than you think.

In 2025 most SIMs in Israel come with automatic APN configuration, but there are plenty of cases where it doesn’t land correctly: a device imported from abroad, a fresh prepaid SIM (Tokman), a kosher/filtered or customized phone, or simply a one-time bug after a system update. In this post we’ve gathered carrier-specific settings, a clean step-by-step for Android and iPhone, troubleshooting that actually works in the field, and data-saving tips — especially for frequent travelers, tourists, and prepaid users.

So what does that mean for you? 2–3 minutes are enough to make sure your mobile internet really flies — and for little money.

What is an APN and why it matters in Israel 2025

APN (Access Point Name) is the “gateway” through which your device connects to your carrier’s data network. It tells the phone where to “go” when it asks for internet: which server, which identification, and which services are allowed (data, MMS, tethering/hotspot, etc.).

In Israel, because of the many carriers and especially MVNOs (virtual operators riding on a host network), different APN names exist. The thing is that in most cases users don’t need to know anything — the phone detects and configures itself automatically. But if there’s no data, extreme slowness, or Personal Hotspot doesn’t work — that’s your cue to check the APN.

From our extensive field experience, two things make the difference: choosing the exact APN name for your carrier, and setting the APN Type to default,supl and sometimes also dun for tethering. Bottom line — that’s what you need to know.

How to set APN on Android and iPhone — step by step

You won’t believe how many users skip this — and then say “that’s it? so simple!”:

Android:
• Settings > Mobile Network/Connections > Access Point Names (APN).
• Tap + to create a new APN (or edit an existing one).
• Fill only the fields you need (Name and APN are enough in most cases), save, and set it as the default.
iPhone (iOS):
• Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Cellular Data Network.
• Fill the APN under “Cellular Data” and also under “Personal Hotspot” if Hotspot doesn’t work.
• Go back one screen — it saves automatically.

Pro tip: If you don’t see the APN menu on iPhone, try removing and reinserting the SIM, toggling Airplane Mode, or doing a Reset Network Settings. With some carriers, the menu is “locked” until the network properly recognizes your SIM.

APN settings by carrier in Israel (including MVNOs) — what works in the field

We hear many people say “I have no idea which carrier I’m on.” If you’re on prepaid or a sub-brand, start with the host network based on coverage. The following are the APNs we see “stick” best in 2025. Note: there may be changes between plans and brands — if it doesn’t work, try the alternative or the generic “internet” APN.

Cellcom:
• Common APN: internetg
• Notes: leave username/password empty; for Hotspot add dun to APN Type on Android devices.
Partner (including 012 Mobile and brands on the Partner network):
• Common APN: uinternet
• Alternative: internet.partner (if present on the device)
• Notes: on iOS devices, uinternet alone usually suffices.
Pelephone (including brands on the network like Rami Levy, HNN, Zap, and more):
• Common APN: internet.pelephone.net.il
• Notes: for some sub-brands the same APN works as-is.
HOT Mobile:
• Common APN: net.hotm
• Notes: if it doesn’t work, try deleting and creating a fresh profile from scratch with the same name.
Golan Telecom:
• Common APN: internet.golantelecom.net.il
• Notes: on Golan, a device reboot is sometimes required after saving.
019 Mobile:
• Common APN: net.019
• Alternative: 019mobile (rare, but exists in older profiles)
• Notes: leave identification fields empty.
we4G (018 Xfone):
• Common APN: internet.018
• Notes: on some devices it appears as internet018.

Not sure if you’re on an MVNO? Start with the host network’s APN (Partner / Cellcom / Pelephone / HOT / Golan) based on your coverage. Don’t know the host? See the FAQ below on “How to find out which carrier my SIM belongs to.”

Quick reference table

Carrier/Primary brand	Recommended APN	Short notes
Cellcom	internetg	Add dun for Android tethering if needed
Partner / 012	uinternet	Sometimes internet.partner
Pelephone	internet.pelephone.net.il	Works for most brands on the network
HOT Mobile	net.hotm	Create a new profile if it won’t stick
Golan Telecom	internet.golantelecom.net.il	Reboot device after saving
019 Mobile	net.019	Historical alternative: 019mobile
we4G (018)	internet.018	Sometimes internet018

Golden tip: Leave MCC/MNC as your device filled automatically. In most cases there’s no need for Proxy, Port, Username, Password, MMSC, etc. Less is more.

Troubleshooting that actually works — a 5‑minute checklist

From our experience with customers, 80% of issues are solved with this sequence:

Airplane Mode for 30 seconds > back to network
Delete all old APNs > create a new, clean one based on the list
Reboot the device
Android: make sure APN Type = default,supl[,dun] (no spaces)
iPhone: also fill “Personal Hotspot” if Hotspot won’t allow connections

Didn’t help? Advanced checks worth doing:

Ensure your plan actually includes active data (on prepaid you sometimes need to load a separate data bundle).
Check “Data Roaming” — on some MVNO brands you must enable it to get a proper IP in Israel. Sounds odd, but in the field it helps.
Swap SIM slot (on Dual SIM) or test in another device — to rule out hardware issues.
Reset Network Settings (iOS/Android) — returns all network profiles to defaults.
Check for an account-level data block (some carriers cut data when you hit a cap until renewal).

Bottom line — if after all this you’re still stuck, it’s almost always a carrier-side issue (subscriber provisioning). Contact customer service and ask for a “data reset” or “remove data block.” It sounds technical, but a good agent does it in two clicks.

Data-saving and battery tips

Why pay for gigabytes you don’t use? Here’s what actually moves the needle on your bill and battery:

Smart background limits: on Android, enable Data Saver and restrict heavy apps (TikTok, Instagram, photo cloud). On iOS, turn off Background App Refresh for most.
Default video quality: set 720p on YouTube/Netflix when on cellular — the quality difference on a small screen is minor, data difference is huge.
Offline maps: Google Maps/Here WeGo — download your travel area in advance. Saves data and slow loads.
5G wisely: if you’re in a spot with weak 5G, the phone “fights” to hold it and it drains battery. Switch to LTE temporarily.
Block automatic uploads: back up photos/videos on Wi‑Fi only. Yes, also in WhatsApp — set auto-download so large media is Wi‑Fi only.

The thing is that saving data almost always comes with a “calmer” phone and a battery that lasts 20–30% longer on a busy day.

Field insights: real cases in 2025

Tourists with iPhones from the U.S.: arrive with an old eSIM profile that “locks” a hidden APN. Reset Network Settings + create a manual APN fixes it on the spot. Don’t forget to fill the Hotspot section too.
Prepaid not browsing after a top-up: the customer activated a minutes-only bundle. Until you enable a data add-on, no APN will help. Check balance and add data.
Cellular router (MiFi/router with SIM): sometimes the default APN is “internet.” On some networks you must change to net.hotm / uinternet etc. Small change — instant WAN IP.

One question we get a lot is “why doesn’t Hotspot work even though the internet does?” In most cases the APN Type “dun” is missing on Android, or on iOS you didn’t enter the same APN in “Personal Hotspot.”

FAQ — short questions, sharp answers

Question: How do I know which carrier/network my SIM is on?
Answer: Check Settings > About phone > SIM status (there you’ll see the operator name). You can also see it in your account page/app or by the phone number prefix. If it’s a virtual brand (MVNO), it usually appears alongside the host network name (Partner/Cellcom/Pelephone/HOT/Golan).

Question: Do I have to fill username/password in the APN?
Answer: In Israel, almost never. Leave them empty. Wrong entries cause “Registered but no data.”

Question: Why do I have LTE but no internet?
Answer: Wrong APN, an account-level data block, or stuck DNS. Try deleting/creating the APN anew, turn Data Roaming ON, and reboot. On routers — try manual DNS (1.1.1.1/8.8.8.8).

Question: I switched carriers — do I have to change the APN?
Answer: Yes. APN depends on the carrier. Delete the old one and set a new one from the list above.

Question: Personal Hotspot doesn’t work on iPhone — what should I do?
Answer: Enter the same APN in the “Personal Hotspot” field. This is often the step people miss.

Common myths — and the truth

“If there’s 4G/5G — the APN doesn’t matter”: Not true. The APN is the address to the network gateway. The 4G/5G icon only means you’re radio-connected, not that data works.
“All carriers in Israel use ‘internet’”: In practice, no. Names differ; “internet” will sometimes work, but it’s not the first choice.
“You need to fill every field”: The opposite. The minimum required (Name and APN) is usually the most stable.

Practical tips for travelers and tourists in Israel

Get data working before you leave the airport: if the SIM is new, set the APN and test in maps/router before leaving Ben Gurion.
Use Dual SIM if you have a home line: set the Israeli SIM for data, keep your foreign line for calls/WhatsApp.
Save a screenshot of the working APN: lets you restore quickly after a reset or update.

If you’re on prepaid (Tokman), make sure you’ve loaded an active data bundle. If not, you may see full signal but 0 browsing. In that case, a quick fix is to do an online prepaid top-up and activate a data plan immediately.

For advanced users: APN types and what they do

APN Type:
• default – regular data
• supl – assisted GPS/location services
• dun – internet sharing (Hotspot)
On most devices default,supl is enough. If Hotspot doesn’t work — add dun on Android.
Bearer/Protocol: leave as “unspecified” or automatic IPv4/IPv6. In rare cases, forcing IPv4-only fixes sites that don’t support IPv6.
MVNO Type/Value (advanced Android): if such a field exists and has a wrong value — delete it (leave empty). This avoids confusion when switching carriers.

Notes for special devices: cellular routers, tablets, and in-car systems

On non-smartphone systems (MiFi/routers, tablets without voice, in-car multimedia) the settings screen is different but the idea is the same: find WAN/Cellular/APN and enter the correct value. From our experience:

Routers sometimes need a manual Reconnect after changing APN.
Some routers save APN profiles by name — if the name matches an old profile, delete it and create a new one with a different name.
Samsung tablets: same as standard Android, but sometimes under “Advanced connections.”

Summary: how to ensure stable internet — without the headache

Get the exact APN for your carrier from the table.
Delete old profiles, create a new one, save, and set as default.
Test Hotspot with dun added (Android) and the Hotspot field filled (iOS).
If stuck — reset network settings and create a clean APN.
On prepaid — make sure a data bundle is active before anything else.

Want peace of mind choosing a SIM, prepaid, or plan that fits your usage? We’re happy to help and guide you to the right settings, including a preconfigured APN. Get in touch and check plans tailored for real-world data use — not just on paper.

Written by the Zolsim team on 2025-09-17