Independent Lebara guide
Lebara 50% Off Get 50% off

Lebara mobile data repair

Lebara Mobile Data Misbehaving? Fix the APN Settings

If calls work but the internet has wandered off, the APN may be wrong. Try the quick checks first, then change only the three fields Lebara actually specifies.

Referral disclosure: Independent referral discount website. We may earn a referral reward when you join. You get a 50% discount.

The copyable bit

Lebara's UK APN settings

Lebara's current support page tells customers to check three details when automatic mobile-internet setup has not worked: uk.lebara.mobi, with WAP as both username and password.3 The case of wap is not the interesting part. Spelling lebara correctly is.

Lebara UK mobile-data APN
FieldEnterWhat to do with anything else
NameLebara InternetA label for your own phone
APNuk.lebara.mobiEnter exactly
UsernamewapEnter exactly
PasswordwapEnter exactly
Proxy, port and serverLeave unchangedDo not copy old forum values into spare boxes
Change as little as possible. Apple warns that incorrect APN details can remove mobile-data connectivity and may lead to extra charges.5 Take a screenshot of the existing screen before editing it.
The three core Lebara UK APN fields: uk.lebara.mobi, username wap and password wap
Three fields matter. The remaining empty boxes are not an invitation to improvise.

Before opening the tiny boxes

Rule out the easier causes first

Google's Android guidance starts with a restart, then checks mobile data away from Wi-Fi and uses a ten-second aeroplane-mode toggle.7 That order makes sense on iPhone too. It is quicker than rebuilding a perfectly good APN.

  1. Turn Wi-Fi off for the test.Otherwise the phone may look connected while mobile data does nothing at all.
  2. Make sure mobile data is on.On a dual-SIM phone, confirm that Lebara is the line selected for data.
  3. Check for a data symbol.Look beside the signal bars for 4G, 5G, LTE or another data indicator. Google notes that no indicator can point to a coverage problem.7
  4. Use aeroplane mode for ten seconds.Turn it off, wait for the network to return and try one ordinary web page.
  5. Restart the phone.A restart is dull, cheap and surprisingly good at clearing a failed network registration.
  6. Only then inspect the APN.If the three Lebara fields are already correct, repeated editing is unlikely to improve them.
Six-step Lebara mobile data checklist from turning off Wi-Fi through checking the APN and contacting support
Stop as soon as data returns. Telecoms troubleshooting is not improved by unnecessary sequels.

Android

Find Access Point Names, then make one careful edit

Android manufacturers rename and rearrange menus with impressive enthusiasm. In Settings, search for Access Point Names or APN. If search is no help, look under Network and internet, Connections, Mobile network or SIMs.

  1. Select the Lebara SIM.This matters on a phone with two lines. Editing the other SIM's APN achieves nothing except confusion.
  2. Open Access Point Names.Use the existing Lebara profile if it is present. Otherwise choose New APN or the plus button.
  3. Enter the core values.Name: Lebara Internet. APN: uk.lebara.mobi. Username: wap. Password: wap.3
  4. Save and select it.Android often hides Save in the three-dot menu. Make sure the radio button beside the new profile is selected.
  5. Restart and test without Wi-Fi.Open a simple website before testing streaming, tethering or a heroic app download.

If Android refuses to save the profile, check for accidental spaces and make sure the APN field is not blank. Do not delete every existing profile unless Lebara support specifically asks you to.

iPhone

Let the provider settings try first

Connect to Wi-Fi, then open Settings > General > About. Apple says this screen can offer a network provider settings update, including after a new SIM or eSIM is installed.6 Accept the prompt if one appears, then test mobile data before editing anything.

If data still fails, look for Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Network. Lebara's iPhone instructions put uk.lebara.mobi, wap and wap under Mobile Data, and repeat them under Personal Hotspot.2

The menu may not exist. Apple says APN viewing and editing depend on the network provider.5 A missing menu is not a challenge to install a mysterious configuration profile from a forum. Restart the iPhone, recheck General > About and contact Lebara if the automatic settings still do not arrive.

Side-by-side Lebara APN setup routes for Android and iPhone
The values match. The route to reach them depends on the phone.

Two common detours

Dual SIM and roaming can make a correct APN look broken

On a dual-SIM phone

  • Choose Lebara as the mobile-data line
  • Confirm the APN belongs to that line
  • Temporarily turn off data switching between SIMs
  • Test with Wi-Fi disabled

When abroad

  • Check that your destination and plan allow roaming
  • Turn data roaming on only when you intend to use it
  • Keep the core Lebara APN values
  • Restart after changing the data settings

Roaming eligibility and charges are a separate question from the APN. Use the Lebara roaming guide to check the destination before enabling data abroad.

Pictures refuse to send

If data works but MMS does not, stop rebuilding the internet APN

MMS can use extra device-specific fields. That does not mean every old proxy, port and server value found online belongs in your phone. If ordinary mobile data now works, preserve that profile and use Lebara's device helper or support for your exact handset.

On iPhone, also check that MMS Messaging is enabled under Messages. On Android, confirm that mobile data is on while sending the picture. If only one messaging app fails, test another ordinary browser request first. A working browser separates a messaging problem from a dead data connection.

Repairing an old line, or replacing it?

If the phone and local coverage are fine but the plan no longer suits you, compare the current allowance and renewal price before ordering another SIM.

See current Lebara plans

Know when to stop

An APN cannot fix an outage, empty allowance or absent signal

  • No signal bars or data symbolMove to another location and check again. Google advises contacting the mobile provider if the missing data connection keeps recurring.7
  • One app fails but websites loadThe APN is carrying data. Check that app's permissions, settings or service status instead.
  • Data stops after an allowance runs outCheck MyLebara before changing network settings. An APN cannot manufacture an allowance.
  • A VPN or private DNS was added recentlyPause it briefly and test. Restore it afterward if it was not the cause.
  • The SIM works in no compatible phoneContact Lebara with the account details privately. Do not post the SIM number or security answers in a public forum.

Quick answers

Lebara APN questions

What is the Lebara UK APN?

Use uk.lebara.mobi, with wap for both username and password. These are the three values on Lebara's current UK troubleshooting page.3

Why can I not find APN settings on my iPhone?

Apple says the provider controls whether the APN menu can be viewed or edited. Check Settings > General > About for a provider update, restart and contact Lebara rather than installing an unknown profile.56

Should I change MCC, MNC, proxy or port?

Not for the basic repair described here. Leave unspecified fields unchanged unless Lebara's current instructions for your exact phone tell you otherwise.

Do I need a different APN for tethering?

Lebara's iPhone page repeats the same APN, username and password under Personal Hotspot. On Android, test ordinary mobile data first, then test the hotspot after the phone itself connects.2

Why does mobile data work on one SIM but not the other?

Check which line is selected for mobile data and which line owns the APN profile. Dual-SIM phones can keep perfectly correct settings under the SIM you are not using.

Sources

Official guidance used for this article

Phone menus and provider settings can change with software updates. The sources below are official Lebara, Apple and Google guidance. If the screen on your phone differs, use its Settings search or ask Lebara for the route for that exact model.

  1. 2

    Lebara: use the internet on iPhone

    Open source
  2. 3

    Lebara: trouble accessing the internet

    Open source
  3. 5

    Apple: view and edit APN on iPhone and iPad

    Open source
  4. 6

    Apple: update network provider settings

    Open source
  5. 7

    Google Android Help: fix internet connection problems

    Open source

Need a plan rather than another settings menu?

Check the live Lebara offer

Compare the allowance, introductory price and renewal cost. Offers and eligibility can change, so confirm everything at checkout.

See Lebara's current offer
50% offfirst 3 monthsGo to Lebara ↗