Tello APN Settings (2026): Configure Data and MMS Fast

"Just activated my Tello SIM, data works but MMS won't send pictures. What APN am I supposed to use?"

Tello runs on T-Mobile's network as an MVNO. Most modern phones auto-configure the APN when the SIM activates, but Android phones occasionally need a manual entry for MMS to work properly, and older devices may not pull the auto-configuration at all.

Here is the verified setup from Tello's own help center, plus the order to try things in if MMS or data refuses to come up.

Tello APN Quick Facts

• Tello uses T-Mobile's network. The same towers, the same 4G LTE and 5G coverage, just a separate billing and provisioning layer through Tello.
• The Android APN value is wholesale, the standard T-Mobile-MVNO identifier. iPhones running iOS 12 or later auto-configure through a carrier profile push when the SIM activates.
• If you activated a Tello SIM and data works but MMS does not, the APN type field is the most common reason. The full string needs mms in it.
• After major OS updates on Android, recheck the APN. Updates occasionally reset custom APN entries back to default.

Reaching the APN Editor

If your data works fine but MMS is broken, focus on the MMSC, MMS Port, and APN Type fields below. If neither works, the entire APN entry needs review. Tello's settings are case-sensitive; the value wholesale must be lowercase exactly.

Android

1. 1.Open Settings
2. 2.Tap Network & Internet (or Connections on Samsung)
3. 3.Tap Mobile Networks, then your Tello SIM if dual-SIM
4. 4.Tap Access Point Names
5. 5.Tap the three-dot menu, then New APN
6. 6.Enter the values from the Tello Android list below
7. 7.Tap Save, then select the new APN to make it active
8. 8.Restart the phone or toggle Airplane Mode for 20 seconds

iPhone and iPad

1. 1.Open Settings
2. 2.Tap Cellular or Mobile Data
3. 3.Tap Cellular Data Network
4. 4.Enter the values from the iPhone list below
5. 5.If the menu is missing, run Reset Network Settings at Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings, then recheck

Tello Android APN Values

Use these for Android phones, tablets, and hotspots connected through a Tello SIM:

• Name: Tello
• APN: wholesale
• Proxy: <Not set>
• Port: <Not set>
• Username: <Not set>
• Password: <Not set>
• Server: <Not set>
• MMSC: http://wholesale.mmsmvno.com/mms/wapenc
• MMS proxy: <Not set>
• MMS port: 8080
• MCC: 310
• MNC: 260
• Authentication Type: None (or <Not set>)
• APN Type: default,supl,mms
• APN Protocol: IPv4/IPv6
• APN Roaming Protocol: IPv4/IPv6
• Bearer: Unspecified

Tello iPhone APN Values

iPhones running iOS 12 or later usually auto-configure these. If you need to enter them manually:

• Cellular Data / Mobile Data (APN): wholesale
• Username: <Not set>
• Password: <Not set>
• MMS:
  • APN: service
  • MMSC: http://wholesale.mmsmvno.com/mms/wapenc
  • MMS Proxy: <Not set>
  • MMS Max Message Size: 1048576
  • MMS UA Prof URL: http://www.apple.com/mms/uaprof.rdf
• Personal Hotspot (if visible): APN = wholesale, Username and Password = <Not set>

Auto-Provisioning on Tello

When you activate a Tello SIM in a modern phone, Tello pushes a configuration profile to the device automatically. On Android phones recognized by Tello's database (most major brands and recent models), this profile populates the APN entry without any manual work. iPhones running iOS 12 or later get the same treatment through Apple's carrier-bundles system.

If auto-provisioning does not happen, it usually means one of three things. Either the phone is too old or obscure for Tello's database, the SIM is still in the early activation window, or the phone has stale APN entries from a previous carrier that block the new profile from taking effect.

For all three cases, the manual APN values above work as a reliable fallback. Save the values, select the new APN, and reboot.

Common Tello APN Issues

• After saving the APN, reboot the phone. Some Android phones do not switch APN entries until they re-register with the network.
• Confirm the APN value is spelled wholesale in lowercase. Capitalization breaks the entry on T-Mobile's network.
• If MMS still fails, double-check the MMS Port. Tello uses 8080, not the more common 80. This is a frequent typo source.
• Check the APN type string. Missing mms breaks picture messaging, and missing supl can prevent some location services from updating.
• Make sure the phone supports T-Mobile's 4G LTE and 5G bands. Most modern phones do, but very old or import-only devices sometimes lack key bands.
• For iPhones, check for a Carrier Settings update at Settings > General > About. A prompt appears for about 15 seconds if one is available.
• If your phone moved from another carrier to Tello, run Reset Network Settings first to clear the old carrier's APN entries that may be blocking Tello's.
• If issues persist after all of the above, contact Tello support. They can resend the activation profile or refresh the account from their side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tello on T-Mobile or Sprint?

Tello is on T-Mobile. After T-Mobile merged with Sprint, Tello inherited the combined network, but their APN values point to the T-Mobile-MVNO wholesale infrastructure. There is no Sprint-era configuration to worry about.

Do I need separate APN values for 5G on Tello?

No. The same APN handles 4G LTE and 5G traffic. To get 5G specifically, enable 5G in the phone's network mode settings and confirm your plan includes 5G access (current Tello plans do).

Why is the APN named wholesale and not Tello?

Tello buys network capacity from T-Mobile at wholesale rates and resells it. The APN name Wholesale references that back-end relationship and tells the network the connecting device is on an MVNO plan, not direct T-Mobile postpaid. The lowercase spelling is required.

The MMS port is 8080, not 80. Why?

T-Mobile's MVNO infrastructure uses port 8080 for MMS routing rather than the more common port 80 used by Verizon-based carriers. Both work for HTTP, but Tello specifically uses 8080. Setting it to 80 will break MMS.

My APN settings are grayed out on my iPhone. Why?

The iPhone is likely carrier-locked to another carrier. You will need an unlock from the original carrier (most often AT&T or Verizon) before manual APN editing becomes available. Locked iPhones still receive carrier auto-profiles for compatible MVNOs, but manual editing stays disabled.

Can I use my Tello SIM in a router or modem?

Yes. Most LTE routers accept third-party SIMs and let you configure APN manually. Use the same Android values above. The MVNO Type field on routers may not exist; that is fine, the wholesale APN typically works without it.

What does MMS Max Message Size 1048576 mean on iPhone?

It is the MMS attachment size cap in bytes (exactly 1 MB). It is the standard limit across US carriers on Tello, T-Mobile, and most others. Larger files should go through iMessage, RCS, or Wi-Fi messaging instead.