About iPhone carrier settings updates in iTunes
Summary
iTunes 7.7 and later has the ability to update the carrier-specific settings on iPhone with iPhone 2.0 software or later. Carrier settings updates are small files (about 10k) that are downloaded from iTunes to be installed on your iPhone. The carrier settings can include updates to the default APN (how iPhone accesses the carrier's cellular data network), special dialing codes at Settings > Phone > [Carrier] Services, default settings for Stocks, Maps, Weather, and other items. You should install these updates to your iPhone as soon as they are available.
Products Affected
iPhone, iTunes 7 for Mac, iTunes 7 for Windows, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iTunes 9 for Windows, iTunes 9 for Mac, iTunes 8 for Windows, iTunes 8 for Mac
To check if a carrier settings update is available for your iPhone, do the the following:
- Make sure you have a working Internet connection on your computer and you have iTunes 7.7 or later.
- Connect iPhone to the computer and open iTunes.
- If a carrier setting update is available, you will see the following screen:
- Click "Update Settings" and you will see the following screen.
- Restart your iPhone:
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Hold the power button until "slide to power off" appears.
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Slide to power off your device.
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When it is off, press the power button to turn it back on.
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Additional Information
The carrier update files are stored in the following locations.
- In Mac OS X:
/Users/[Username]/Library/iTunes/iPhone Carrier Support/
- In Windows XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\[Username]\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Carrier Support
- In Windows Vista:
C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Carrier Support\ in Windows Vista.
With iPhone 2.1 Software or later, the version of the carrier settings is visible on iPhone by tapping Settings > General > About and looking next to "Carrier". If you restore with a new version of the iPhone software, the carrier settings update may be included with that update. If not, iTunes will indicate that a carrier update is available after the restore.