So you have a new Android phone and want to get your voicemail up and running. Or maybe you’ve had one for a while and never took the time to record the message people hear when they call you.
Well, both of these problems are easy to fix because setting up voicemail on an Android phone is simple. Here’s how to get everything just the way you like it.
How do I know if voicemail is already set up on my phone?
Voicemail is something that is managed by your mobile network/carrier, rather than the phone manufacturer itself.
It usually happens that as soon as you insert the SIM card into your handset (or configure the eSIM), the service is configured by default. However, this is not always the case: some may ask you to record a message or at least record your name to appear in the message.
To check if your voicemail is configured, there are several methods. The most obvious is asking a friend or family member to call you, but you don’t answer the call. After a short number of rings, your phone should register a missed call and the caller will be directed to your voicemail service.
If you don’t want to bother anyone, you can check this yourself by opening the “Phone” app (the one you use to call people), selecting the three dots in the upper right corner and choosing something something like this: Settings > Voicemail > Advanced settings > Configuration (varies depending on the model).
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Martyn Casserly
Martyn Casserly
If a number appears in this section, voicemail is enabled. The phone number will not be the same as yours, however, as it is the one used to contact your voicemail service.
How to Set Up Voicemail on an Android Phone
As noted above, there’s a good chance your voicemail is already up and running, but if you find that it’s not, the process is simple.
Prepare to call your answering service
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First, open the Phone app on your Android device and tap the number pad icon as shown above.
Contact your voicemail service
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Press and hold the “1” key until you are connected to the voicemail service. If that doesn’t work, find the specific voicemail number for your network or provider.
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Once logged in, you should have several different options, which may include setting up your voicemail or changing your personal settings. Tap the relevant number to move on to the next step, including if you want to record a message to leave for people.
Choose the one that is offered, then you will probably be asked to save your message and, if you want more security, you can create a PIN number which must be entered before messages are read.
When that’s done, end the call and then call voicemail again to make sure everything is set up the way you want it.
How to Check Voicemail on Android
When prompted for an alert that you have a voicemail, simply open the Phone app, tap the number pad icon, and enter the voicemail number (sometimes just press “1” and hold). pressed it).
Tap to call it, then choose the option that lets you “listen to your voicemail” or similar once connected.
How to Change Voicemail on Android
The steps may vary slightly depending on your provider, but they should be very similar to those described here.
Open the Phone app and call the voicemail number. Listen to the options provided until you hear something that sounds like a change to your settings.
Tap the relevant number on the on-screen keyboard, then tap one to change your greeting or something similar. A beep should indicate when to start recording, and you will hear the audio when finished.
If you’re not happy with it, you can easily re-record before setting it as your greeting.
Why does my phone go straight to voicemail?
If you find that you aren’t receiving calls, but they are going straight to voicemail, there are a number of potential causes.
First, Do Not Disturb or Airplane mode may be activated by accident. You’ll usually find it in the quick settings menu that opens when you swipe down from the top of the screen. Turn both off and your calls should start coming through again.
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Martyn Casserly
Martyn Casserly
It’s also possible that call forwarding or redirection is enabled, which you can find by going to settings and searching for those terms. Where you’ll find them in the app varies depending on the phone’s software.
Of course, the other simple explanation is that the signal strength in your current location, or those where you received the calls, was so weak that the call couldn’t go through.
If this is the case, just wait until you’re back somewhere with a stronger signal. If you have to get a call right away, try moving somewhere else to see if there’s a difference.
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