How to Set Up Voicemail on Android or iPhone
On Android, open the Phone app and hold 1 on the keypad. On iPhone, open Voicemail in the Phone app and tap Set Up Now. Then create a PIN and record a greeting. The device steps are below, followed by the exact steps for 18 carriers.
How to set up voicemail on Android
These steps work on any Android phone: voicemail is run by your carrier and reached through the Phone app.
- Open the Phone app and tap the keypad.
- Touch and hold 1. This calls your carrier's voicemail.
- Follow the voice prompts: create a PIN, record your name, and record your greeting.
- Hang up. Callers who reach your voicemail now hear your greeting.
Samsung Galaxy
If holding 1 asks you to add a voicemail number, open Phone > More options (โฎ) > Settings > Voicemail > Voicemail number, enter your carrier's voicemail number from the table below, then hold 1 again. Galaxy phones on One UI 8.5 (Android 16) also have Samsung's own Direct voicemail (Phone > More options > Settings > Direct voicemail), which only works while the phone is on and connected to your network.
Google Pixel
Open Phone > More options (โฎ) > Settings > Voicemail. Turn on Visual voicemail if your carrier supports it, and a Voicemail tab appears in the Phone app. To set up the mailbox, use Advanced settings > Setup, or hold 1 on the keypad. Some carriers, such as T-Mobile and AT&T, handle visual voicemail in their own app instead.
How to set up voicemail on iPhone
- Open the Phone app.
- Open Voicemail. In the Classic layout, tap Voicemail at the bottom. In iOS 26's Unified layout, open the Calls tab, tap the Filter button at the top right and choose Voicemails. The same Filter menu switches between Classic and Unified.
- Tap Set Up Now. It only appears the first time.
- Create a voicemail password, then enter it again to confirm.
- Choose Default, or Custom to record your own greeting (tap Record, then Stop), and tap Save.
No Set Up Now button? Your carrier may not offer Visual Voicemail on your plan. Open the Keypad, hold 1 and set up by voice prompts instead.
Your carrier's exact steps
3. Device
Voicemail access code โ Verizon Wireless
*86 (or hold 1)
1
First-time setup
Set up voicemail from scratch
- From your Verizon phone, hold the 1 key โ or dial *86 and press Call
- You will be prompted to create a 4-7 digit password (this is your voicemail PIN)
- Enter and confirm your password
- Record your name when prompted
- Choose your greeting: default ("You have reached XXX-XXX-XXXX...") or record a custom greeting
- Confirm and save
2
Visual Voicemail on iPhone
โ Built into your phone โ no app needed
- Open the Phone app
- Open Voicemail: the Voicemail tab at the bottom (Classic layout), or in iOS 26's Unified layout the Calls tab > Filter button (top right) > Voicemails
- Tap Set Up Now (appears only on first run)
- Follow the prompts (create PIN + record greeting if not done already)
Note: Visual Voicemail is built into the iPhone Phone app for Verizon lines. Open Phone > Voicemail tab > tap Set Up Now (first time only).
3
Record / change your greeting
Greeting recording steps
- Dial *86 and enter your voicemail PIN
- Press 4 for Personal Options
- Press 2 for Greetings
- Press 1 to record a new greeting
- Record your greeting, press # when done
- Press 1 to keep it, or 2 to re-record
Tip: Need a professional greeting script? Use our Voicemail Greeting Generator โ 36 ready-to-record templates across professional, friendly, and funny tones.
Reset / change PIN
Forgot your voicemail PIN?
- Sign in to My Verizon (verizon.com/my-verizon) or open the My Verizon app
- Navigate to Account > Voicemail
- Tap Reset Voicemail Password
- Verizon sends you a new temporary PIN via SMS
- Call *86 with the temporary PIN and set a new permanent password
Can't access self-service?
- Sign in to My Verizon and reset via Account > Voicemail > Reset Password
- OR call Verizon Customer Care at *611 from your Verizon phone and request a PIN reset
Voicemail numbers by carrier
Dial or hold this from your own phone to reach your voicemail. Visual voicemail shows your messages as a list instead.
| Carrier | Voicemail access | Visual voicemail (iPhone) | Visual voicemail (Android) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Wireless | *86 (or hold 1) | Built in | App: Verizon Visual Voicemail |
| AT&T Mobility | Hold 1 (or dial your own 10-digit number) | Built in | App: AT&T Visual Voicemail |
| T-Mobile (and ex-Sprint) | Hold 1 (or dial 805-637-7626) | Built in | App: T-Mobile Visual Voicemail (or built into T-Life app) |
| Mint Mobile | Hold 1 | Built in | Not offered |
| Cricket Wireless | Hold 1 (or dial your own number) | App: Cricket Visual Voicemail | App: Cricket Visual Voicemail |
| US Cellular* | Hold 1 (or *86) | App: US Cellular Visual Voicemail | App: US Cellular Visual Voicemail |
| Xfinity Mobile | Hold 1 | Built in | App: Xfinity Mobile app (built-in) |
| Visible | Hold 1 | Built in | App: Visible app (built-in) |
| EE | 901 (free from EE phone) | Built in | App: EE app or native carrier integration |
| Vodafone UK | 121 (free from Vodafone phone) | Built in | Not offered |
| O2 UK | 901 (free from O2 phone) | Built in | Not offered |
| Three UK | 123 (free from Three phone) | Built in | Not offered |
| Bell Canada | Hold 1 (or dial *98) | Built in | App: Bell Visual Voicemail |
| Rogers | Hold 1 | Built in | App: Rogers Voicemail+ |
| Telus | Hold 1 (or *98) | Built in | App: Telus Visual Voicemail |
| Telstra | 101 (free from Telstra phone) | Built in | App: Telstra MessageBank Plus |
| Optus | 321 (free from Optus phone) | Built in | Not offered |
| Vodafone AU | 121 (free from Vodafone phone) | Built in | Not offered |
* US Cellular: UScellular's wireless business became part of T-Mobile on August 1, 2025. If your account has moved to T-Mobile, use the T-Mobile steps.
Troubleshooting: voicemail not working?
- Voicemail box full โ most boxes hold 25-50 messages. Delete old ones via Visual Voicemail or call your inbox and delete from there.
- Greeting not recorded โ if you set up the PIN but never recorded a greeting, callers may hear โthe wireless customer is unavailableโ instead. Re-run the first-time setup.
- Wi-Fi Calling interference โ some carriers don't support voicemail over Wi-Fi-only connections. Disable Wi-Fi Calling temporarily and dial your access code.
- Number recently ported โ if you switched carriers, give it 24-72 hours for voicemail records to fully propagate.
- Prepaid plan limitation โ some prepaid lines don't include voicemail by default. Check with your carrier whether it's included or an add-on.
- SIM-only line without contract โ some MVNOs (Mint, Cricket variants) have limited voicemail functionality. Contact carrier support to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up voicemail for the first time?
Open your Phone app, go to the keypad and touch and hold 1 (on Verizon you can also dial *86). That calls your carrier's voicemail, which asks you to create a PIN, record your name and record a greeting. On iPhone you can do the same from the Voicemail screen with Set Up Now.
How do I set up voicemail on Android?
Open the Phone app, tap the keypad and touch and hold 1, then follow the voice prompts to create a PIN, record your name and record a greeting. On Samsung phones, if holding 1 asks for a voicemail number, go to Phone > More options (three dots) > Settings > Voicemail and enter your carrier's number. On Pixel, the same menu (Phone > More options > Settings > Voicemail) turns on Visual voicemail where your carrier supports it.
How do I set up voicemail on iPhone?
Open the Phone app and go to Voicemail: in the Classic layout it is the Voicemail tab at the bottom; in iOS 26's Unified layout, open the Calls tab, tap the Filter button at the top right and choose Voicemails. Tap Set Up Now, create a voicemail password, then choose a Default or Custom greeting and tap Save. No Set Up Now button? Hold 1 on the Keypad and follow your carrier's voice prompts.
How do I activate voicemail?
Voicemail is switched on by your carrier; you activate it by setting it up once. Touch and hold 1 on your phone's keypad (any phone) or tap Set Up Now in the iPhone Voicemail screen, then create a PIN and record a greeting. If holding 1 says voicemail isn't available, your plan may not include it: check with your carrier.
Where is the voicemail app on Android?
Most Android phones have no separate voicemail app: voicemail lives in the Phone app. Hold 1 on the keypad to call it, or tap the voicemail notification. If your carrier supports visual voicemail, a Voicemail tab appears in the Phone app; some carriers (T-Mobile and AT&T, for example) use their own visual voicemail app instead.
How do I reset my voicemail PIN if I forgot it?
The PIN is stored by your carrier, not your phone, so reset it through the carrier: Verizon - My Verizon > Voicemail > Reset Password. AT&T - myAT&T app > Reset Voicemail Password. T-Mobile - T-Mobile.com or T-Life app > Account > Voicemail > Reset PIN. Or call your carrier's support line and ask for a voicemail PIN reset.
Why is my voicemail not working on Android?
Common causes: you created a PIN but never recorded a greeting, the voicemail box is full (most hold 25-50 messages), the voicemail number in Phone > Settings > Voicemail is missing or wrong after a carrier switch, voicemail isn't included on your prepaid plan, or Wi-Fi Calling is interfering. Delete old messages, re-run setup by holding 1, and check the voicemail number.
How do I send calls straight to voicemail on iPhone?
To send one call to voicemail, press the side button twice when it rings. To send all calls there for a while, turn on Do Not Disturb or another Focus from Control Center; calls from people the Focus doesn't allow go to voicemail.
How long can a voicemail greeting be?
Most carriers allow voicemail greetings of 30-90 seconds. 15-25 seconds is the practical sweet spot - callers get impatient with longer greetings and may hang up before the beep. Need a script? Use our Voicemail Greeting Generator.
What is Visual Voicemail and is it free?
Visual Voicemail shows your voicemails as a list (like email): who called, when, and on supported carriers a transcript, so you can play messages in any order. It is included free on most postpaid plans; some prepaid carriers don't offer it or charge for it.
Can I check my voicemail from a different phone?
Usually yes: call your own number, and when your greeting starts, press # (Verizon) or * (AT&T), then enter your PIN. T-Mobile users can call 805-637-7626 or 123 from another T-Mobile phone. The exact key varies by carrier; pick yours in the guide above.
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