How to Set Up Voicemail

On iPhone, first-time setup happens in the Phone app if your carrier supports Visual Voicemail, which most major US carriers do.

Steps

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Go to Voicemail. In older versions of iOS it's a tab in the bottom-right corner. In newer versions with the redesigned Phone app, voicemail may be grouped with your calls instead; look for a Voicemail filter or menu, or switch to the Classic layout.
3. Tap Set Up Now. If you don't see this button, voicemail may already be set up (skip to recording a greeting) or Visual Voicemail isn't available on your line (see below).
4. Enter a voicemail password, then enter it again to confirm. Your carrier sets the allowed length.
5. Choose a greeting: Default plays your phone number in a system voice, and Custom lets you record your own.
6. If you picked Custom, tap Record, say your greeting, tap Stop, play it back, and tap Save.

Your voicemails now appear in the Voicemail section, and you can tap any message to play or read its transcription where available.

If you see "Call Voicemail" instead of "Set Up Now"

Visual Voicemail isn't active on your line. Tap Call Voicemail (or press and hold 1 on the keypad) and follow your carrier's voice prompts to create a password and record a greeting. After that, restart the phone. On some plans the Set Up Now button then appears; on others, you'll keep using the voice menu.

Forgot the password you just set?

Depending on your iOS version, you may find Change Voicemail Password under Settings → Apps → Phone (or Settings → Phone on older versions). If the option isn't there, reset it through your carrier's app or website.

By phone (basic voicemail)

1. From your Verizon phone, dial *86 and press Send/Call. Pressing and holding 1 usually works too.
2. The first time you call, the system starts a short setup tutorial. If it asks for a temporary password, try the last four digits of your phone number, or listen for instructions.
3. Create a new voicemail password when prompted. The system tells you the allowed length and may reject easy patterns such as 1234.
4. Record your name.
5. Choose a greeting. You can keep the standard system greeting or record a personal one after the tone, then press #.
6. Follow the prompts to finish setup.

To check messages from another phone later, call your own 10-digit Verizon number, press # when the greeting starts, and enter your password.

With visual voicemail

On iPhone, use Set Up Now in the Phone app (see the iPhone section). On Android, Verizon's visual voicemail may be built into the Phone app or provided by a separate Verizon app, depending on your phone. Open it and follow the setup screens. Some visual voicemail features may depend on your plan.

If setup fails or you've forgotten your password, you can usually reset it in the My Verizon app or website.

By phone

1. On your AT&T phone, press and hold 1, or dial your own 10-digit number.
2. If asked, choose your language.
3. Create a voicemail password. Use the length the prompt asks for, and avoid simple patterns.
4. Record your name when prompted.
5. Choose a greeting: the standard greeting that plays your number, or a personal greeting you record after the tone.
6. Follow the prompts to save and finish setup.

Listen to each prompt rather than pressing keys from memory, since AT&T's menu can change by mailbox type.

With visual voicemail

On iPhone, tap Set Up Now in the Phone app's Voicemail section (see the iPhone section). On Android, visual voicemail may be built into the Phone app or provided by AT&T's visual voicemail app, depending on your phone. In some cases you need to set a password by phone first and then sign in to the app.

Forgot your password during setup?

You can usually reset it from your myAT&T account or app, or by calling AT&T customer support.

By phone

1. On your T-Mobile phone, press and hold 1, or dial 123.
2. If asked for a temporary password, try the last four digits of your phone number, or follow the prompts.
3. Create a new voicemail password. The prompt tells you the allowed length.
4. Record your name.
5. Record a greeting after the tone and press #, or choose the standard greeting.
6. Follow the prompts to save. Your mailbox is now active.

From another phone, you can reach your mailbox by calling your own T-Mobile number, pressing * during the greeting, and entering your password.

With visual voicemail

On iPhone, use Set Up Now in the Phone app's Voicemail section. On Android, visual voicemail may be in the Phone app's voicemail settings or in T-Mobile's visual voicemail app, depending on your phone. Open it and follow the setup screens.

If you're locked out or forgot your password, you can usually reset it through the T-Mobile app, your online account, or customer care.

Once you've picked a Google Voice number, voicemail is turned on automatically. Setup is mostly about recording a greeting and choosing how you want to be notified.

On a computer

1. Go to voice.google.com and sign in.
2. Click Settings (the gear icon).
3. Under Voicemail, click Voicemail greeting, then Record a greeting. Allow microphone access, record, and save.
4. In the same section, decide whether to get voicemail via email and whether to turn on voicemail transcripts. Option names may vary.
5. If you plan to check voicemail by calling in from a linked phone, look for a voicemail PIN setting under Security or Voicemail and set one.

On the Google Voice app

1. Open the Google Voice app, tap the menu (or your profile picture), then Settings.
2. Under Voicemail, tap Voicemail greeting and record a new one.
3. Adjust notification and transcript settings in the same section.

Calls not reaching Google Voice voicemail?

Check your call forwarding settings. If calls ring a linked phone, that phone's carrier voicemail may answer first. Answer screening or a longer ring time in Google Voice can help, and the exact options vary by account type.

Business phone systems handle voicemail per user or extension, and most let you upload an audio file as your greeting. That makes them a good fit for a greeting made with our generator. Settings usually live in a web portal or desktop app, and menu names change often, so check your provider's help center if something doesn't match.

Voicemail usually works as soon as an admin assigns you a number or extension. What's left is your greeting, and on these systems you can upload one instead of recording it:

• RingCentral: upload a voicemail greeting to RingCentral
• Grasshopper: upload a voicemail greeting to Grasshopper
• 3CX: upload a voicemail greeting to 3CX
• Zoom Phone: upload a voicemail greeting to Zoom Phone
• Microsoft Teams: personal greetings are recorded in Settings → Calls → Manage voicemail; admins can upload greetings for auto attendants

Which format should I upload?

Download MP3 for most hosted business phone services, and always for Grasshopper. Download 8kHz mono WAV for 3CX, or if your provider's instructions mention 8kHz, 8000 Hz, telephone quality, or PCM, which is common with desk-phone and PBX systems.