Setting up voicemail on an android phone

Set up your phone’s voicemail inbox on Android and in Google Voice

Updated on September 9, 2021

What to Know

• Easiest way: Open the Phone app, tap the dial pad, and press and hold 1. Follow the prompts to set up a pin code and set your greeting.
• Set up Visual Voicemail: Open the Phone app, tap Voicemail > Settings (three dots) > Voicemail,and select an option.
• Google Voice: Get a Google Voice account, open the Google Voice app, tap Voicemail > Settings, and follow the prompts.

This article walks you through a few different ways to set everything up on your Android device, including how to change your greeting.

How to Set Up Voicemail on Android by Calling In

The most common way to set up your voicemail is by calling your mailbox directly. Access your voicemail two ways: call your phone number directly or use the quick dial number built into most phones.

1. Open the Phone app.

2. Tap the dial pad icon at the bottom of the screen.

3. Touch and hold down on the number 1 until the call starts. Alternatively, enter your complete phone number and press the call button.

4. Follow the prompts to set up a pin code and set your greeting.

How to Set Up Visual Voicemail on Android

Android phones running Android 6.0 or newer can have Visual Voicemail enabled so long as the carrier supports it. Not all carriers offer Visual Voicemail support, however, and some even charge extra for it. Here’s what you need to do to access Visual Voicemail if your phone supports it.

1. Open the Phone app.

2. Locate the Voicemail icon and tap it. Depending on the phone, this icon is either along the bottom of the app or next to the Start Call button on the Keypad.

3. You can change any Voicemail settings by tapping the three dots in the top right corner of the app.

4. Find Voicemail in the list and tap it.

5. Now you can select different notification options and change your voicemail greeting.

How to Set Voicemail in Google Voice

Google Voice is another excellent application you can use to make calls and receive voicemails. You might want to use it instead of your standard phone voicemail because you can also access it from a computer by visiting the Google Voice website.

Follow the steps below to set up voicemail in Google Voice.

1. Navigate to Google's Voice site and signup for a Google Voice accountor sign up using the app on your Android phone.

2. Once your account is set up, open the Google Voice app on your phone.

3. Locate the Voicemail icon along the bottom of the app and tap it.

4. You can see any voicemails you have here. To change the settings, tap the menu button in the top left.

5. Locate and select Settings.

6. Scroll down until you see the Voicemail section. Here you can choose to get voicemail via email, change your greeting, and select which type of notifications you get for voicemail messages left at your Google Voice number.

FAQ

• Where is the Voicemail app on my Android?

  On most Android phones, voicemail features are built into the Phone app. There is no dedicated app for voicemail unless you use Google Voice or another third-party voicemail app. To check your Android voicemail, long-press 1 on your device and enter your password if prompted.

• Why is voicemail not working on my Android?

  You might not receive voice messages right away if you have poor reception. If voicemail isn't working at all, check for system updates and make sure you didn't accidentally turn off your voicemail. Contact your carrier if you're still having problems.

• How do I change my voicemail password on my Android?

  To change your voicemail password, you might have to contact your carrier. First, check the Phone app's settings for an option to change your password. If you don't remember your voicemail password, you must reset it through your carrier.

• How do I save voicemails on Android?

  To save voicemail messages directly to your phone, open the Google Voice app and tap the message you want to save, then tap the three dots > Save Message to or Export to File. You can also use a forwarding service to send your voicemails to your email.
  

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