Set Up Voicemail on iPhone

  1. 1

    Open the Phone app → tap Voicemail

    Open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab in the bottom right corner. If voicemail has never been set up, you will see a Set Up Now button.

  2. 2

    Create a password

    Enter a 4–6 digit password. This protects your voicemail from unauthorised access. Remember it — you will need it to access voicemail from another phone.

  3. 3

    Choose Default or Custom greeting

    Default uses a generic automated greeting with your number. Custom lets you record your own. Tap Custom → Record → speak your greeting → Stop → Save.

Set Up Voicemail on Android

  1. 4

    Hold the 1 key in the Phone app

    Open the Phone app → tap the dial pad → press and hold the 1 key. This calls your carrier’s voicemail system automatically. Follow the automated prompts to set a PIN and record a greeting.

  2. 5

    Or use Settings → Voicemail

    On newer Android versions: Phone app → three dots menu → Settings → Voicemail → Advanced Settings. This lets you configure voicemail directly rather than through the carrier phone system.

Visual voicemailiPhone and many Android phones support visual voicemail — a list of voicemail messages you can read transcripts of and play in any order without calling in. iPhones display this in the Voicemail tab automatically. Android: check if your carrier’s app or Google Phone app supports it.

Listening to Voicemails

iPhone: Phone app → Voicemail tab → tap any message to play. Android: hold the 1 key or tap the voicemail notification. Visual voicemail apps show all messages as a list without calling in.

Frequently Asked Questions

iPhone: Phone app → Voicemail → Greeting (top left) → Custom → Record. Android: call voicemail by holding 1 → follow menu options to change greeting (usually option 3 or 4 depending on carrier). The exact menu varies by carrier.
Visual voicemail requires activation by your carrier. Call your carrier’s customer service and ask them to activate voicemail on your account. This is free and takes a few minutes. Some prepaid plans do not include voicemail — ask your carrier if it is included in your plan.