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If voicemail isn't working as expected, use this document to get to the bottom of things.

 

Read me first

To make sure you can receive voicemail, check the following:

  1. You've set up voicemail.
  2. Your phone shows at least two signal bars. If you have fewer, your signal is too low for reliable service. Check out Signal issues / no service troubleshooting.
  3. For visual voicemail on iPhone, Set up Visual Voicemail on your iPhone - Apple Support.
  4. For visual voicemail on any device, your device needs at least 15% free memory. If there's less, free up space to allow the device to work properly.

If your device meets these criteria, and you're still having trouble with voicemail, follow the steps on this page.

Tip: If you need help with any of these steps, visit our Device tutorials page, select your device, and use the search bar to find the steps you need.

No voicemail notifications

If you're not getting notifications of new voicemails, try deleting texts or text threads (there are apps you can use to back them up before deleting them). If your text message box is full, your device may not be able to accept new texts or notifications, including those for voicemail.

Can't call voicemail

  1. Try dialing into voicemail using a different method, as listed in How to use voicemail.
  2. If you are:
    • Using a non-T-Mobile phone, dial 1-805-MESSAGE (1-805-637-7243). Don't dial voicemail by selecting the 1 key or a preprogrammed voicemail button.
    • Roaming internationally, review how to call your voicemail on our International roaming checklist.
    • Hearing an error message, ringing, or busy signal when voicemail plays, select the 7 key.

Unanswered calls don't go to voicemail

  1. Dial ##004# and select Send to reset call forwarding settings.
  2. Turn off Wi-Fi Calling. For instructions, visit our Devices page, filter for your device, and choose Connections & Network > Wi-Fi Settings.
  3. Uninstall or disable any downloaded apps that make calls or manage voicemail.
  4. Have a contact call you and leave a message. If the call doesn't go to voicemail, check your phone call forwarding setting for "When unanswered" is forwarding to 18056377243.
 

iPhone Live Voicemail

 

Some T-Mobile Voicemail features, including Voicemail to Text (VTT), may not be compatible with Live Voicemail on iPhone. In iOS 17 and later, Live Voicemail is on by default. To Turn Live Voicemail on or off, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Settings app, then choose Phone.
  2. Choose Live Voicemail.
  3. Select the Live Voicemail switch to turn it on or off.

 

Visual voicemails don't download or appear

  1. Restart your phone.
  2. Call your voicemail inbox.
    • Confirm there is a message that hasn't shown in the VVM app and save it.
    • If there is no message, leave yourself a new message as a test. If that message doesn't appear, continue troubleshooting.
  3. Turn off Wi-Fi to ensure you're using the T-Mobile network.
  4. (Android only) Make sure you have the most recent T-Mobile Visual Voicemail app. If not, download it from Google Play.
  5. (Android only) Sync the inbox. For help, use the T-Mobile Visual Voicemail app.
  6. (Android only) Clear the app cache and app data of the VVM app. (Visit the Devices page for help.)
    • Clearing the data deletes any messages over a month old and any messages saved only in the VVM app.
    • To save messages or send as email, use the steps on the T-Mobile Visual Voicemail app page.
  7. Uninstall downloaded battery-saver apps, as some can conflict with voicemail.
  8. Try to play a voicemail. If the message won't play, uninstall and redownload the Visual Voicemail app.
  9. Update the phone software to the latest version. You can do this over Wi-Fi. Visit our Devices page, filter for your device, and choose Software Updates & Backup > Software updates.

Voicemails have poor audio quality

If one or a few messages have poor audio quality, the person calling was experiencing problems. Have the person try again. If the quality is still poor, have them contact their service provider.

If all your voicemail from multiple contacts are poor quality, save the messages and check out Audio issues on calls.

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