How To Set Up Your Voicemail On Every Major US Carrier

It may not be convenient for you to pick up calls and answer them. You may be busy with your work or stuck in traffic. Voicemails can help in these situations. Using voicemail also means you don't have to talk to someone to leave a message. Sending a voicemail doesn't guarantee your voicemail will reach your recipient. If you're on the receiver's end, you don't want to miss important messages, so check your voicemail when you're free.

Each carrier has its own directions for setting up voicemail on your top Android phone. Here are the step-by-step instructions to set up your voicemail on every major carrier in the US.

How to set up voicemail on AT&T

AT&T users must set up their voicemail within 60 days of activation. If not, the carrier removes it from the account.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Press and hold 1 or tap the Voicemail key.
3. Choose your preferred language.
4. Set up a password that's between seven and 15 digits and save it in a password manager.
5. Choose your preferred voicemail greeting.
6. Go through the brief voicemail tutorial.

Don't hang up before the tutorial completes. If you do, your phone plays the same tutorial the next time you check your voicemail.

When you switch from an old phone to a new one on AT&T, tap and hold 1 in the dialer or press the Voicemail key to enter your current voicemail password. AT&T transfers your existing messages and voicemail greeting to your new phone.

Your AT&T voicemail comes with a default voicemail PIN. It's the last six digits of your account number.

How to set up voicemail on Verizon

You can set up voicemail for your Verizon account from your phone or someone else's. Follow the steps below when you have a phone.

1. Dial *86 on your phone. If you use another phone, dial your 10-digit mobile number.
2. To interrupt the system greeting, press the pound key (#).
3. Follow the instructions to select your preferred language. For English, press 1 and then press the # key to confirm.
4. When asked, enter the four- to seven-digit password and press the # key. Don't enter repeating digits (for example, 3333) or consecutive digits (such as 5678).
5. Record your name and confirm the signature by pressing the # key.
6. When prompted, say the greeting and tap the # key.

If you forget your voicemail password, use the My Verizon app to reset it. Or refer to the official Verizon support page and go through these steps.

How to set up voicemail on T-Mobile

T-Mobile makes it straightforward to set up voicemail. Open the dialer app and follow these steps:

1. Press and hold 1.
2. Enter your password if prompted. If you're setting up voicemail for the first time, enter the last four digits of your mobile number.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your password.
4. Record your name and greeting, and you are good to go.

If you're a T-Mobile customer and switching to a new phone, follow the first step and enter your existing voicemail password to restore your messages and greetings.

What about MVNOs?

An MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) is a carrier that doesn't have its own infrastructure for the wireless network. Instead, these operators rely on major carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon to provide coverage and other services. These MVNOs are often more affordable than the Big Three.

If you use an MVNO like Visible, Consumer Cellular, Tello, Google Fi, Simply Mobile, or Xfinity Mobile, the steps to set up voicemail vary for each.

Cricket is a popular MVNO that serves 12 million+ subscribers and uses the parent company's (AT&T) network to offer cellular services. Here's how to set up basic voicemail on Cricket:

1. Launch the Dialer app on your Android phone. Press and hold the 1 key.
2. You'll hear step-by-step instructions to set up voicemail. Choose a password that is between seven and 15 digits (numbers only, no letters or special characters).
3. Record your voice signature or greeting.

Other voicemail options

Your wireless carrier doesn't limit your account to basic voicemail. Carriers like AT&T and Verizon offer visual voicemail, voicemail to text, enhanced voicemail with more message storage and storage duration, and doubles the message length from two minutes to four minutes.

Cricket's Visual Voicemail helps you manage your messages like a pro. Use the dedicated Cricket Visual Voicemail app on your Android phone to check your list of messages, select the ones you want to hear, and ignore irrelevant ones. If you're in a meeting, lecture, or noisy environment, read transcripts of your voicemail messages.

The offerings vary based on your phone and carrier. Check the voicemail comparison chart on your carrier's website to learn the differences.

Just chat instead

Voicemails convey your message without calling or disturbing someone. However, thanks to Telegram and WhatsApp, when was the last time you checked your voicemail? Or do you even check your voicemail box?

You probably send a message or video call someone and be done with your communication. You can choose among various options, as there are plenty of communication apps on Android. These apps also let you send voice messages, which is a good alternative to voicemails.