While voicemail might seem outdated to some, being able to access it on your iPhone can be crucial for users. While sending an SMS or email is often a simpler solution than receiving a voicemail, some people still opt for this system. If you’re having trouble with your voicemail not working on your iPhone, I have a few solutions you might want to try.
Before you begin, I’d recommend checking out each of the options before diving in. While most of them are pretty straight forward and simple, the ones towards the end of the list get a bit more complicated. Remember that the most obvious solution is usually the correct one. With that said, let’s explore a user’s option when it comes to getting their voicemail working properly again.
Fix Voicemail Not Working on iPhone: Solutions and Troubleshooters Call your voicemail directly or see if setup is set up
Users should remember that they can call their voicemail directly. All a user has to do is go to their phone app and open the keypad. Then simply press and hold the number 1 and your phone will ring your voicemail. You can then access your voicemails.
You may also want to make sure that voicemail is actually set up on your iPhone. While this may seem obvious, certain updates may change or even reset voicemail configurations. Go to your phone app and select voicemail to check if it works. You can also go to Settings > Phone and see if you have the option to change the voicemail password.
Reboot your iPhone
Users may also want to restart their iPhone. This can also be an incredibly easy way to fix minor glitches and bugs that are appearing on your device. Users can go to Settings > General > Shutdown to turn off their device. Wait about 10 to 15 seconds before turning it back on.
You can also turn off your device using the physical buttons:
If you’re using an iPhone X or later, you can also restart your iPhone by pressing and holding the side button and either volume button. Hold these keys down until you see the Shut down slider and slide it to the right. If you’re using an iPhone 8 or earlier, simply press and hold either the side button or the top button, and then wait for the shutdown slider to appear. Wait about 10 or 15 seconds to turn it back on. Force close the Phone app
Force closing the phone app is another option as well. This can be a quick fix if it’s a simple error that’s causing a user not to access their voicemail. If you’re using an iPhone X or newer, just swipe up from the bottom of your screen to bring up your apps in Tasks view. You will then swipe up again on the phone app to force quit.
For users with an iPhone 8 or earlier, just double-tap the home button to bring up your app cards. You can then force quit the phone app by swiping on it. Regardless of the device, you can restart the phone app after completing this step to see if it works again.
Turn off cellular service, Wi-Fi, or switch to airplane mode
Users can also try turning their cellular service off and on again to see if that fixes the problem. Just go to Settings > Cellular and turn off Cellular Data. You should then wait about 20 to 30 seconds to turn it back on.
Likewise, turning airplane mode on and off can also work. If you’re using an iPhone X or newer, you can swipe from the top-right corner of your screen to bring up your control center. You can then tap the airplane icon to turn on airplane mode. Wait about 30 seconds before turning it off again.
You can also turn Airplane mode on or off directly in Settings.
Users can also try disabling their WiFi to see if voicemail works. You can turn off your WiFi either from Control Center or by going to Settings > WiFi and turning it off. After turning it off, try using your voicemail again.
Check if your iPhone needs a carrier settings update
Users may also need an operator settings update if they are unable to access their voicemail. Just go to Settings > General > About. If you need an update, your iPhone will let you know via a popup and you just have to click “Update” to continue.
Check your date and time zone
It’s also a good idea to ensure that your device automatically sets the correct time on your device. This will ensure that both your date and time zones match and are correct.
Time needed: 1 minute.
Go to Settings > General. Select date and time. Make sure Set Automatically is set to On.
Check call routing
Call forwarding can also cause problems with voicemail. Users can turn off call forwarding to see if that fixes the issue. All you have to do is go to Phone > Call Forwarding and make sure it’s set to Off. Note that this only works for carriers that implement GSM. If you’re using a CDMA wireless carrier like Verizon, you’ll need to speak to your wireless carrier to turn this feature on and off.
Reset voicemail password
Resetting your iPhone voicemail password can also be enough. To do this, either log into your carrier’s website or contact customer service for further assistance. You may also be able to do this through a provider’s mobile app.
You may also be able to reset your voicemail password from Settings by going to Settings > Phone > Change Voicemail Password. However, if you have forgotten your current password, you will need to contact your service provider.
Reset network settings
As a last resort, users can also try resetting the network settings. I would make sure you have explored all your options before attempting this. While saved data will not be erased, your network settings will be reset to factory defaults. Again, I would only go this route if it’s one of your last options.
To reset your network settings, just go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset Network Settings. You then need to enter your iPhone passcode and select Reset Network Settings again. (Note: Some versions of iOS may use Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.)
If none of these options work for you, it might be time to contact your network provider or contact Apple Support. While not the ideal solution for users, it may be their last option.
What to do if your voicemail isn’t working on your iPhone
For some iPhone users, accessing their voicemail is crucial. With any luck, one of the easier fixes will work before you get to some of the more hardcore options. Again, I would strongly recommend going through each of the easier options before committing to a network settings reset or contacting any type of customer support.
When voicemail is not working on your iPhone, there are a variety of solutions that a user can try to get it working again. Explore your options and find what works best for you when trying to fix your voicemail. Again, this is probably a simple issue, although you may need to contact your service provider or Apple if you’re having bigger problems.
