How To Fix Voicemail Not Working On iPhone

Voicemail is a valuable feature on the iPhone that allows you to receive voice messages when you are unable to answer a call. However, some users have encountered issues where their Voicemail suddenly stops working, causing frustration. If you rely on this feature to receive important messages, it can be particularly inconvenient. Fortunately, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to address this minor issue and restore the functionality of Voicemail.

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In this article, we will be discussing how you can fix voicemail not working on iPhone.

Ensure Voicemail Is Enabled 

If you are experiencing issues with the Voicemail feature on your iPhone, it is possible that it may not be enabled or set up correctly. To determine if Voicemail is enabled on your device, follow the steps below:

1. Open the Phone app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the “Voicemail” tab.
3. Check whether the Voicemail feature is enabled or disabled.

By following these steps, you can verify if the Voicemail feature is enabled on your iPhone and proceed accordingly.

Try Force Closing The Phone App

To troubleshoot the Voicemail issue, you can try force-closing the Phone app and then check if the error persists. Follow the steps below to force close the app:

1. For iPhone X or newer models, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the app switcher or task view. For iPhone 8 or older models, simply double-press the home button to access the app switcher.
2. Locate the Phone app card within the app switcher.
3. Swipe up on the Phone app card to force close it.
4. Once the app is closed, reopen it and try using the Voicemail feature again to see if it is working properly.

By force-closing the Phone app and reopening it, you can refresh the app’s functionality and resolve any temporary glitches that may be affecting the Voicemail feature.

Try Switching On And Off Airplane Mode

To address the issue with Voicemail on your iPhone, you can attempt to resolve it by turning off and then turning on Airplane mode. This action refreshes the cellular network, which may be causing the Voicemail problem. Follow the steps below to perform this action:

1. Swipe down from the top right of the screen. If you are using an iPhone 8 or an earlier model, swipe up from the bottom of the screen instead.
2. Tap the Airplane icon to enable Airplane mode. You will notice the Airplane icon highlighted, indicating that Airplane mode is now active.
3. Wait for a few seconds, and then tap the Airplane icon again to disable Airplane mode.

By following these steps, you can toggle Airplane mode on and off, allowing the cellular network to refresh. This may help resolve the issue you are facing with Voicemail on your iPhone.

Restart Your Phone

If you are still facing the same problem even after trying all the above steps, you may restart your iPhone. Restarting your iPhone can most probably fix the issue for you. 

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Turn Off And On Cellular Data

If Voicemail is not working on your iPhone, it’s possible that the issue is related to the Cellular Data settings. To address this, you can try turning off and then on the Cellular Data feature. Follow the steps below:

1. Swipe from the top right side of your iPhone to access the Control Center.
2. Locate the Cellular Data icon and tap on it. If the icon is already highlighted, it means Cellular Data is enabled. Tap on it to turn it off.
3. Wait for approximately 30 seconds, and then tap on the Cellular Data icon again to turn it back on.

Install Carrier Settings Update

Another troubleshooting step you can take is to install the carrier settings update. To install the carrier settings update, follow the steps below:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to the General section and tap on “About.”
3. In the About menu, look for any available updates and install them if any are found.

By checking for and installing carrier settings updates, you can ensure that your iPhone has the latest settings from your cellular network provider. This update may help resolve any issues related to Voicemail on your device.

Ensure Call Forwarding Is Off

Call forwarding can sometimes interfere with the proper functioning of Voicemail on your iPhone. To address this, make sure to disable call forwarding and then check if the issue persists. Follow these steps to turn off call forwarding:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on the “Phone” section.
3. Within the Phone settings, locate and tap on “Call Forwarding.”
4. Toggle off the switch for Call Forwarding.

By disabling call forwarding, you can ensure that incoming calls are not being redirected to another number, potentially resolving any conflicts with the Voicemail feature on your iPhone.

Reset Voicemail Password

If you’re experiencing issues with Voicemail on your iPhone, you can attempt to resolve them by changing the voicemail password. Follow the steps below to reset your Voicemail password:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on the “Phone” section.
3. Within the Phone settings, locate and tap on “Change Voicemail Password.”
4. Enter the new password that you wish to set for your voicemail.

By changing the voicemail password, you can refresh the settings associated with the feature, which may help resolve any issues you are facing.

Set Automatic Time

To ensure accurate time settings on your device, you can enable automatic time synchronization based on your location. Follow these steps to set the time automatically:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the “General” option, and then select “Date & Time.”
3. Toggle on the switch for “Set Automatically.”

Reset Network Settings

If none of the previous solutions have resolved the issue with Voicemail on your iPhone, you may need to reset your network settings. Follow these steps to reset network settings:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on “General,” and then select “Reset.”
3. In the Reset menu, tap on “Reset Network Settings.”
4. You will be prompted to enter your device password. Once entered, confirm the reset of network settings.

Resetting the network settings will remove any saved Wi-Fi networks, cellular settings, and VPN configurations on your iPhone. This process can help resolve any network-related issues that might be affecting the proper functioning of Voicemail.

Final Words

After following the aforementioned steps, your Voicemail should now be functioning properly. These methods should help you resolve the issue you were experiencing with Voicemail.