How to Set Up Voicemail on Android (Samsung and Other Devices)

Voicemail on Android does not set itself up. Until you go through the initial setup, callers who reach your number will hit dead air instead of a greeting, and you will not receive their messages. The process takes about two minutes, and you only ever need to do it once.

This guide covers Samsung Galaxy phones and other general Android method that works on Google Pixel, OnePlus, Motorola, and most other handsets.

How To Set Up Voicemail on Any Android Phone

Here's how to set up a voicemail box on your Android device, such as a Samsung Galaxy:

Most Android phones will come with "Voice Mail" already in their contacts.

Step 1: 'Swipe up' from the home screen to access your apps. In the "Search Apps" field at the top, type in "Contacts".

Step 2: Click on 'Contacts'.

Step 3: Click on the search box at the top right and type in "Voice Mail".

Step 4: Click on 'Voice Mail'.

Step 5: Click on the 'Call' icon to call it.

Step 6: To set up your voicemail, follow the prompts.

If you do not already have "Voice Mail" in your contacts follow these instructions:

Step 1: 'Swipe up' from the home screen to access your apps. In the "Search Apps" field at the top, type in "Phone".

Step 2: Click on 'Phone'.

Step 3: Click on the 'Keypad' at the bottom of the screen.

Step 4: To call your voicemail, press and hold '1'.

Step 5: To finish setting up your voicemail, follow the prompt.

Awesome! Now you have set up your voicemail on Android. 

How to Set Up Voicemail on a Samsung Galaxy Phone

Samsung phones run One UI on top of Android, and the Samsung Phone app has its own voicemail flow that is slightly different from the stock Android experience.

Method 1: Press and hold 1 (the fastest way)

1. Open the Samsung Phone app.

2. Tap Keypad at the bottom of the screen.

3. Press and hold the 1 key. This dials your carrier's voicemail service directly.

4. Listen to the automated prompts and follow them to create a PIN and record your greeting.

5. End the call once setup is complete.

That is the quickest path and works on virtually every Samsung model regardless of carrier.

Method 2: Through voicemail settings

If pressing and holding 1 does not connect, your voicemail number may not be configured yet in the phone's settings. Here is how to check and fix it:

1. Open the Phone app.

2. Tap the three vertical dots (More options) in the top-right corner.

3. Tap Settings, then scroll down to Voicemail.

4. Tap Voicemail number and check whether a number is listed. Your carrier's voicemail number is typically something like +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX or a short code provided by your carrier.

5. If the field is empty, contact your carrier to get the correct voicemail number, enter it, then press and hold 1 to complete setup.

Once you have called into voicemail for the first time and followed the prompts, your Samsung Galaxy voicemail is active. Callers can leave messages immediately

Say goodbye to manual transcription

Use Notta's AI transcription tool to quickly and easily transcribe audio and videos. We guarantee accuracy and ease of use.

Start for Free

What is visual voicemail?

Visual voicemail is a visual list of your voicemails. It allows you to listen, delete, or save messages. Visual voicemail also makes it easier to navigate through your voice messages. It allows you to choose one message from a list instead of listening through every single one. 

Where to find the visual voicemail app

The name of your visual voicemail app will differ depending on which carrier you use. In some cases, it might come pre-installed with your phone or it might be a free app in your phone’s app store. 

These apps usually require Android 6.0, 7.0, and higher. Look for apps called "Visual Voicemail" or "*Your Carrier* Visual Voicemail". Make sure to search by the carrier. There are separate versions of visual voicemail for each carrier.

How to change visual voicemail settings on Android

Once voicemail is set up, you can adjust several settings without calling in. On a Samsung:

1. Open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, and go to Settings.

2. Tap Voicemail to see available options.

What you can typically change here includes your notification preferences (sound, vibration, badge count), whether voicemail transcriptions are turned on (if your carrier supports this), and your voicemail number. Turning on transcriptions, where available, means new voicemail messages will appear as text in your notification panel alongside the audio, which is useful when you cannot listen out loud.

If you want more reliable transcription than your carrier offers, Notta's audio-to-text tool can transcribe audio recordings accurately, which works well for replaying and documenting important voicemails.

How to set up or change a voicemail greeting on Android

Here's how to change your voicemail greeting or set up a new one on Android.

Step 1: Set up your voicemail as we did above in "How to Set Up Voicemail on Android". During the process, you will be asked if you want to set up a voicemail greeting. If you choose not to, or you are ready to change it, proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Call your voicemail. 

Step 3: Press ‘*’ (star).

Step 4: Press ‘3’.

Step 5: Press '2'.

Step 6: Press '2'.

Step 7: Record your new greeting.

Step 8: You will be prompted to either re-record your new greeting or save it as your greeting.

Congrats! You now have a new voicemail greeting.

Easily set up and transcribe your voicemails

Now you've learned how to set up voicemail on your Android phone. You can now receive voice messages. If you want lossless, clear sound with minimal noise while listening to voicemail on Android, here are some wireless headphones for Android for your reference.

If you want to read the voice message, visual voicemail apps can be helpful as well to visually see who left you a message. They’re not very good at transcribing voicemails to text though.

To get a more accurate solution to transcribe your voicemails you can download Notta. Notta is a voice-to-text application that can transcribe your voicemails in real-time. It may help you save time in the long run.

Transcribe audio/video to text in minutes

Notta can convert your voicemails into text with 98.86% accuracy in minutes. Focus on conversations, not manual note-taking.

Start for Free

FAQs

Where is the voicemail app on my Android?

Your voicemail is actually a phone number. Usually, it is saved in your contacts as "Voice Mail". Check your contacts to see if it is there. If it is not there, open your phone app and press and hold '1'. It will dial your voicemail, where you can either set it up or check messages. You can also use third-party voicemail apps for your Android.

Can I set up voicemail from Another phone?

You can't set up your voicemail from another phone, but you can check it from another phone. You can call your phone number and when it goes to your voicemail press * (star). 

Then it will ask you to enter your PIN or password. This will be a set of numbers that you chose when you set up your voicemail. From there you can proceed to check your voicemail.

Why is voicemail not working on my Android?

Your voicemail setting may be incorrect. Make sure that you are dialing the correct number to access your voicemail:

1. Open the phone app and tap the three little dots to the right of the search bar. 

2. Then click 'Settings'.

3. Click 'Voicemail'

4. Click 'Advanced Settings'

5. Click 'Setup'

6. Take note of the voicemail number listed here.

7. Call the number.

This should be the correct number to call for your voicemail. Make sure to update it in your contacts. If that doesn't work you can call your carrier to request new voicemail settings.

How do I change voicemail passwords on my Android?

To change your voicemail passwords:

1. Call your voicemail.

2. Press '*' (star).

3. Press '5'.

4. Press '1'.

It will then prompt you to change your password.

How do I set up voicemail on a Samsung Galaxy S series or A series?

The steps are the same across Samsung Galaxy S, A, and other series since they all run One UI with the same Phone app. Press and hold 1 on the keypad to connect to your carrier's voicemail, then follow the voice prompts. If that does not work, verify your voicemail number is correctly set under Phone app settings > Voicemail > Voicemail number.