Android Voicemail Setup

Are you a busy person and want to set up voicemail on your Android device for retrieving your messages later? Do you have voicemail on your landline phone but you just cannot figure out how to set it up on your Android smartphone? Are you confused on setting up a voicemail service from your carrier? Are you looking for a better voicemail service because your phone carrier is just too costly?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then don’t worry as we’ll show you how you can set up voicemail on your Android device in just a couple of minutes. Using this guide, we’ll not only show you how to set up voicemail on Android but also how you can use an alternative Google Voice service for setting up your voicemail if you’re having problems with your carrier.

Google Voice

Google Voice is the official way of calling and receiving calls from your Google number. Google Voice is one of the most popular voice calling services currently available for Android and besides cheap international phone calls, the service also has a fully functional voicemail service. This method focuses on using an alternative voicemail service to traditional carrier voicemail services and Google Voice is probably the best option. Not only does the service offer a massive storage space and security, but it also includes several additional features. The service lets you access your older voicemails and also features options for sharing your voicemails.

Possibly, the best thing about this method is that it lets you access your voicemails through SMS, email, the official Gmail website and the Google Voice webpage. You can also record customized greeting for different contacts. Previously, the service was only available for Google numbers but the service is now accessible on your original carrier number, meaning that you won’t have to change your number. You’ll still need a Google number and account for forwarding the calls. This method is dividend into three parts: Getting a Google number, Setting up Google voicemail on your Android device and configuring the settings for voicemail.

Google Number

Firstly, you’ll need a Google number if you don’t already have one. Getting and enabling a new Google number takes just a couple of minutes. While the Google Voice service is available in selected countries, you can overcome this by using a VPN or Proxy service.

1. Open the official Google Voice webpage on your PC and login with your Google account details. After logging in, you’ll be taken through some steps for getting a Google number.
2. Tap on I want a new number.
3. Select your desired Google number. You can search by area or ZIP code. Select your preferred number from the list of results and click on Continue.
4. Type in your desired PIN number in the Enter PIN and Confirm PIN text boxes. Make sure you accept Google Voice’s terms by ticking the I accept checkbox and click on Continue.
5. Enter your current number that you want to use as a forwarding number and click on Continue. This number will ring when someone calls you on your Google number.
6. In the Verify Your Phone popup, click on Call Me Now. You’ll now receive an automatic call from Google Voice. Enter the code shown in the popup when prompted by the voice command on your Android device. After entering the code, the call will automatically disconnect once your code is verified.

Setting Up Google Voice And Voicemail

After getting and enabling your new Google number, you need to set up Google Voice and Google’s voicemail service on your Android device. If you haven’t used Google Voice before, then follow the steps below to set up your new Google Voice account on your Android device.

1. Download and install the Google Voice app on your Android device. You can get the app through the Google Play.
2. Open the app and tap on Next on the Welcome screen.
3. Sign in with your Google account and tap on Sign in.
4. Tap on Next in the Set up Google Voice screen.
5. Under the Making calls with Google Voice screen, select your desired option and tap on Next. You can choose from using Google Voice for making all calls, using it to make international calls, asking before making every call and not making any calls through Google Voice.
6. You should now be taken to the Set up voicemail screen. Tap on Next.
7. Tap on Configure to set up the voicemail service. You will now receive an Access Request popup. Tap on Allow.
8. Select Google Voice from the Voicemail service popup.
9. Wait for the Inbox synchronization to complete. You will now be taken to the Inbox screen where all your voicemails will be available. You can listen to these voicemails by tapping on individual messages.

Configuring Voicemail

This last part focuses on configuring your voicemail service and customizing the settings that are currently offered by Google’s voicemail service. While your Voicemail service should be functioning normally if you’ve followed the steps above, you can edit things like your name and your greeting message for the voicemail service like you would on a traditional carrier voicemail service.

1. Open the Google Voice webpage on your PC and login with your Google account.
2. Click on the Wheel icon in the top right and select Settings.
3. Click on the Voicemail & Text tab.
4. Click on Record New Greeting. You’ll now get a New Greeting popup.
5. Enter the greeting name and click on Continue.
6. You’ll now receive a call from Google on your Android phone. Speak and record your desired greeting message.
7. The recording will now be available under the Voicemail & Text tab next to Voicemail Greeting and you can choose it by selecting the most recent recording from the dropdown menu.
8. You can also edit other options from the Voicemail & Text tab such as name, PIN, transcripts, notifications and text forwarding. That’s it! You have successfully enabled and configured the Google voicemail service on your Android device.

Voice Mail is a network service that allows a caller to record a message when you cannot be reached. You can then call your voice mailbox and retrieve your messages.

Conclusion

Voicemails are quite popular on all types of phones and most Android users already have the feature enabled on their Android devices. While setting up a voicemail service could be costly if you’re using your carrier’s service, it might be worth it as voicemails can be really helpful during your regular routine.

Whether you’re a busy person stuck in meetings regularly or you’re someone who doesn’t like to answer phone calls throughout the day, setting up a voicemail service could be really handy. Not only can you retrieve the messages from calls that you were not able to attend, but you can also block certain contacts and forward them directly to voicemail in order to avoid picking up their call.