Several iPhone users have reported that they are unable to use Visual Voicemail and they get an error message saying “Visual Voicemail is currently unavailable” with a button saying “Call Voicemail” when they want to check their Visual Voicemail messages.
When Visual Voicemail is properly configured, new voicemail messages will appear in the Phone app in much the same way that emails appear in your Inbox. You are able to see a full list of all of the voicemail messages that you’ve received, including the date and time, who they’re from, and their length. You can open and listen to any message simply by tapping on it, without the need to go through the more cumbersome process of dialing into your voicemail service and using the numeric keypad to navigate through it. However, if your iPhone says ‘Visual Voicemail Is Currently Unavailable,’ you won’t be able to check your voicemail. Here is how you can fix this problem.
Ways to fix ‘Visual Voicemail is Currently Unavailable’ error on iPhone
Update your iPhone
Ensure that your iPhone has the latest version of iOS. Apple uses software updates to introduce new features, bug fixes, security patches, and other optimizations. Updates are free. Check for an iOS update and if there is an update, update your iPhone. Here is how:
- On your iPhone, tap Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Software Update.
- And if there is an update, follow the onscreen instructions to update your device.
After the update is complete, you should then no longer see the visual voicemail unavailable error message.
Restart the Phone app
You may be having this visual voicemail problem because the Phone app may not be working as expected. You may try restarting to the phone app to see if this helps:
- If iPhone X or later: Go to your Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. If this is another iPhone model, double press the Home button. This will reveal the app switcher. Swipe left or right until you find the Phone app preview and swipe up on the preview. This will close the Phone app.
- Now reopen the Phone app and test to see if your Visual Voicemail problem is fixed.
Airplane Mode
To fix the visual voicemail is currently unavailable error, turn on Airplane Mode on your iPhone, wait for about a minute and turn it off. Here’s how
- On your iPhone, tap Settings.
- Turn on Airplane Mode by toggling on its switch.
- Wait a few seconds.
- Turn off Airplane Mode.
Now open the Phone app and try to check your voicemails. Is it working now? If not, try this in the following order:
- On your iPhone, tap Settings.
- Turn on Airplane Mode by toggling on its switch.
- Now, restart your iPhone. You can turn off your device by going to Settings > General > Shut Down. Then drag the power off slider to the right. After turning off your device, press and hold the Power button to turn it on.
- After turning on your device, again go to Settings and turn off Airplane Mode.
Change your voicemail password
Try resetting your voicemail password. On your iPhone, you can do this easily. Here is how:
- On your iPhone, tap Settings.
- Tap Phone.
- Tap Change Voicemail Password.
- Enter a new password.
- Tap Done. You will be asked to reenter the new password. Enter again and then tap Done.
Reset network settings
If you are still having this problem, you may want to reset your network settings. This will not delete your photos, app, or other data. But it will erase your Wi-Fi passwords, VPN settings, etc. Here is how you can do this:
- On your iPhone, tap Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset.
Tap Reset Network Settings.
Once the process completes, the “visual voicemail is currently unavailable” problem might no longer be there!
Contact your carrier
If you are still having this issue, you may want to contact your carrier (AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket, etc.). They may be able to reset and do some housekeeping to fix this Visual Voicemail issue at their end. They may also have suggestions for you to try.
