Forum Discussion
Android Native Visual Voicemail Trouble
I'm using a Pixel2XL on T-Mobile and the native Visual Voicemail (built into the Google Phone app) will not activate. The VM tab hace show, and I have the option checked in the menu settings for the Phone app. I continue to get the messages "Visual Voicemail Activating" and "Can't activate Visual Voicemail". I have VVM on my plan via the ONE Plus add-on.
I have removed the T-Mobile VVM app as I know that it will deactivate the native VVM. I have reset network settings, restarted the phone, and spoken with both T-Mobile and Google. I have yet to be given a reason this is not working.
(Note: brought the phone over from Verizon but it's unlocked - all other data and voice functionality is good)
UPDATED 7/13/2021:
For folks wondering if their Native VVM app will work on T-Mobile's network, here's some helpful info. The native VVM app on Non-T-Mobile devices isn't something T-Mobile can guarantee will work with the VVM service. This goes for other native apps as well. We recommend folks download T-Mobile Visual Voicemail app I've linked below and use the VVM service through that app. The second link I posted below is for troubleshooting if you happen to run into any issues.
We have a couple articles that can help with this. Check out the two links below in relationship to the issue.
App de Correo de voz visual de T-Mobile
Solución de problemas del correo de voz
UPDATED 7/13/2021:
For folks wondering if their Native VVM app will work on T-Mobile's network, here's some helpful info. The native VVM app on Non-T-Mobile devices isn't something T-Mobile can guarantee will work with the VVM service. This goes for other native apps as well. We recommend folks download T-Mobile Visual Voicemail app I've linked below and use the VVM service through that app. The second link I posted below is for troubleshooting if you happen to run into any issues.
We have a couple articles that can help with this. Check out the two links below in relationship to the issue.
App de Correo de voz visual de T-Mobile
Solución de problemas del correo de voz
Yes, it is set up exactly like that. Thank you.
It is strange that it wont activate then. I have a Pixel 3XL that has visual voice mail running through the phone app. There has to be some kind of software conflict going on, but if you even did a factory format with no exchange server active again it is strange that it wouldn't activate now. The only other thing I can think of is if your phone is failing to connect to the visual voice mail server completely.
I must say, you've got me stumped, too! I'm not a Pixel user nor do I know of a Pixel user that I could try to get some info from. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the native VVM functionality on a non T-Mobile device. Did you try using the T-Mobile VVM app? If so, how'd it work for you?
I've done a factory reset so, at least in my case it's not related to a third party app or settings issue.
What I've seen on other posts about the iPhone and it's built in voicemail is that it may be related to CAMEL settings and certain features included in the ONE Plus plan. I have since lost the post but a t-mobile employee mentioned that the CAMEL settings must be set to exclude voicemail to text which is bundled with the ONE plus plan, which to my knowledge is a requirement for participating in the "get out of the red" promo.
Retail employees can't split bundled features out from the ONE Plus plan, so it requires a higher level of access on the part of t-mobile tech support... Supposedly, iPhones that were having issues were fixed in the same way. Also, I've seen reports of other pixel users having no such problems so it can safely be assumed that pixels DO indeed work Also, referring to Google's own support page for the feature the specifically mention t-mobile as being compatible with GOOGLE'S voicemail to text feature (not t-mobile's paid add on ), which is a subset feature of the native visual voicemail...indicating that Google vouches for support as well.
My friend is having the same issue with his OnePlus 6T that he bought from T-Mobile... I was having the same issue with an Essential Phone too... I have since switched to an iPhone X but am curious to find out what the root of this problem is because that is one of the reasons why I ended up switching back to iPhone.
As an easy, mostly, and free way around the problem you could switch to Google voice as your voicemail. Fairly straightforward and bypasses any carrier interference.
I just got off the phone with support. Even though I was able to install the T-Mobile VVM app on my phone and that tested fine, they couldn't get it working natively stating VVM was not enabled on my account. He stated it was activated today and being that I'm still new to the service, it may take up to 72 hours for all features to work. Not sure if I remember having this issue originally when I first set up my Pixel 2 XL on Verizon. I do remember taking some time to kick in but not this long. I'll see what happens after 72 hours.
Any progress or leads on this?
This is affecting quite a few people, at least as seen over on Reddit and certainly more.
Not sure why this thread is marked as "answered" if there's no solution, but regardless, please let us know if there's any fix forthcoming.
Gracias.
@carrierlost, just curious, what is the location of the log files you are grabbing from the device? I've been wanting to debug VVM in some other situations (e.g. some prepaid carriers), and this would certainly help.
