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
Unfortunately, this does not work for me. I am using a Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra. Without the crappy Tmobile app installed, I can turn on VMM in my voicemail settings but it will say that VMM is not activated at this time with no option to activate it at all. It's grayed out and voicemails do not show in my phone app despite the tab showing there. If I install the crappy Tmobile app, the option to use VMM in my phone app is entirely removed. No option to turn it on and the tab disappears from the phone app entirely!
I have followed your process several times to no avail. It's just a vicious circle for me because Tmobile wants to force me into using their crappy app that I want nothing to do with. I liked having the VMM feature integrated seamlessly into my phone app. That's where it belongs. That's how it should be. I should NOT be forced to used a secound external app just to use VMM! What the heck is Tmobile getting out of doing this to us?
My next step is going to be rooting my phone.
Late to the party, but glad I could make it...
Have a factory unlocked Moto G5. Android VM used to work great, now nothing. Not sure what changed, but I've done factory resets, reset carrier settings, deleted and manually set APN info, deleted that that and let the phone retrieve it's own settings. Cleared phone cache, cleared dialer app cache, etc.
I was also getting DNS errors for wifi calling, and guess what? No more DNS error, so that is cool, but still no native VMs.
bobnotblob wrote:
Late to the party, but glad I could make it...
Have a factory unlocked Moto G5. Android VM used to work great, now nothing. Not sure what changed, but I've done factory resets, reset carrier settings, deleted and manually set APN info, deleted that that and let the phone retrieve it's own settings. Cleared phone cache, cleared dialer app cache, etc.
I was also getting DNS errors for wifi calling, and guess what? No more DNS error, so that is cool, but still no native VMs.
"Welcome to the party pal." A very disappointing party though. The lack of any information from anybody at T-Mobile is a telling sign of just how much of a non-issue this is to them. It's been a sticking point with me about the Un-carrier's attitude towards this issue. This thread is a perfect example of just how much T-Mobile seems to care. Nov. 19th 2018 was the last correspondence from T-Mobile.
Maybe every user in this thread should create a new support ticket and
threaten switching carriers, lol. I bet there would be more response then.
Here's another thread that's being ignored too.
@ @nakeddroid, Thank you!! Your instructions did the trick! I have a Moto X Pure Edition with Android 7.0 and the stock visual voicemail stopped working months ago. I thought it was because of the Android update, but now I'm not so sure. It's been frustrating as I couldn't tell if I had voicemail or not. I didn't get any sort of notifications like I would normally. Now things are back to normal, thanks to you! In case anyone asks, I did exactly as instructed, including playing a voicemail from the TMO VVM app. At first, I didn't do this step and it didn't work. I rebooted my phone and tried again from the beginning (install the TMO VVM app, played a voicemail, uninstalled). As soon as I uninstalled, the stock visual voicemail filled up with voicemails.
As I just posted in the other thread mentioned, T-Mobile is switching VVM Platforms that's what is causing all the problems, they either know and want tell users, or their support staff are idiots and don't even know what is going on with their own company. Mine quit Oct 1st, but I was unaware I wasn't getting notified I had any voice mails. I am not using their crappy VVM app which is what the rep told me to do. I tried it, it didn't work and I uninstalled it. MotoG4 Plus
I just looked on the NEWS tab on the T-Mobile site
T-Mobile tiene opciones de correos de voz: Correo de voz, Correo de Voz Visual (VVM) y Correo de voz a mensaje (VTT).
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting September 29, BlackBerry and Windows Phone users voicemail will be moved to a new voicemail platform. This move will delete older messages
Please feel free to sign and share! We have to stop carriers blocking stick Android features!
Has anything changed with this? I just downloaded the app and it is telling me "SIM not ready or switched. Please check your SIM is inserted correctly and try again" on my Galaxy S9 and I'm not sure what to do with that because it's not the SIM
ahchoo wrote:
@nakeddroid found the answer!
I followed his instructions and it worked perfectly with one additional step.
Here what I did...
1) Installed TMobile Visual Voicemail.
2) Activate Visual Voicemail using the TMobile Visual Voicemail app.
2) Listen to a voicemail inside of the TMobile Visual Voicemail app.
3) Delete TMobile Visual Voicemail app.
4) Open Android Phone Dialer. Go to Settings -> Voicemail. Turn off Visual Voicemail. Wait a few seconds. Turn back on Visual Voicemail.
At this point Visual Voicemail started working for me in the Android dialer and all voicemails show up, play and are transcribed.
Everything is working solid on my Pixel 3 now.
This worked for me as well on my Pixel 4a.
