Change Your Voicemail Greeting on Android: UK Carrier Guide
Updated: 3 hours ago
Changing your voicemail greeting on Android in the UK isn't as simple as it should be. There's no single interface; it depends on which network you're on, whether your handset supports Visual Voicemail, and what you're trying to set as your greeting.
This guide covers everything: carrier dial-in setup for EE, O2, Vodafone and Three; MVNO networks including Sky, giffgaff, BT Mobile, Tesco and others; Visual Voicemail app setup and which UK networks support it on Android; and how to use a custom audio file as your greeting.
iPhone user? This guide covers Android only. For iPhone voicemail audio setup (including the conversion method and speaker method) see the iPhone voicemail audio conversion guide and the iPhone speaker method guide.
Method 1 - Dial-In Setup (Works on Every Android, Every UK Network)
The dial-in method works regardless of which Android phone you have. It's also the only option on networks that don't support Visual Voicemail. Find your network below:
Network | Dial | Navigate to | Notes |
EE | 150 | Press 2 from main menu | If prompted for a PIN and you haven't set one, it will be the last four digits of your mobile number by default on some accounts. If that fails, call EE on 150 to reset |
02 | 901 | Personal options → change greeting | 02 Visual Voicemail is also available on selected Android handsets - see Method 2 |
Vodafone | 121 | Press 3 for greeting options | Vodafone Visual Voicemail can be activated by texting 'STATE' to 100121, then restarting your phone. |
Three | 123 | Follow automated prompts | Three has no official Visual Voicemail support on Android. Dial-in is the primary method. |
Speak clearly and begin talking the moment you hear the recording prompt. Most systems give a single short beep: there's no second tone. Keep your greeting under 20 seconds if possible; callers reliably stop listening after that and begin speaking or hang up.
Which network are you actually on? MVNO Carrier Mapping
If you're on a smaller network, your voicemail runs on one of the four main carriers. Here's the full mapping for UK MVNOs:
Your Network | Runs On | Voicemail Number to Dial |
Sky Mobile | 02 | 901 |
giffgaff | 02 | 901 |
Tesco Mobile | 02 | 901 |
BT Mobile | EE | 150 |
Plusnet Mobile | EE | 150 |
Lebara | Vodafone | 121 |
VOXI | Vodafone | 121 |
SMARTY | Three | 123 |
iD Mobile | Three | 123 |
Talkmobile | Vodafone | 121 |
Method 2 - Visual Voicemail on Android
Visual Voicemail gives you a screen-based list of your voicemail messages, playable in any order without dialling in. Some Android Visual Voicemail apps also give you a more accessible greeting management interface.
Support for Visual Voicemail on Android varies significantly by network in the UK:
Network | Android Visual Voicemail | Details |
EE | Limited - some handsets | Works natively on iPhone. Android support varies by device model — not all Android handsets are provisioned for it by EE. Check EE's app or contact support to confirm for your handset. |
02 | Samsung Galaxy S9 and later | O2 Visual Voicemail works on Samsung Galaxy S9 onwards. Also available via Sky Mobile (which runs on O2) on the same Samsung handsets. |
Vodafone | Limited plus activation required | Text 'STATE' to 100121, then restart your phone. Not all Android handsets support it. If activation fails after restart, contact Vodafone to check provisioning on your account. |
Three | No Official Support | Three does not officially support Visual Voicemail on Android. Device-level VVM may function on some handsets but is unsupported. Dial-in (123) is the reliable method for Three customers. |
If your network supports Visual Voicemail on your Android device, look in your Phone app for a Voicemail tab. Greeting settings are usually found under a Settings or cog icon within that tab.
How to use a custom audio file as your Android voicemail greeting
No UK mobile carrier allows you to upload an audio file directly to your voicemail system on Android. The workaround is the same speaker method used for iPhone: play your audio file through speakers while recording into the voicemail system.
Dial your carrier's voicemail number (see table above) and navigate to the greeting recording option.
When the system prompts you to record, hold the microphone end of your Android phone a few inches from your computer speaker.
Immediately press play on the audio file on your computer.
End the recording when the audio finishes. Listen back and adjust speaker volume if the result is distorted or too quiet.
Use closed-back headphones around the phone's microphone instead of open speakers; the driver sits closer to the microphone, cuts out room noise, and gives a more consistent result. Position the ear cup around the bottom of the phone where the microphone grille is.
For a full step-by-step guide to the speaker method with troubleshooting, see: how to set an MP3 as your voicemail greeting using the speaker method.
Android users on a business VoIP or cloud phone system: RingCentral, 8x8, Vonage, BT Cloud Voice, Microsoft Teams calling can usually upload audio files directly through a web admin portal. The carrier restriction above applies to standard mobile voicemail only. Check your platform's admin settings before using the workaround.
Voicemail greeting tips. What actually works
The mechanics of setting the greeting are only part of it. A few content principles that apply regardless of network or method:
State your name in the first three seconds: callers who've dialled the wrong number hang up immediately; callers who've reached the right person need confirmation to leave a message.
Keep it under 20 seconds: this is consistent across research into voicemail behaviour. Callers either hang up or talk over a greeting that runs long. Twenty seconds is generous; fifteen is better.
Give a clear action. 'Leave a message and I'll return your call by the end of the working day' is more useful than 'you know what to do'. Specific timescales increase message rates.
Record in the quietest space available, background noise encodes into the greeting permanently and plays to every caller. A quiet room, even without acoustic treatment, beats a noisy one every time.
Test it by calling yourself from another phone by listening to the full experience a caller gets, including any carrier intro message, before it goes live.
🎙️ - A professionally recorded voicemail greeting removes all the variables. Martin Whiskin records business voicemail greetings from a sound-treated studio in Kent. Format delivered are either in WAV, MP3 or u-law ready to upload to business phone systems or use with the speaker method above. Pre-recorded options are available in the shop, or get in touch for a bespoke greeting with your business name and details.
