You're trying to listen to a voicemail on your cell phone, but it won't load any of your recent messages. While voicemail has taken a backseat next to texting and other technical updates to communication, it still holds an important role in many people's lives. Here's everything you can do if your Google Pixel 5 is not loading voicemail.
How Does Voicemail Normally Work On the Pixel 5?
Typically, you should be able to see and listen to voicemail a couple different ways on your Pixel 5. For example, if you see a voicemail notification on your screen, a properly working Pixel should let you swipe down from the top of the screen to check out any new messages.
It should also be possible to call your voicemail. First, open the Phone app, then press and hold 1 on the keypad. Another way to access your voicemail from the Phone app is to press More in the top right corner. After this, tap Settings followed by Voicemail. Finally, select Visual Voicemail.
If none of these methods allowed you to access your recent messages, keep reading for more tips!
Check Your Pixel 5's Service
A common reason for a cell phone to not load voicemail is because it's not currently connected to cellular service; Google Pixel phones need access to cellular to successfully load new voicemails. Alternatively, if your cellular connection's weak, it might take a long time for your voicemail to load properly.
To check if your Pixel 5's currently connected to cellular data, open Settings or swipe down from the bottom of the screen.
Restart Your Google Pixel 5
Many Google Pixel 5 problems, including not loading voicemail, can be resolved by restarting the device. The easiest way to complete this step is to press and hold the Power button. After about 15 seconds, a prompt should appear on your Pixel 5's screen giving you the option to Restart. Press Restart, your phone will automatically turn off and back on.
Once your Pixel 5 boots up, check your voicemail to see if it's working. If it's still not loading, keep reading for more tips!
Clear the Phone App Cache On Your Pixel 5
Android phones keep a record of various actions and data within apps in storage caches. Sometimes, these can become corrupted or over-filled. It's possible that clearing the Phone app's cache will resolve the problem your Pixel 5's experiencing.
To clear the cache, open Settings and select Apps and Notifications. Next, tap See All, then Phone. Once you're on the Phone page, tap Storage, and finally, Clear Cache.
If your voicemail still won't load after clearing the cache, don't panic! There are still a few fixes you can perform to get your Pixel 5 working again.
Clear Storage On Your Pixel 5
It's possible that the Phone app on your Pixel 5's storage is full. If this is the case, new voicemails won't be able to load until some space is cleared in the app. Luckily, there are a few ways to free storage space in the Phone app.
One option you have is to open Settings and tap Storage. In Storage, activate Smart Storage. Smart Storage is a feature that will automatically clear unnecessary data from your cell phone to keep your device's storage from over filling.
If you would prefer, it's also possible to free up storage space manually. Just go back to the Storage tab in Settings, then select Free Up Space. From there, just select any items you don't need, then tap Free Up. Once you delete the desired items, you should have more available storage space on your Pixel 5!
Reset Network Settings
In Network Settings, cell phones keep a record of every connection they've made through cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This area is also where information like Wi-Fi passwords gets stored. Sometimes, resetting this information can resolve glitches like your Pixel 5's inability to load voicemail.
Before continuing with this step, you'll want to back up your cell phone's data. While you probably won't lose anything other than the Network Settings data by performing this reset, it's good to have a backup just in case. On a similar note, you may want to record any Wi-Fi passwords you use often, as you'll need to manually enter them after the reset's complete.
Once you are ready, open Settings to begin the reset process. Tap System, then Advanced, followed by Reset Options. Next, select Wi-Fi, Mobile, and Bluetooth. To confirm the reset, tap Reset Settings. You may be prompted to enter your security code or PIN if you use one to keep your Pixel 5 locked. Once you've confirmed this action, your phone should reset!
Contact Your Wireless Carrier
If you've tried everything else up to this point and your voicemail still won't load, it's possible that your Pixel 5 isn't the issue. Your cellular provider is in control of your voicemail's accessibility, so it's possible they'll know what's wrong and how to help. Click here for more information about how to get in touch with your carrier, or call one of the numbers below:
- Verizon: 1-(800)-922-0204
- AT&T: 1-(800)-331-0500
- T-Mobile: 1-(877)-746-0909
Listen Closely!
Not being able to access voicemail can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you've been expecting an important call. If your Google Pixel 5 won't load voicemail, there are a number of reasons why this could be the case. Take troubleshooting one step at a time and soon you'll have no trouble listening to all of your latest messages!
