iPhone 7 Plus Won't Play Voicemail? Here's The Fix!

David Lynch

MAY 25, 2017

You can't listen to voicemails on your iPhone 7 Plus and you're starting to get frustrated. Perhaps you're waiting to hear back about a job interview, or you're looking to catch up with an old friend. This article will explain how to properly set up Visual Voicemail on your iPhone and show you how to fix an iPhone 7 Plus won't play voicemail.

Why Can't I Play Voicemails On My iPhone 7 Plus?

When someone calls your iPhone 7 Plus and leaves a voicemail, the voicemail audio file — which is similar to an mp3 you'd download into the Music app — is downloaded from your wireless carrier.

When your iPhone 7 Plus won't play voicemail, there's often a software issue that's causing voicemail to malfunction, or the voicemail files are failing to download from your wireless carrier.

We've created a troubleshooting guide that will first show you how to set up voicemail, then show you what to when your iPhone 7 Plus isn't playing voicemails. If you've already set voicemail on your iPhone (which is known as Visual Voicemail), then you can skip to the second step in our guide.

How To Fix An iPhone 7 Plus That Won't Play Voicemail

6 Steps Total
1.

Set Up Voicemail On Your iPhone

Visual Voicemail allows you to view, listen to, and delete the voicemails on your iPhone. Make sure you set up Visual Voicemail on your iPhone, otherwise your voicemails may not download from your wireless carrier.

How Do I Set Up Voicemail On My iPhone?

  1. Open the Phone app.
  2. Tap the Voicemail tab in the lower right-hand corner of the screen.
  3. If Visual Voicemail is not set up on your iPhone, you'll see a button that says, Set Up Now. Tap that button.
  4. Enter, then confirm a custom voicemail password.
  5. Tap Custom if you want to create your own custom greeting when someone reaches your voicemail box.
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2.

Turn Your iPhone Off And Back On

When you turn off your iPhone, the operating system shuts down all the little background programs that keep your iPhone running. When you turn your iPhone back on, all those little background programs start fresh, and sometimes that’s enough to fix a simple software glitch.

How Do I Turn My iPhone Off And Back On?

  1. Press and hold the power button (iPhones without Face ID) or the side button and either volume button (iPhones with Face ID) until "slide to power off" appears on the screen.
  2. Use your finger to swipe the red power icon across the screen from left to right.
  3. Wait for your iPhone to turn all the way off. This may take up to 30 seconds.
  4. To turn your iPhone on again, press and hold the power button (iPhones without Face ID) or side button (iPhones with Face ID) again until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
  5. Let go of the power button or side button and wait for your iPhone to turn on.
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3.

Close Out Of All Of Your Apps

Closing out of your apps is like turning your iPhone off and back on — it gives your apps a fresh start. If one of the apps that you have open crashes in the background, it may prevent other apps you have open from functioning properly. It can be difficult to identify which specific app or apps are malfunctioning, so we'll close them all to save time.

How Do I Close Out Of All Of My Apps?

  1. Double-press the Home button to view the apps your currently have open.
  2. Use your finger to swipe up on the apps to close them.
  3. You'll know all your apps are closed when you only see a preview of your lock screen.
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4.

Reset Network Settings

When your iPhone connects to a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth device for the first time, it saves information about how to connect to that network or device. If something changes with that process, it may cause connectivity issues.

Deep software problems, especially with network settings, can be difficult to track down. Rather than trying to track an issue down, we're going to reset all network settings and give your iPhone a fresh start.

How Do I Reset Network Settings?

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Scroll down and tap Transfer Or Reset iPhone.
  4. Tap Reset.
  5. Tap Reset Network Settings.
  6. Enter your passcode if prompted.
  7. Your iPhone will shut down, reset, and turn itself on again when the reset is complete.
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5.

Contact Your Wireless Carrier

Sometimes when your iPhone experiences issues related to your cellular network (no or poor service, calls going straight to voicemail), the problem is stemming from the cellular network, not the iPhone itself.

Below are the support numbers of major wireless carriers to contact if you're experiencing problems.

  1. Verizon: 1-(800)-922-0204
  2. Sprint: 1-(888)-211-4727
  3. AT&T: 1-(800)-331-0500
  4. T-Mobile: 1-(877)-746-0909
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6.

Repair Your iPhone With Apple

Apple repairs iPhones at the Genius Bar in Apple Stores and through their online mail-in repair service. Apple repairs are high-quality, but out-of-warranty repairs can be much more expensive than third-party solutions. If you're looking to save some money you're not covered by Apple's warranty, you may want to check out our other recommendations.

How Do I Repair My iPhone With Apple?

How To Repair Your iPhone With Apple's Mail-In Service

  1. Visit Apple's support website to begin the online mail-in repair process.
  2. Alternatively, call 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753) to set up a repair.

How To Repair Your iPhone At The Genius Bar Inside Your Local Apple Store

  1. Visit Apple's website to make a Genius Bar appointment before you go into the store. Apple Stores are extremely busy, and if you don't have an appointment, you may have to wait for hours or end up being turned away. (Editor's note: I'm a former Apple tech and we're not exaggerating — please, do yourself a favor and make an appointment first!)
  2. When you arrive, go to the Genius Bar to check in for your appointment.
  3. Genius Bar appointments always include free diagnosis. If you're under warranty, many repairs can be done on the spot, but it all depends upon which parts are in stock. If you're not under warranty, the Genius will give you a quote for the cost of a repair.
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Voicemail Is Working!

Voicemail is working again on your iPhone 7 Plus and now you can listen to messages from calls you may have missed. It's frustrating when an iPhone 7 Plus won't play voicemail, so share this article on social media so your friends and family will know how to deal with this problem too. Thanks for reading!

  1. Set Up Voicemail On Your iPhone
  2. Turn Your iPhone Off And Back On
  3. Close Out Of All Of Your Apps
  4. Reset Network Settings
  5. Contact Your Wireless Carrier
  6. Repair Your iPhone With Apple

Applies To: iPhone 7 Plus

AUTHOR

David Lynch

David Lynch is an expert on cell phones, cell phone plans, and other tech. After using a flip phone into his early 20s, he learned the ropes about iPhones and Androids from a former Apple employee. Today, his articles and videos are read and viewed by millions, and he has been cited by major publications including Reader's Digest, Wired, CMSWire, Consumers Advocate, and more.

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