Category: Voicemail · Last updated 2 Oct 2026
Changing how long your phone rings before voicemail picks up
Adjusting how long your phone rings before unanswered calls go to voicemail.
You can change how long your phone rings before an unanswered call goes to voicemail, giving you more or less time to answer.
How to change it
Contact us and tell us how long you'd like your phone to ring, up to a maximum of 30 seconds. We'll update it on the network for you, which usually takes effect within about 20 minutes.
A shorter ring time sends missed calls to voicemail quickly, while a longer one gives you more time to reach your phone.
On an iPhone running iOS 18 or later, Apple's Live Voicemail answers missed calls after about 15 seconds, regardless of your ring time setting. To use your full ring time and your Lightning IP voicemail, go to Settings, then Apps, then Phone, and turn off Live Voicemail.
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- VoicemailHow to set up your voicemailHow to set up voicemail on your Lightning IP mobile for the first time, including recording a greeting and setting a PIN.
- VoicemailHow to listen to your voicemail messagesHow to dial in and listen to new voicemail messages from your Lightning IP mobile, and the keys to use while a message is playing.
- VoicemailListening to your voicemail from another phoneHow to check your messages when you don't have your own phone with you.
- VoicemailHow to turn off voicemailTurning voicemail off if you'd rather unanswered calls just ring out.
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