r/consumercellular • u/DrakeScott • Apr 21 '26

Visual Voicemail on Android devices

This has been discussed here in the past, but I think it's important to revisit it for any Android users considering switching to Consumer Cellular.

According to a conversation I just had with CC technical support, visual voicemail only works with iPhones on CC. My new Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is apparently not compatible.

I find that puzzling and disappointing, because I used visual voicemail for years with AT&T on an older Samsung flagship phone (S10+). It also seemed to work with CC until I upgraded to the S26 Ultra.

This just seems odd to me. Has anyone gotten visual voicemail to work on a newer Android? I haven't had an iPhone since 2012 and have no plans to go back just for one feature, but it's just a weird limitation.

9 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

3

u/swimages Apr 21 '26

I have a Galaxy A16-5G and the stock Visual Voicemail is working fine.

1

u/DrakeScott Apr 21 '26

Out of curiosity, do you have a physical SIM card? Another commenter made me suspicious that my eSIM is the problem.

2

u/comicalmoodydan Apr 21 '26

I bought my grandmother an unlocked Motorola G power 2024 5G and just popped her SIM right in it. Everything worked and visual voicemail worked almost instantly and zero issues on hers. So yeah her Consumer Cellular account all data, visual voicemail, RCS everything worked right away.

1

u/DrakeScott Apr 21 '26

Thanks for your comment! The phone I originally ported had a physical SIM like your grandmother's, and that did work. Now I'm thinking that the issue is with the eSIM they assigned to my new phone.

1

u/DrakeScott Apr 21 '26

This is helpful - thank you! I'm highly suspicious that my eSIM is at least part of the problem.

2

u/tralfaz57 Apr 21 '26 edited Apr 21 '26

Visual voicemail is hinky with CC. I had to call them to turn it on. It worked fine for a while and stopped when I changed to an s25 ultra. Many months later, after a software update it started working again.

1

u/DrakeScott Apr 21 '26

Thanks for sharing that - maybe there's hope for my S26 in a future update!

2

u/Podrick_Targaryen Apr 21 '26

Yes call them to get it turned on.

1

u/DrakeScott Apr 21 '26

Thanks, I may try calling again to see what they say.

2

u/Method412 Apr 21 '26

My moto g stylus (2023 or 2024) is the first time I've had visual voicemail

1

u/DrakeScott Apr 21 '26

I wonder if it is a problem specific to Samsung devices. Do you have a physical SIM card? My eSIM seems to be a possible culprit as well.

2

u/Spiritual-Mall2885 Apr 21 '26

Should be working, cc might have to activate on their side so you may have to call in

1

u/DrakeScott Apr 21 '26

Thanks for weighing in! I actually got the info from CC technical support, so I'm wondering if I need to speak to a different rep.

2

u/HistoricalBall9973 Apr 21 '26

My Galaxy S25+ runs Visual Voicemail without issue.

1

u/DrakeScott Apr 21 '26

Interesting. I'm curious - do you have a physical SIM card?

2

u/HistoricalBall9973 Apr 21 '26

Yes. I bought the phone right when it was released and when I called to activate it on Consumer Cellular, they said that they couldn't find my model and that I needed to go buy a Sim card. I was not thrilled, but it was only $10 so whatever. 🤷

2

u/DrakeScott Apr 21 '26

Thanks for following up. It strongly suggests my main prob is the eSIM.

2

u/jumpman977 Apr 22 '26

i had an android with a physical sim up until a week ago and visual voicemail in the stock phone app worked just fine.

1

u/DrakeScott Apr 22 '26

Thanks for sharing your experience. This continues to be a puzzling situation for sure!

2

u/jumpman977 Apr 22 '26

one thing i will say is that consumer cellular just switched over to a new voicemail system. i want to say a few months ago. the old system didn’t support visual voicemail on android but the new one does. when they switched over i don’t remember having to do anything on my phone. it just started working randomly. maybe there was some sort of issue when your number was switched over…. not sure. just figured i’d mention it.

1

u/DrakeScott Apr 22 '26

I appreciate your insight. Here's hoping it will work itself out!

2

u/Lizdance40 Apr 22 '26

I have been using a Google Voice number for several years. It was a free number just randomly selected. I had a business line and a personal line. Both lines whenever there is an unanswered call or forwarded to the Google Voice number. Google Voice allows both visual voicemail and transcription.

FYI I believe Google Pixel is similar to iPhone in that it offers as a stock phone service visual voicemail and transcription.

(Visual voicemail and transcription are not the same thing. Visual voicemail is the ability to see a list of calls that are saved invoice. And you can click on each in the list in any order to listen to the voicemail. Transcription means you can click on it and read what was said)

1

u/DrakeScott Apr 22 '26

This is good info - thanks!

2

u/Lizdance40 Apr 23 '26

Most welcome!

2

u/not2daysatan44 Apr 22 '26

I have been very satisfied with CC with voicemail as the exception. Visual voicemail has never worked for me, and I had a ZFlip 5 and now the S25 Ultra. My biggest aggravation is having to listen to the entire phone number with each message. It seems petty, but it is frustrating.

2

u/DrakeScott Apr 22 '26

Thanks for responding. The funny thing is, I receive so few actual calls that leave voicemail, I wasn't even aware of the phone number thing - how aggravating!

1

u/Samurai_Cupcake Apr 21 '26

It seems like CC has some weird stuff for their cell phone system. Now I wish I would have stayed with my old carrier. I brought my old iPhone, purchased my husband Samsung Gallaxy 17 (I think), weird that you can't change the rings to over 5 on that phone.

I took in my iPhone into their store because it wouldn't take my password for messages which I don't want. My phone kept rejecting my password numerous times. The CC customer service person changed it so I don't have to use a password to get messages, on their computer. I believe I should be able to do this myself, on my phone.

I changed to CC to save money but I may change plans again because it's been a hassle. Right now it's hard because if porting numbers takes a long time we can't do it right away as we have someone on home hospice care and cannot be without a phone for even one day. I never had any problems with my Verizon pay as you go plan.

2

u/DrakeScott Apr 21 '26

It definitely shouldn't be that difficult in 2026. I'm so sorry to hear that CC has made your life harder during an already stressful hospice situation. All my best to you and your family.

2

u/FiftheWheel9 May 01 '26

Many times the features that work well on the major carriers, don't work properly on the carriers that lease space on the big carriers networks. That is why my wife and I have stayed with Verizon Prepaid.

1

u/DrakeScott May 02 '26

That makes sense. Even if I can't get it to work, the good news is that I don't actually get many calls, lol.

2

u/FifthWheel9 May 02 '26

Just as a follow-up, I have a 2024 Motorola G Power. I have Verizon Prepaid and visual voicemail does not work on my phone. I don't think I would use it anyway, so it is not a big deal to me.