Are you wondering how to turn off Telstra Message Bank? It’s straightforward, so let’s find out!
The Telstra MessageBank is the voicemail service that will greet you with a personal answer when a phone can’t be reached or is busy.
If callers are greeted with a MessageBank voicemail they don’t like, you can either switch to a personal one or turn off the MessageBank.
To turn off the Telstra MessageBank, you need to use the My Telstra App or the official Telstra website and disable the voicemail.
If you’re unsure how it’s done, follow the steps below!
How to Turn OFF Telstra Message Bank?
Note: The steps below are only applicable to Telstra Upfront customers!
1. Go to Your Telstra Services
There are two general portals from where you can disable your Telstra MessageBank.
One is the mobile My Telstra App, and the other is from the website My Telstra.
You need to download the My Telstra App, available for Android and iOS systems, or go to the official Telstra website.
You must use a device connected to the internet, or the portals won’t be accessible for management.
Tip: You can use your mobile phone to access the Telstra website!
2. Sign in to the Telstra Profile
The next step is to enter your Telstra account by inserting your ID and password.
So, whether you’re using the app or the official website, you must sign into the account you want to turn off the MessageBank for.
Note: If you don’t remember your login credentials, click “Recover username.”
3. Turn OFF the MessageBank
When you’re signed into your Telstra account, you can now manage your MessageBank.
Know that when you disable the service, your callers won’t be prompted with the greetings message.
Here’s how to turn off message bank Telstra mobile:
Turn OFF MessageBank via App:
- Open the My Telstra App on your mobile.
- Then, locate and enter the “Services” tab.
- Go to the Menu (3 vertical dots on the right).
- Next, tap on “Menage your MessageBank.”
- Toggle “OFF” your Telstra’s MessageBank.
Turn OFF MessageBank via Site:
- Go to the official Telstra My Account page.
- Then, sign-in by using your Telstra username.
- Go to “My Services” and locate MessageBank.
- Turn “OFF” the MessageBank for your account.
This is how easy it is to turn off MessageBank on Telstra mobile service and prevent your callers from leaving a voicemail.
If you have an nbn box and a landline, keep reading to learn how to stop the MessageBank from your headset.
Turn OFF Telstra Message Bank On Landline?
If you’re a customer using an nbn connection box or Digital Office Technology (DOT), you must disable the MessageBank differently.
To enable/disable and manage the service, you can use the My Telstra App or the site, instead, you do all of this straight through your phone handset.
Turn OFF Telstra MessageBank nbn Landline:
If you have an nbn box connected to a landline phone, here is what to do:
- Call #99# to turn “OFF” your landline MessageBank.
- Call *99# to turn “ON” your landline MessageBank.
- Dial 101 from your headset to access your voicemail.
Turn OFF Telstra MessageBank DOT Landline:
If you’re on a DOT technology, disabling the MessageBank happens this way:
- Call 101 to enter the Telstra MessageBank menu.
- Alternatively, fill out the MessageBank online form.
When there, press and hold the one key to turn off the MessageBank.
If you press two, you’ll be prompted to set up a custom voicemail and pressing the three key will allow you to set up a MessageBank PIN code for an extra security layer.
Your Telstra MessageBank is now disabled!
How to Manage Your Telstra MessageBank?
Did you know you can customise your Telstra MessageBank precisely how you want?
You don’t need to disable the service entirely because this will keep the callers in the dark when they call you and you don’t pick up.
Instead, you can record a greeting message that everyone who stumbles upon an unanswered call will hear and be later prompted to leave a voicemail.
How to Record a Greetings Message?
- First, call 101 through your Telstra mobile.
- Then, hold the 1 key for about 5 seconds.
- Press 3 for Mailbox Settings.
- Press 1 for Greetings Setup.
- Press 1 to record a message.
When you press the 1 key for a final time, Telstra’s MessageBank will listen to your new greetings message.
We recommend keeping it short and prompting the caller to try again in a few minutes or leave you a voicemail.
How to Hear MessageBank Voicemail?
To hear your Telstra’s MessageBank voicemail left by unanswered callers, dial 101 and hold the 1 key continuously until you hear your most recent messages.
To stop the narration of the voice messages, you can simply exit the Phone app on your Telstra phone.
How to Extend the Ringing Duration?
If Telstra’s call duration is short, and callers are typically sent to your voicemail before you can pick up, you can solve this by extending the ringing duration.
It is very easy, so here’s how:
- On the mobile, input **61101** (don’t dial yet).
- Then, add the number of seconds to increase.
- You can extend it with 15, 20, 25 or 30 seconds.
- At the end of the string, you must put the “#.”
So, for example, if you want to increase your ringing duration by 25 seconds, you need to dial **61*101**25#.
Another example: if you want to increase by 30 seconds, dial **61*101**30#.
You will be greeted with a screen confirming that your ringing time has been increased.
This way, you will no longer need to rush when your phone is ringing, and you don’t need to perform a Telstra message bank turn off.
How to Set Up Your MessageBank Plus?
To set up your Telstra MessageBank Plus, you will need to send an SMS to 144 and type in “VVN ON” without a typo.
This will activate a visual voicemail if you rather have this one instead of the regular MessageBank voicemail.
When this is ready, follow the steps below:
- Go to your Phone app using an iPhone.
- Select the “Voicemail” tab to continue.
- If that’s your first time, tap “Set up Now.”
- If prompted, insert the 6-digit PIN code.
- Choose a custom or default greeting.
That’s it. The Telstra MessageBank Plus is now activated!
Note: MessageBank Plus is only available for iOS!
Using A Different Mobile?
If you’re not using your original Telstra mobile, you can also adjust your MessageBank settings, by inputting your PIN code.
You must dial your mobile number through a different headset, and after hearing the greetings, press the “#” button and enter your PIN, allowing you into the menu.
Tip: When roaming internationally, you must send an SMS to +61101 but there will be additional charges that will apply.
Quick Recap:
Hence, to turn off Telstra Message Bank use the My Telstra app or the official Telstra site to enable/disable the MessageBank.
If you’re using a landline phone, dial #99# or dial 101 to reach the Telstra MessageBank customisation menu and toggle on or off the service.
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.