Voicemail Unavailable Could Not Authorize Access – Quick and Easy Fix

Are you getting the message, “Voicemail unavailable could not authorize access?”

It can be frustrating to get this error, especially if you’re expecting an important call saved in your voicemail. It’s either your settings or an issue with your network.

Is voicemail is unable to authorize acces, call your mailbox directly to see if you can listen to your messages. If that doesn’t work, you need to use a third-party voicemail app and set it up to connect to your mailbox.

Let’s get to the bottom of this!

8 Easy Solutions to Voicemail Unavailable Could Not Authorize Access

Fortunately, there are several simple and effective solutions to help you fix this issue with your voicemail. All you need to do is try these and work your way down the list to see which works for you.

#1: Call Your Voicemail Inbox Directly

One of the easiest solutions you can try if you’re having issues accessing your voicemail inbox is to call it directly.

Most carriers will have this feature by default, so it should work with just about any phone on any network.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Go to the Dial or Keypad tab.
3. Dial *86.
4. Press the Call button.
5. Press the Pound (#) key when you hear the greeting.
6. Enter your voicemail password to access your inbox.
7. Check for any messages you might have missed.

Although this step is easy, it doesn’t always work, especially if you already see this error.

However, if you still can’t access your voicemail inbox, proceed to the other steps below.

#2: Ensure Your Voicemail is Enabled

Another way to access the voicemail you want to look at is to ensure it is enabled.

There are instances when your service is disabled for a variety of reasons. If you’re changing plans, switching carriers, or updating software on your phone, these can cause it to malfunction.

Here’s how you can check and enable it on your iPhone:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap on the Voicemail tab at the bottom.
3. Select Voicemail to toggle it On.

On Android:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Tap on the Phone menu.
3. Select Voicemail.
4. Toggle the switch next to Voicemail is On.

Note: If you are prompted for a voicemail password, enter it.

If you don’t know your voicemail password, it’s usually the last four digits of your phone number. When that doesn’t work, check your device’s user manual.

#3: Clear Your Voicemail Cache

If you could not authorize access voicemail iPhone, you want to clear up the voicemail cache.

It’s a temporary storage space allocated to data related to your voicemail service, like messages, settings, and notifications. The cache can get corrupted or full, so you want to clear it.

Follow these steps for iPhone:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Select the Voicemail tab.
3. Tap on the three dots in the top right corner.
4. Tap on Settings.
5. Select Clear Voicemail Cache.
6. Confirm your action by tapping Clear.

Android:

1. Go to the Settings app on your phone.
2. Select Apps.
3. Scroll down to find Call Settings.
4. Tap the Storage option.
5. Select Clear Cache, then Clear Data.

Tip: Clearing your voicemail cache does not delete any of your voicemail messages, as it will only delete the temporary data saved to your phone. 

#4: Request New Voicemail Settings From Your Carrier

Your voicemail settings are instructions that tell your phone how to connect to your service.

However, these settings can be outdated or incorrect, which can cause errors with accessing your voicemail.

Depending on your carrier, you will be able to request new settings to update it.

If you’re getting a voicemail unavailable could not authorize access AT&T error, here’s what you should do:

1. Go to the AT&T website and sign in to your account.
2. Click on the My Services tab.
3. Select the Voicemail link.
4. Click on Request New Voicemail Settings.
5. Type in your phone number and account information.
6. Click Submit.

On Verizon:

1. Go to the Verizon website and sign in to your account.
2. Select the My Account tab.
3. Click on Voicemail.
4. Choose Reset Voicemail.
5. Enter your phone number.
6. Click on the Reset button.

On T-Mobile:

1. Open the T-Mobile website and sign in to your account.
2. Click on the Plans and Features tab.
3. Select Voicemail.
4. Click on Request New Voicemail Settings.
5. Type in your phone number.
6. Click on the Submit button.

Your carrier should send you the latest voicemail settings for your account. You will need to enter these settings into your phone to get it working again.

Note: It can take some time for your new settings to arrive, so we recommend that you be patient and wait at least 2 hours before contacting your carrier’s support.

#5: Use a Third-Party Voicemail App

If you’re unable to access your voicemail, even with the latest settings, you want to use a third-party app.

It’s an alternative way to access your voicemail service without relying on your phone’s built-in feature.

Here’s how you access your voicemail with these popular third-party apps:

Google Voice:

1. Open the Google Voice website or the app.
2. Sign in using your Google account.
3. Click on the Settings icon at the top right of the page.
4. Select the Voicemail tab.
5. Enter your voicemail number and voicemail password.
6. Click on Save to access your mailbox.

YouMail:

1. Open the YouMail app on your phone.
2. Tap on the Settings icon on the top right.
3. Navigate to Carrier Settings.
4. Enter your voicemail number and password.
5. Tap on Save.

Note: You can easily download these apps on an iPhone or Android device and sign up for an account to start using them.

#6: Reset Voicemail Settings on Your Phone

Whether you’re getting the voicemail unavailable could not authorize access Verizon error message or for other carriers, you’ll need to reset the voicemail settings.

This will help you restore the settings to their default values and resolve any issues that have occurred.

Here’s how to do it on your device:

1. Open the Phone app on your device.
2. Tap on the Voicemail tab.
3. Select the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
4. Choose Settings.
5. Tap on Reset Voicemail.
6. Select Reset to confirm.

Note: Resetting your voicemail settings will not delete any of your messages, so you don’t have to worry about losing them.

#7: Reset Your Device’s Network Settings

If you suspect a network issue like a weak signal, unstable connection, or an outdated configuration, you will need to reset your device’s network settings.

To reset it, you need to follow these steps:

iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Tap on General.
3. Go to Reset.
4. Tap on Reset Network Settings.
5. Select Reset Network Settings to confirm.

Android:

1. Go to your phone’s Settings.
2. Tap on the System menu.
3. Select Advanced.
4. Choose Reset Options.
5. Tap on Reset WiFi, Mobile, and Bluetooth.
6. Select Reset Setting to confirm.

Note: After resetting your settings, you’ll lose your connections and have to reconnect them manually.

#8: Update Your Phone’s Carrier Settings

Finally, if none of these steps work and you’re still getting the voicemail unavailable could not authorize access T-Mobile or any other networks, you’ll need to update your carrier settings.

These settings are outdated or corrupted, and you’ll need to get the latest version to get your voicemail to work.

Follow these steps on your iPhone:

1. Go to the Settings app on your device.
2. Tap on General.
3. Select About.
4. Scroll down and look for the Carrier option.
5. If there’s an available update, it will say, “Carrier settings update available.”
6. Tap on Download and Install.

On Android:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Tap on System.
3. Select System Updates.
4. Tap on Check for Updates.
5. If an update is available, it will show “Available Updates.”
6. Select Download and Install.

Note: Before updating your carrier settings, you want to ensure that you are connected to a strong and stable WiFi or cellular connection to have no issues downloading the settings update.

You can contact your carrier’s customer support for assistance if you encounter issues accessing your voicemail.

Quick Recap

The voicemail unavailable could not authorize access error is a straightforward fix. The quickest way is to call your voicemail inbox and access your messages. If that does not work, reset your voicemail settings or use a third-party app.

For more troubleshooting guides about voicemail errors and issues, visit our blog!

Read Next: Verizon Voicemail Notification Not Working? – (Easy Fix!)