Why is there a voicemail notification won’t go away?
A voicemail notification is an icon, message, or number that appears on your phone’s screen when you have new voicemail messages waiting. This alert lets you know to check your voicemail inbox for new messages. Normally, opening the voicemail app and listening to or deleting the new messages will clear the notification.
However, sometimes the voicemail notification persists and won’t go away even after you’ve checked all new messages. This stuck notification can be frustrating and confusing. You may find yourself constantly checking voicemail trying to clear the false alert. Understanding the causes and solutions for a voicemail notification that won’t disappear is important to resolve this common problem.
Causes of Stuck Notifications
One of the most common causes of a voicemail notification getting stuck is the notification remaining even after you have listened to all new voicemail messages. This can happen if the voicemail app fails to sync properly with your device’s notification center.
For example, on Android devices, the Phone app may display a persistent voicemail notification badge even after you open the voicemail tab and listen to all new messages (Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS20/comments/iqs2z2/voicemail_notification_wont_go_away/). The app is not clearing the notification as it should after you access the voicemails.
This incorrect syncing between the voicemail service and your device’s notification center is a key reason the voicemail notification gets stuck and won’t clear, even though there are no new voicemails remaining.
Issues with Voicemail App
Sometimes the voicemail notification won’t go away due to bugs or glitches in the voicemail app itself. This seems to be a relatively common problem across various devices and carriers. For example, some iPhone users have reported persistent voicemail notifications even after listening to all new messages. The notification gets “stuck” and continues showing a voicemail count, often with zero voicemails available. Similar issues have been reported with certain Android devices as well, like OnePlus phones. The voicemail app may have difficulty syncing with the notification center/settings. Restarting the device or the voicemail app specifically may provide a temporary fix.
Syncing Issues
Sometimes having the persistent voicemail notification on your phone is caused by delays in syncing new voicemails across your devices. For example, if you listen to a new voicemail on your home phone, there might be a lag before that voicemail is marked as read on your cell phone as well.
This syncing delay could lead to your cell phone still showing a notification for that voicemail, even though you’ve already listened to it on another device. Most voicemail apps and mobile providers have servers that sync your voicemail data across multiple phones. But sometimes connectivity issues or high loads on the servers can slow down this syncing process.
According to an article on T-Mobile’s website, you may need to manually update your voicemail by calling your voicemail box if you are experiencing delays in syncing. Your phone may continue showing a false new voicemail notification until the data can fully sync.
Network Connectivity Issues
One common cause of a stuck voicemail notification is poor network connectivity or signal strength. This can prevent your device from properly syncing and clearing notifications, especially if you are in an area with weak or limited service. As noted by Apple Support discussions, “To check your cellular network connection, try to call someone. Make sure that you set up your voicemail. To check, dial your own phone number…” [1]
With an iPhone, you may see a “Voicemail” notification even if you have no new voicemails. This is generally due to a temporary loss of connection with your carrier’s network. The same issue can occur with Android devices. Checking your signal strength and moving to an area with better reception may resolve the false notification. Restarting your device can also force it to re-sync.
Incorrect Notification Settings
One of the most common reasons for persistent voicemail notifications is that the settings are not properly configured. Both iOS and Android devices allow users to customize notification settings for various apps, including the voicemail app.
On an iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Voicemail to check if notifications are enabled. Make sure “Allow Notifications” is turned on and that alert styles are selected as desired (banners, sounds, badges, etc.). If notifications were mistakenly turned off, simply flip the switch on to resolve the issue [1].
For Android users, open the Voicemail app, go to app settings, and confirm notifications are allowed. Toggle notification settings on or off as needed. Some Android skins like Samsung’s UI may bury the settings deeper in the Sound/Vibration menus [2].
If notifications are already enabled but you still don’t receive them, try toggling the settings off and on again. A simple reboot can also help resync notification permissions.
Outdated Software
One of the most common reasons for persistent voicemail notifications is having outdated software on your device. Phone operating systems and voicemail apps receive frequent updates to fix bugs, improve performance, and add new features. If the voicemail app is outdated, it may not sync properly with the voicemail service, leading to incorrect notifications that don’t clear.
To fix this, check if there are any pending software updates for your device’s operating system or the voicemail app specifically. On Android devices, go to Settings > System > Advanced > System update to check for an OS update. You can also open the Play Store app and go to My Apps & Games > Updates pending to see if the voicemail app needs updating. On iPhones, go to Settings > General > Software Update. Make sure to install the latest iOS version.
Keeping your software completely up-to-date is the best way to prevent issues with incorrect or stuck voicemail notifications. Outdated apps may not be optimized for the newest OS version and can cause conflicts. If updating does not resolve the notification problem, you may need to contact your carrier for further troubleshooting.
Troubleshooting
If the voicemail notification persists even after listening to all new messages, there are some troubleshooting steps to try:
Force stop the voicemail app – Open settings, go to Apps, select the voicemail app, and choose Force Stop. This will fully close out the app and restart it fresh when opened again. It can help clear any app errors causing the stuck notification.
Reboot the phone – Sometimes a simple device restart can clear stuck notifications. Power down the phone completely and boot it back up.
Check notification settings – Open the Settings app and go to Notifications. Make sure notifications are enabled for the voicemail app and that the notification sound/vibration is set as desired.
Toggle voicemail notifications off/on – Disable notifications for the voicemail app, restart the phone, then re-enable them. This essentially resets the notification channels.
Update voicemail app – Go to the Play Store/App Store and check for any available updates to download for the voicemail app. Updates sometimes address notification bugs.
If none of these basic troubleshooting steps resolve the issue, it’s recommended to contact your mobile carrier for further support.
Preventative Measures
There are a few steps you can take to proactively manage notifications and prevent the voicemail notification from getting stuck:
Go into your phone’s notification settings and adjust the notifications for the voicemail app. You can turn off certain notifications or change how they are displayed. For example, on a Samsung phone you can go to Settings > Notifications > Voicemail and customize the alerts (1).
Keep your phone’s OS and apps updated to the latest versions. App and system updates often include bug fixes that can resolve notification issues. On Android, enable auto-updates in the Google Play Store. On an iPhone, enable automatic updates in Settings.
If an app update is available for your voicemail service, install it right away. Updates specifically for the voicemail app may contain fixes for notifications.
Restart your phone regularly. This clears out any temporary glitches that may be causing the voicemail notification to stick.
Check notification settings after a major OS update. Sometimes updates can reset notifications, so you may need to reconfigure them.
When to Contact Your Carrier
If you have tried the troubleshooting steps listed above and the voicemail notification still won’t clear, it’s time to contact your carrier. Persistent stuck notifications often indicate an issue with your carrier’s voicemail system syncing properly with your device.
According to discussions on Apple’s forums, sometimes a carrier-bundle update from your service provider can resolve syncing problems that cause stuck voicemail notifications. If no updates are available, you’ll need to contact customer support.
When you call or chat with your carrier’s tech support, explain the notification issue in detail. Mention what troubleshooting you’ve already tried on your device settings and apps. The carrier should be able to diagnose where the breakdown is happening between their voicemail system and your phone.
In some cases, they may need to reset something on their end to get voicemail syncing properly again. Or they may detect an incompatibility requiring a plan or device update to fully clear the false notifications.
Contacting your carrier is the best solution when all device-level fixes have failed. With insight into their systems’ communication with your phone, they can resolve persistent voicemail notification problems that other troubleshooting cannot.