topic Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone? in Mobile Services

Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

Kcharters — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 13:49:31 GMT

Hi, I have a Samsung Galaxy S9+. I consistently miss calls because it diverts to voicemail after 20 seconds (the default). I have read many other posts on this forum that tell me to enter the following MMI code to change the setting from 20 to 30 seconds - **61*+447953222222*11*30#. However, when I do this it responds with 'Registration successful' but when I check with *#61# it remains at 20 seconds. I have called tech support but they say they can't change it it is fixed at 20 seconds. They suggested changing my ringtone to one of longer duration but that does not work. This is not acceptable to me so, if I can't find a way to change this, I will be switching to a different network when my current contract ends. Does anyone have a solution to this? I was previously with Vodaphone and changing the time before going to voicemail was very easy, so this appears to be a setting that EE no longer allow you to change!

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

Alex_M — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 14:16:19 GMT

Hi @Kcharters,

Please try the following MMI code instead.

**61*07953222222**30#

This code works for me, and sets the call forward to voicemail time to 30 seconds.

MMI codes have to be written exactly, otherwise they will not work.

**61*A**B# A=Number to forward to B=Seconds until forwarding

Thanks,

Alex

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

Kcharters — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 14:58:41 GMT

Hi Alex, I've tried the following MMI codes

**61*07953222222**30#

**61*00447953222222*30#

**61*+447953222222*30#

**61*07953222222*11*30#

**61*00447953222222*11*30#

**61*+447953222222*11*30#

None of them work on my phone. I've been back on to EE and they have now reset my service and, apparrently, chnaged the delay to 30 seconds but, it can take 2 - 4 hours for the cnages to take place (so I was told). I'll post an update later this evening. Thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Keith.

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

Alex_M — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 15:00:23 GMT

Hi @Kcharters,

Thanks for letting us know. It's odd that none of those codes worked for you.

Let us know how you get on!

Alex

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

bristolian — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 11:53:51 GMT

If you're using WiFi calling, then it's worth trying the codes when you're connected to the mobile network instead.

I've had issues in the past when using MMI/GSM codes on VoWiFi.

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

wrinx — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 23:07:56 GMT

Just wondering if there's a definitive answer to this, I've tried all the codes I can find, with and without wi-fi on, but to no avail.

From what I'd read so far...there are two different platforms, old and new. Phones running on newer platforms can't be changed. Both mine and my wife's phones are relatively new so perhaps that's the problem?

wrinx

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

frosty1 — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 13:07:23 GMT

My call forwarding is even worse, stuck at 5 seconds despite trying to set using the codes here

**61*07953222222**30#

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

Jon_K — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 08:55:36 GMT

Hi @frosty1.

Welcome to the community.

Have you changed your ringer length in the past?

What happens when you try to use that code?

Jon

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

davecumbria — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 13:25:13 GMT

7th Sep 2021. I have been trying to increase the time before the answer phone kicks in from 15 secs to 30 secs. I successfully increased the time to 20 secs but could increase no further. I contected tech support and after a long time trying, the lady contacted her bosses who advised that the time before the answer phone kicks in can no longer be increased beyond 20 secs. I have asked that this issue be brought to the attention of the technical team as there are many of us who want a delay of longer than 20 secs.

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

Katie_B — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 13:53:16 GMT

Thanks for coming to the community and providing this information @davecumbria.

I am positive this will help others in the future.

Have a wonderful afternoon,

Katie.

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

bristolian — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 14:05:59 GMT

I've just successfully tested, altering the "divert when unanswered" delay from 30 seconds to 25 seconds, and back to 30 seconds again.

Confirmed as working as intended, with an incoming test call in-between each change.

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

davecumbria — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 11:50:19 GMT

Please tell me how you managed it as the ee helpline couldn't do it.

Dave xxxx

[mod edit: please do not post personal information on the public board. Thanks!]

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

bristolian — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 16:49:48 GMT

He he!

I used *61*[07953222222]*11*[sec]# where sec is the delay time in 5 second intervals.

I've edited this post to include a screenshot of the result of sending *#61*11# to "check status" below.

These commands will only work over the mobile network, and not if connected using VoWiFi.

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

ID71 — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 13:46:01 GMT

just called EE and their technical support were not clued up about this issue at all. initially i was told to extend the ring time I would need to consult the manufacturer of the phone. then after she googled she discovered it could be done using a code but then said that the code had nothing to do with EE that again it was specific to the phoen manufactures. eventually she spoke to another colleague, who told her the maximum EE allow is 20 seconds before going to voicemail. I told her Vodaphone make it so easy and give clear instructions on hwo it can be changed to 30 seconds.

Anyway I was ready to leave EE when i found the code suggested by Bristolian **61*07953222222*11*30# and this seems to have worked as when i checked the status using *#61*11# it said voicemail set to 30 secs after ringing. Make suer you turn your wifi off when submitting the codes

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

davecumbria — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 18:55:45 GMT

I have been trying to do this for years and always told by tech team it can't be done. Anyway, tried the above and again, it failed. Still stuck with 20 seconds!

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

bristolian — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 19:16:50 GMT

Can you try changing the delay to 25 seconds instead?

As much a proof of concept as anything.

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

ID71 — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 21:28:44 GMT

@davecumbria try to copy and paste the exact sequence of characters and letters and make sure the WiFi is switched off when you click on call. Its definately worked for me as I did a test by ringing my mobile phone from my land-line and timing it before it goes to voicemail. It now takes 30 seconds.

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

davecumbria — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 08:41:18 GMT

The code to alter the time is not working. I have tried to alter to 10 secs but it remains at 30 secs on checking. WIFI off.

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

veteran — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 14:40:18 GMT

I have given up on this. I think I have tried every possible combination of conditions - wifi calling on, wifi calling off, wifi on, wifi off, VM number with and without +44, VM ON, VM OFF. When the code is not rejected, I get a 'Successful' response, but it does not confirm the setting and the ringer stays at 20 seconds. I am losing the will to live. So I have texted "VM OFF" to 150 to turn voicemail off and now my phone rings for 30 seconds. Obviously, no voice mail, but better chance of answering the call, I know most of the numbers who would call me, and I don't answer numbers I don't know. They can always text if is important.

I don't know the topography of cellular works, but I did wonder if the reason why it works for some people and not others is to do with what cellular exchange you are connected to.

Ironically, I was able to change the ringe time for my wife's phone on BT Mobile first try. Grrr.

Re: Can you change how many times the phone rings before it goes to answer phone?

deepas — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 17:07:52 GMT

Have you tried doing it with the SIM in a different mobile? The setting has never stuck when command sent from my Samsung note 9, despite saying success, but temporarily inserting it in an older device the same command did stick, well until EE changed my contract, whereupon I had to do the same procedure with swapping around the SIM again. Hopefully if I change contract in future this workaround still works. This issue has been going on for years now so its weird its not been fixed.