topic Re: Trying to change number of rings before voicemail kicks in in Broadband & Landline

Trying to change number of rings before voicemail kicks in

martinu — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:39:54 GMT

I'm trying to change the number of rings before the 1571 voicemail kicks in, so it is greater than the number of rings after which my own answerphone kicks in. I have my answerphone set to 8 and I'd like to set voicemail to 10 rings so my answerphone gets there first.

https://ee.co.uk/help/home-phone/manage-use/voicemail

"Change how many times the phone rings"

says to press 3 and then 2, but the 1571 voice menu goes immediately into playing existing messages and doesn't present any menus or respond to DTMF numbers for selecting options.

Are these instructions out of date?

Re: Trying to change number of rings before voicemail kicks in

Denzel99 — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:49:17 GMT

Go to the MyBT website. It’s under “Your products” > “Digital Voice” manage > “Voicemail essentials” manage.

Re: Trying to change number of rings before voicemail kicks in

XRaySpeX — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:52:54 GMT

Yes, that's how it used to be with BT. Now you need to call CS & request the ring period be set to Short (4 rings), Medium (7 rings) or Long (10 rings) to give time for your own answering machine or yourself to pick it up.

Re: Trying to change number of rings before voicemail kicks in

Denzel99 — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:05:43 GMT

Oops. Yes, I meant the EE website.

Re: Trying to change number of rings before voicemail kicks in

XRaySpeX — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:17:45 GMT

@Denzel99 : You'll only have “Your products” under MyBT when you do have products with BT, not with EE!

Re: Trying to change number of rings before voicemail kicks in

JimM11 — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:11:28 GMT

@martinu Not sure who is right, but the document says option 2,3 listen 2,3... Attached from the document.

From page 7.

Re: Trying to change number of rings before voicemail kicks in

gaz2023 — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:32:14 GMT

Hi @martinu

Those instructions are if there are no messages in your mailbox. If you press * whilst listening to the first message it will take you to the main menu. Then you press opt 3 (Settings) and opt 2 (Ring Time) and select the option you want there.

Re: Trying to change number of rings before voicemail kicks in

XRaySpeX — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:57:22 GMT

@JimM11 : Yes, that how it was with BT over 2 years ago but not now, My note at the time I had a BT analogue landline read:

When you dial 1571 under Personal Options (2) > Calling Options (3) > Ring Period (2) there is an option to set the ring period to Short (4 rings), Medium (7 rings) or Long (10 rings) to give time for your own answering machine or yourself to pick it up.

Anyway that was BT then; this is EE now!

Re: Trying to change number of rings before voicemail kicks in

JimM11 — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 15:11:03 GMT

@martinu Looks like you have to do the call to EE CS, document is either wrong or referes to an older type method.

Change how many times the phone rings

You can change how many times your phone rings before voicemail answers.

Dial 1571.
Choose Option 3 for settings and features.
Choose Option 2 to set the number of rings.
Listen to the confirmation.
End the call if you’re happy with your choice.