How To Extend Ring Time Before A Call Diverts To Voicemail [Verified Way]

[OldSchoolTech]

Hi guys:

This is to help anyone (like me) who needs to extend ring time before a call diverts to voicemail.

First, i am going to suggest updating your android phone with the latest android system update

EE recommend android system update (for various logical reasons): its a good idea...

Second, I have tested this method and know it works (its been posted elsewhere, but here, I am posting a logical step-by-step guide):

increase ring time before someone calling you is diverted to voicemail:

Dial *#61*11# on your keypad (you will see current ring time displayed as an "operator message")

Dial > **61*+447953222222**30# (to set ring time to 30 seconds)

> 30 seconds is max ring time, 5 seconds is minimum ring time (before whoever is calling you is diverted to voicemail)

Dial > *#61*11# again to confirm ring time set to 30 seconds.

thanks to @timsonr1 for posting a solution that actually works... 👍

the trick is:

1. use +447953222222 not 07953222222

2. to dial the + symbol (plus symbol) on an android keypad, long press 0 (you will see the + sign underneath 0 on your keypad).

hope this helps someone out there, because i've only just figured this out after many years 🙂

merry xmas 😊

[MmmToast]

Just to add to this very useful thread:

**61*+447953222222**30#

Worked for me on a pay monthly contract, using a Oppo Find X3 Neo 5G running Android ColourOS13.1 (based on Android 13)

After pressing the green dial button, the phone responds with:

“MMI Command started”
Then it will respond with “Call forwarding registration was successful”

Interesting idea to swap the SIM to an older phone if it doesn't work on certain brands, but can I propose an alternative is to change the phone dialler app.

I had success with this one:  Right Dialer

[OldSchoolTech]

dear contributors

as promised, here is a screenshot of "call forwarding delays" from my:

A15 samsung galaxy
OS: Android 14, Service Patch 1 March, 2024

i retrieved this information by dialing: *#61*11*# on my phone keypad.
when i press the green call button after dialing this code, my phone says:

"mmi code started"

then it displays a panel message indicating what my voicemail delay is set to (eg: 30 seconds)
[pic attached]

from what i can gather MMI Codes allow us to program our phones, so they do what we want which is the point of technology afterall... 😉

so when @Dave37  writes:

"From a few months ago EE took the decision to fix the call forwarding delay to 20secs which means you cannot shorten or lengthen the time period."

this is incorrect information. as indicated by @DSP1 (sorry dave): MMI codes are not provider specific, rather generic programming codes that can be dialed by all phones across all GSM, LTE and NR (radio) networks. technically MMI, USSD and SS codes are all different types of programmable codes we can dial from our phones. [but these all have similar phone programmable functions] 👍

for anyone with deeper interest, full wiki article here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unstructured_Supplementary_Service_Data

have a great day x

OldSchoolTech🚀

[Gingerhitch]

Thank you!

[TreborBMW]

As others have found, this wouldn't work on more modern phones. In my case a Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus and a Galaxy A56. So I tried your idea of placing the SIM cards in an older phone to make the changes, in my case I used a OnePlus 8, running Android 13.

It worked a treat, both my Samsungs are now ringing for 30 seconds before going to Voicemail.

Thanks for posting this information! 

[gez-jam]

I've been searching for this fix for donkey's years (since I bought a Galaxy A15 from EE).  None of the methods shown on YouTube work, and the display of call forwarding results, using *#61#, show a slightly different number with 4 repeated 3 times after the + sign, ie: "+4447953222222....".  I've tried it with both versions and "+44...." produces a report claiming that the time has been changed but when checked it doesn't work.

A phone that rings only 2 or 3 times for me t my age (77 & slightly deaf) is useless but I am not about to buy a new phone!  I shall just ring people back...

[Pch72]

I've tried this on a Samsung ultra S22 and numerous efforts off You-Tube to no avail.. unfortunately... 

[DSP1]

Hi Pch72

EE are not correct in saying that some models of phones cannot be extended beyond 20 seconds.  They certainly can be by putting the sim in an older phone. (confirmed by the number of positive replys on this site). Could I suggest you try a charity shop for an old phone, or maybe a local phone repair shop, might be able to help out. Persevere it can be done.

Regards DSP1

[DenisG]

gez-jam, I am same age so read page 3 of this thread and you will see a post from myself with the same problem. Just to repeat, this worked for me with an EE card in a Samsung A14, 15 and 16 now. I used an old Samsung S6 for the solution, With old phone and A15 make sure both are turned fully off. Remove any existing card from old phone, Remove and swap card from A15 to old phone and turn on. Follow the instructions and codes as above. It WILL give you 30 seconds ring time on the old phone. Now switch fully off the old phone and swap the card back to the A15 and turn it on. Go to the A15 phone keypad and dial the first number above *#61*11# and press dial. You should now see a list of things all marked as 30 seconds. This will not work on the A14, 15 or 16 directly, you need an old phone, in my case a Samsung S6. That was released in 2015 so I guess any android phone from that period would also work. Good luck.

[Pch72]

Thanks for your email information.. Unfortunately I don't have a old phone
to be able to swap sim into etc. This is my problem, Thanks ever so much
though, appreciate it.. (you would think with all New phones you'd get
better options not less eh..plus with all the software updates we get on
Android phones)

Best wishes,
C.c.

[Pch72]

Hi DSP1,

Thank you for your reply, much appreciated..

Purchasing a old phone to be able to change length of ring tone, is a no
no.. (i always recycle old phones) however 👌 thanks ever so much for the
idea of taking to a phone repair shop.. Excellent idea as these
ladies/Gents are Tech wizards.. This i will certainly be doing - on my next
visit to town..

Makes you wonder 🤔 technology is suppose to be getting so advanced, AI and
the like , yet can't do a basic action on new phones.. Whether this is down
to Newer Samsung phones or EE Sim not compatible is the question..

Much appreciated your reply, my brain obviously not in gear to have thought
to take to a phone repair shop. You're a star 🌟 - this will be my next
step on this journey , fingers X.. Will post if successful.. Thank you
ever so much, wishing you a lovely day.

Thank you, Best wishes,
Pch72