CenturyLink voicemail basics

Learn the basics of voicemail:

Voicemail is usually included in home phone service. To change your service or features, contact us.

Note: Voicemail instructions and user guides differ based on location. Check your zip code at the locator pin in the top right of the site to be sure you're getting the correct information.

How to set up your voicemail

Use these instructions to set up your voicemail. Don't worry if you make a mistake — you can always back up and change your response.

1. Start up your voicemail service

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To set up your voicemail, press #55 or *68 from your home phone or call the access number you received with your welcome letter. Voice prompts will guide you through the rest of the steps.

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To set up your voicemail, press *98 from your home phone or call the access number you received with your welcome letter. Voice prompts will guide you through the rest of the steps.

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To set up your voicemail, press *98, *68, or #55 (varies by location) from your home phone or call the access number you received with your welcome letter. Voice prompts will guide you through the rest of the steps.

Please chat with us to get your voicemail access number if you've lost it.

2. Create your PIN

Your voicemail PIN can be any number 4 to 15 digits long. Be sure to make note of it because you'll need it to access your messages in the future.

3. Record a name to identify your mailbox

You can record any name you'd like. It's common to record your first and/or last name.

4. Choose a greeting

You can record a personal greeting, or you can use one of the pre-recorded CenturyLink greetings. Follow the system prompts to select your greeting:

Standard greeting with phone number: "At the tone, please record your message to [phone number]."

Standard greeting with your name: "At the tone, please record your message to [name]."

Record a personalized greeting, up to 3 minutes long. A common template you can follow is: "You've reached [name]. We can't get to the phone right now, but if you leave a message, we'll call you back."

And you’re done! Your CenturyLink voicemail is now set up. Whenever you have an unheard message, you'll hear a stuttered dial tone when you pick up your home phone.

Tips for great voicemail greetings

If you choose to record your own personal greeting, consider these tips:

Take a few minutes to gather your thoughts, even jot down a few notes, and practice before you record.

Before you start recording, turn off anything in the background that might cause noise. This will ensure your voice is clear and easy to understand.

While clever greetings can be fun, it's worth taking a moment to think about the range of potential callers who may be leaving you voicemail. Consider the tone and image you want to project.

Don't worry! If you don't like your recording, you can erase it and re-record as many times as you'd like.

How to reset your voicemail PIN

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Call 800-201-4099. A representative will ask you a series of questions to verify your identity, and then will reset your PIN for you.

Get Voicemail User Guide

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You can reset a forgotten PIN or set a new one when you know your current PIN.

Reset a forgotten voicemail PIN

Call 800-244-1111, and a representative will verify your identity and reset your PIN for you.

Change your PIN when you know your current PIN

If you know your PIN and simply want to change it, dial *98 from your home phone and enter your PIN. Then, from the main menu, do the following:

For settings, press 4
For security options, press 3
To change your PIN, press 1
Enter your new PIN (4-15 digits)
To confirm, enter your new PIN again

Download Voicemail User Guide

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How to check voicemail

To access your voicemail from home, simply press *98, *68, or #55 (varies by location) from your home phone. Voice prompts will guide you through the rest of the steps.

Check voicemail away from home

In most areas, there are two ways to check your messages away from home: call home and interrupt your outgoing message with #, *, or 2 (varies by location) or call your retrieval number. If you don't have your retrieval number, please contact us to get it.

Any time you're checking voicemail from a phone line that is not your home line, you are required to enter your voicemail PIN. Did you forget your PIN? You can reset it.

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Option 1: Call home and interrupt the greeting

Call your home phone number.
Press # to interrupt the greeting. Note: In some areas, the # key will not interrupt the greeting. Try pressing the * key or 2 instead.
Enter your PIN.
Follow the prompts to listen to your messages.

Option 2: Check your voicemail online

Get Voicemail User Guide

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Option 1: Call home and interrupt the greeting

Call your home phone number.
Depending on your location, you can press #, * or 2 to interrupt the greeting.
Enter your PIN.
Follow the prompts to listen to your messages.

Option 2: Call your retrieval number

You can call your retrieval number — instead of your home phone number — to quickly access your voicemail box and listen to your messages remotely. You will be prompted immediately to enter your PIN and don't have to wait for your greeting to start.

If you've forgotten your retrieval number, call 800-244-1111 to get it. The number was included in the welcome letter you received when you signed up for voicemail service.

Download Voicemail User Guide

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Option 1: Call home and interrupt the greeting

Call your home phone number. Depending on your location, you can press #, * or 2 to interrupt the greeting, and then enter your PIN. Follow the prompts to listen to your messages.

If you are unable to access your voicemail, contact us for assistance.

How to change your voicemail ring cycle

To change the number of times your phone rings before voicemail answers, please contact us and a representative will set your ring cycle.

How to turn off voicemail

If you do not want to use your voicemail and would like to turn it off, please contact us to remove the service from your number. At this time, there is no self-service option for turning off voicemail.