Phone ring time is too short? Missing calls? The good news is you can extend it easily at no cost. CyberShack has tested the ‘hack’, and it appears to work on Android and iPhone, as well as NBN landlines.
The problem was caused when Telco carriers agreed to shorten the call ring time to a measly 15 seconds – way too short for all but the most agile! We understand that it was to reduce non-chargeable ‘downtime’ on mobile networks to increase paid ‘talk time’. And to divert more calls to Message Banks, which are tidy earners for the Telcos.
Now here is the rub – it is nothing to do with phone makers. It is purely the ring time before diversion to a message bank. So these Australian codes will extend ring time on any mobile phone – Android, iPhone or a dumbphone. There are different codes for each mobile network, and if you use an MVNO, then use the code for the network it uses.
Update (15/4/23)
Many readers have responded that the hack did not work. It appears to work on some Samsungs but not on iPhones. We have gone back to the Telcos. Please use the comments facility to let us know the make and model of your smartphone and your MVNO.
Telstra
- Open the phone App
- Dial **61*101** followed by the time in seconds, e.g., maximum 30 seconds, and #. Then press Call. Example **61*101**120# and press call.
A pop-up should appear saying MMI Code Started and then ‘Call Forwarding Registration was successful OK’.
If it is not working for you, then you may have disabled call forwarding.
Optus
- Open the phone App
- Dial **61*321**[maximum 30 seconds], and #. Then press Call. Example **61*321**30# and press call.
Vodafone
- Open the phone App
- Dial **61*121**[maximum 30 seconds], and #. Then press Call. Example **61*121**30# and press call.
To test if you were successful (all Carriers)
- Open the phone App
- Dial *#61#, then press call.
- You will see MMI Code Started and then a message ‘Call forwarding Voice: +61[your message bank number] after XX seconds. OK’.
You can also extend your landline ring time
We have not tested this with all NBN providers, but it should work. If not, contact your provider.
- Pick up the handset and wait for a dial tone
- Dial *99[seconds in 5-second increments]#, then press call and then wait 10 seconds before hanging up.
If these hacks do not work, please use comments to tell us the phone make and model and your Teclo/NBN carrier.
Phone ring time, phone ring time
37 comments
Alex
This is great
optus setting increased to 30 seconds
Thank you
John Thomasson
No success on my Motorola g8, Optus network
Ray Shaw
Thanks for the feedback. Its not the phone but the way Optus et al, have set up messaging.
Bailey Rowe
Using Telstra with Xiaomi Mi 9 SE. I tested by “Dial *#61#, then press call.” and the message displayed was
Call forwarding
Connection problem of invalid MMI Code
Ray Shaw
Xiaomi is not certified for use on Australian local networks. That explains the error code.
Rodney
Extend rings on Vodafone with a Samsung 52s, does not work and never has
Ray Shaw
Vodafone has not responded to our several requests. Sorry.
Linda Curtis
Tried again with the little stars and pop up reads call forwarding successful
Guess it worked?
Won’t know till I get a call
Thankyou
Ray Shaw
Lets hope. It seems to work for some brands/models and not for others.
Linda Curtis
Huwawei pro 30, sim is Aldi. Did not work. I used the Telstra code..
Thanks for your great work..
Ray Shaw
We are still working on it but the Telcos seem totally disinterested in helping.
Larry Oliver
Hi Cybershack,
I think I did a bit of a dumb thing in following the instructions to increase the ring time as per above.
I am with IINet and have an IPhone XS Max and thought the instructions for Telstra would work for me as they are pretty universal so proceeded. Now my custom voice mail message previously on the phone doesn’t work. When you go into greeting it opens up as the default and then changes to custom. If I ring my number it gives a message about not being available and will send as a text but cuts out half way through that message. I’ve tried restarting my phone, changing my pin all to no avail.
Any clues would be appreciated.
Cheers
Larry
Ray Shaw
iiNet uses Vodafone so try those instructions. If not call your voicemail number and listen to the prompts. There is one to listen to your voicemail message and change it. Once all is working then it should work at home. The Telstra instructions are for 101 messages.
Alex Vergara
It hasn’t worked for me. The following message is received “Call forwarding Connection problem or invalid MMI code (801)”
I am with Belong and using a Samsung Galaxy S9
Ray Shaw
Here is advice for invalid MMI codes https://www.wirelesshack.org/how-to-fix-connection-problem-or-invalid-mmi-code.html
Peter Reay
Charlie,
Unfortunately the fix does not work on my landline using Vtech 18050’s and Optus. This has annoyed me for years. I originally spoke to Optus who advised me that it was an NBN issue. I subsequently purchased a 3 pack of Vtech 18050’s and placed them strategically around the house and in the garage but that only helps sometimes as 3 rings or about 8-10 seconds is not very long. If you could help me I would appreciate it.
Ray Shaw
We are advising Optus customers to contact it and ask why the information on its website does not work.
Judi
Hi, I tried the hack to extend ringtone on 3 phones and it worked on 2. The 3rd is a clients Galaxy A13 that is connected via Bendigo Telco to Optus. It says connection problem or invalid MMI is invalid. ps We do have lousy phone service here 🙂
Ray Shaw
Contact Optus help and tell them the information on its website did not work and you want it fixed.
Mara
Hi There, I have a Samsung Galaxy S10+ network ”Aldi” (Telstra), the instructions did not seem to work, I’m assuming because it is through Aldi – although I do believe they use the Telstra network to some degree.
At present the phone rings for 15 secs which is not enough for me to answer most calls.
Hoping you can assist, thankyou..
Ray Shaw
We are liaising with the Telcos as they all publish this information on the website, and its clearly wrong. Its a priority to get this right.
Frank save
Hi Charlie,I’m with Pennytel , I’m missing incoming calls after a few rings it call fails ,new sim card also a new phone z4flip , regards Frank
Shane Healey
Tried to extend phone ring time from 15 sec to 30 sec and the hack did not work for two mobile phones.
Phone carrier is Vodafone. Mobile models are (1) Samsung Galaxy S9+ and (2) Samsung Galaxy S8.
Ray Shaw
Thanks – we are forwarding all responses the Telcos. It appears to be more phone model related than we were led to believe.
Marcy G
I have a Galaxy A72 and the hack has worked for me.
I’m on a month-to-month plan with Aldi Mobile which is a Telstra (4G) reseller.
Ray Shaw
Thanks – seems more phone related that we thought.
Rodney Cox
Test still showed 15 seconds. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G on Vodaphone
Ray Shaw
Thanks – we are forwarding all responses the Telcos.
Ken Sparrow
Tried the update to increase the call ring time from the 5 or 10 seconds that I was getting on my Samsung A50 with Optus. Went to 30 secs (too long) then back to 20 secs BUT I have lost my Call Forwarding / Message Bank! Caller cannot leave a message.
Can you please let me know how to restore Message Bank – preferably with the extended ring time but I must have Message Bank active even if I have to go back to shorter ring times.
Thanks, Ken
Peter nottle
The hack did not work to extend ring time on iPhone 11 Pro Max.
Ray Shaw
We are seeing a pattern emerge with Apple. Working with the Telcos to find out more.
Frank Siemensma
Changing the ring time on my Samsung A20 phone did not work. No matter what lenghth of time I enter, it defaults to 15 seconds.
Ray Shaw
Hi Frank
We double-checked with Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, and they swear that it works. We will follow them up again but cannot promise they will reply.
Peter Reay
Charlie,
The fix did not work for my landline (Vtech 18050’s and Optus). 3 rings approximately 10 seconds is all the time I get to answer before it goes to voice mail. This has annoyed me for years. I originally spoke to Optus who could not provide a solution, they blamed the NBN. I ended up buying a 3 pack of phones and placing them around the house but that only gives me enough time to answer sometimes.
Ray Shaw
Hi Peter
We double-checked with Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, and they swear that it works. We will follow them up again but can make no promises they get back to us.
Ray Shaw
Hi Ken. The Optus instructions for voice mailo are here https://www.optus.com.au/for-you/support/answer?id=1663 – I don;t know why it was disabled.
Ray Shaw
I presume the hack did not work for you. Please advise the phone brand/model so we can check.