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Why Ringless Voicemails May Be Delayed or Not Delivered

Ringless voicemails have an ~80% success rate. Learn what impacts delivery and how to maximize results with proper testing.

Updated over 2 months ago

What to Expect

Ringless voicemail (RVM) allows you to drop a message directly into a recipient’s voicemail box—without ringing their phone. However, delivery isn’t guaranteed. On average, you can expect about an 80% success rate, due to factors outside of our control.


Why a Voicemail May Be Delayed or Missing

1. Carrier Filtering or Blocking


Carriers may block or delay delivery if:

  • You send multiple drops to the same number in a short timeframe

  • The number is VOIP or a landline (not compatible with RVM)

  • The voicemail is flagged as spam due to content or frequency

2. Voicemail Box Issues


Voicemail won’t be delivered if:

  • The inbox is full

  • Voicemail is not set up

  • The recipient’s carrier has disabled voicemail

3. Phone Status and Network Conditions


If the recipient's phone is:

  • Powered off

  • Out of network range

  • On airplane mode or Wi-Fi only
    Then the voicemail may be delayed—or silently dropped.

4. Device and Carrier Variability


Some devices (e.g., iPhones) and carriers (especially smaller or regional ones) may handle RVM delivery differently. Delays of several minutes or even hours are not uncommon.


Test Feature Limitations

When using the Test Voicemail tool:

  • You can only test once per number every 24 hours

  • Additional attempts may be blocked by the carrier

Important Note: Ringless voicemail systems are designed for high-volume delivery, and one-off test drops are more likely to fail due to how carriers handle isolated attempts. Testing your own number can also be unreliable, especially if you're using Wi-Fi or a device with stricter spam protections.


Best Practices for Reliable Delivery

  • Use valid mobile numbers only (not VOIP or landline)

  • Ensure the voicemail inbox is set up and not full

  • Keep the phone powered on and connected to mobile data

  • Wait 24 hours between test attempts to avoid triggering carrier blocks

  • Avoid spammy phrases or URLs in your voicemail message

Tip: Call your own number and let it ring without answering to see how long it takes to reach your voicemail. Most carriers route unanswered calls to voicemail after 15 to 25 seconds. This test helps confirm that your voicemail is set up properly and provides an indication of how long delivery might take in a typical drop.


Still Not Seeing Your Voicemail?

Delayed delivery is normal—but if you’ve followed the steps above and still don’t receive your voicemail, contact us at [email protected]. We’re happy to help troubleshoot and verify delivery logs.

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