> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.dialbird.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Voicemail

> Choose when voicemail picks up, record or upload a greeting, and read your messages as text when you can't listen.

Voicemail catches the calls you can't get to, so a customer can always leave their details rather than hitting a dead line. Each of your numbers can take voicemail, with its own greeting, and Dialbird can even turn messages into text so you can read them on a job. This page covers when voicemail picks up, how to set a greeting, how long a message can be, and how to get your messages.

## When voicemail picks up

Voicemail answers in three situations:

* **You miss a call**, and missed-call voicemail is switched on for that number.
* **Someone rings outside your working hours**, and out-of-hours voicemail is switched on.
* **A call flow sends them there.** Voicemail is always the last step in a flow, nothing happens after it.

A call counts as missed once it's rung for as long as you've set in your call flow. You can set that anywhere from **5 to 60 seconds**. It's **25 seconds** to begin with.

## Turning voicemail on

Voicemail is set per number:

1. Go to **Settings**, then **Phone numbers**.
2. Click the number you want, and find **Voicemail**.
3. Turn on **Enable voicemail**. The **Voicemail settings** window opens.

In that window you can switch on:

* **Out of hours voicemail**, for calls outside your business hours.
* **Missed call voicemail**, for calls you don't get to in time.
* **Voicemail transcription**, to get each message written out as text.

## Recording your greeting

You can set a greeting in two places, and they work slightly differently.

**In your number's Voicemail settings**, pick **Custom greeting**, then either:

* **Record** one there and then with your microphone, play it back, and re-record if you're not happy, or
* **Upload** a file. Uploaded files must be **.mp3** or **.wav**, up to **10MB**.

Or leave it on **Default greeting** to use Dialbird's standard message.

**In a call flow's voicemail step**, you get three choices:

* **Text**: type what you want said, up to **500 characters** (roughly 80 words), and Dialbird reads it out in a voice you choose.
* **Audio**: record a greeting there and then, or upload one.
* **Default**: use Dialbird's standard greeting.

In a call flow you can type a greeting or use audio, but not both. Setting one clears the other.

## How long a message can be

Callers can leave a message up to **5 minutes** long. In a call flow's voicemail step you can set the limit yourself with a slider, anywhere from **10 seconds to 5 minutes**, and it's **2 minutes** to begin with.

## Reading messages instead of listening

Dialbird can turn voicemails into text, so you can read them at a glance. That's handy when you're on a job and can't put the phone to your ear. Transcription is switched on by default, both in call flows and in a number's Voicemail settings.

Voicemails show up **in the chat** with whoever rang. Press play to hear it, or open **Transcription** to read it. Use the **⋯** menu on the player to:

* **Download Voicemail**.
* **Copy link**.
* **Delete Voicemail**.

<Note>
  **Needs checking:** confirm whether voicemails also get emailed to anyone.
</Note>