# How to activate missed call alerts on your UK mobile (and check if they're already on)

> Activate Call Catcher on Vodafone UK by dialling *148# or check status with *#148# in 2026. Complete setup guide included.

**Published:** 2026-05-10
**Updated:** 2026-05-10
**Category:** HOW_TO_TELCO
**Author:** Rafael Tuñón
**Canonical URL:** https://rechargevodafone.co.uk/how-to-activate-missed-call-alerts-uk-mobile/

## Key takeaways

- On Vodafone UK, dial *148# followed by the send key to reactivate Call Catcher on your phone.
- Check your Call Catcher status anytime by dialling *#148# followed by the send key on your Vodafone UK handset.
- Vodafone Australia customers can manage Call Catcher by calling 121 600 from their Vodafone phone and following the automated prompts.

## Key statistics

- **121 600**, Vodafone phone number to manage Call Catcher by dialling from your Vodafone handset (Source: Vodafone Australia)
- ***148#**, USSD code to reactivate Call Catcher service on Vodafone UK (Source: Cable Forum)
- ***#148#**, USSD code to check Call Catcher status on Vodafone UK (Source: Cable Forum)

## Article

<KeyTakeaways>
 <div title="Key Takeaways">
 <ul>
 <li><strong>Call Catcher is already active</strong> on Vodafone UK accounts; it sends a free SMS when someone calls while your phone is off or out of signal.</li>
 <li>Voicemail takes priority, so if you've set up 121 service, callers go there instead of triggering the text alert.</li>
 <li>No activation codes exist for Call Catcher because the service is provisioned automatically at network level.</li>
 <li>Call Divert codes (starting **61*, **62*, **67*) let you forward calls to another UK number, giving you more control than the basic notification service.</li>
 </ul>
 </div>
</KeyTakeaways>

<p>Call Catcher on Vodafone UK doesn't need activation. The service is already running on your account. When someone tries to reach you and your phone is switched off, out of coverage, or busy, the network logs the attempt and sends you a free text message once your handset reconnects.</p>

<p>If you're not receiving these alerts, the issue is almost always that Voicemail is intercepting calls first. This guide explains how the service works, why it might appear inactive, and what to do when notifications stop arriving.</p>

## How the service actually works

<p>Call Catcher is Vodafone's legacy term for missed call notifications. The network detects an unsuccessful connection attempt, records the caller's number and the time they rang, then pushes that information to your phone as an SMS once you're back in range. The caller hears ringing or an unavailable tone but can't leave a message unless you've separately activated Voicemail.</p>

<p>This is a passive alert system. You get a text. The caller gets nothing. There's no interaction, no recording, no callback prompt.</p>

## The voicemail conflict

<p>Voicemail takes priority over Call Catcher in Vodafone's call routing logic. If you've set up your 121 service, incoming calls are diverted to your voicemail box instead of generating a simple text notification. You can check this by dialling <strong>121</strong> from your Vodafone mobile and listening for any saved messages or setup prompts.</p>

<p>To receive Call Catcher texts instead of voicemail, you need to deactivate the voicemail service through the 121 menu. Navigate to settings and choose the option to turn off voicemail completely. This restores the default missed call notification behaviour that most customers expect.</p>

<p>Network registration issues can also block alerts. If your phone has been off for an extended period or you've recently changed SIM cards, a restart often resolves temporary glitches. Power down your handset, wait 30 seconds, then switch it back on and wait for full signal bars to appear.</p>

## Using Call Divert for more control

<p>Call Divert is a separate feature that forwards incoming calls to another UK number. This is useful if you want calls to reach a landline, a colleague's mobile, or a second device you carry. On Pay As You Go plans, you can typically only divert to your own voicemail; Pay Monthly customers can divert to any UK number.</p>

<HowToSchema>
 <div title="How to set up Call Divert on Vodafone">
 <div title="Step 1: Forward all unanswered calls">
 <p>Dial <strong>**61*</strong> then the destination number in international format (replace the leading 0 with +44), then <strong>#</strong> and press call.</p>
 <p><em>Example: **61*+447700123456#</em>
</p>
 </div>
 <div title="Step 2: Forward calls when your phone is off or unreachable">
 <p>Dial <strong>**62*</strong> then the destination number in +44 format, then <strong>#</strong> and press call.</p>
 <p><em>Example: **62*+442012345678#</em>
</p>
 </div>
 <div title="Step 3: Forward calls when your line is busy">
 <p>Dial <strong>**67*</strong> then the destination number in +44 format, then <strong>#</strong> and press call.</p>
 </div>
 <div title="Step 4: Cancel all diverts">
 <p>Dial <strong>##002#</strong> and press call. You'll see an on-screen confirmation that all forwarding rules have been removed.</p>
 </div>
 </div>
</HowToSchema>

<p>Each divert type can be set independently. You might forward busy calls to voicemail but send unreachable calls to a landline. To check which diverts are active, dial <strong>*#61#</strong>, <strong>*#62#</strong>, or <strong>*#67#</strong> depending on the scenario you want to query.</p>

## Troubleshooting when alerts stop arriving

<p>If you've deactivated voicemail, restarted your phone, and still aren't receiving missed call notifications after 24 hours, the service may not be correctly provisioned on your account. This is rare but can happen after a SIM swap or account migration.</p>

<p>Call <strong>191</strong> from your Vodafone mobile (free) or <strong>0333 304 0191</strong> from any other UK phone. Explain that Call Catcher isn't working and ask the agent to check your network settings. They can see whether the feature is enabled at the system level and can manually activate it if needed.</p>

<p>You should also contact 191 if you're receiving notifications for calls you've already answered, or if the timestamps in the SMS alerts are consistently wrong. These symptoms suggest a network sync issue that requires backend investigation.</p>

<FAQSection>
 <div title="Frequently Asked Questions">
 <div title="Is Call Catcher free on Vodafone?">
 <p>Yes. Receiving the missed call SMS is free of charge for all Vodafone UK customers, whether you're on Pay Monthly or Pay As You Go.</p>
 </div>
 <div title="Can I get missed call alerts when I'm abroad?">
 <p>Roaming networks handle this differently. You may receive alerts, but it depends on the partner network's capabilities. Checking voicemail while abroad can incur roaming charges.</p>
 </div>
 <div title="How do I turn off Vodafone Voicemail?">
 <p>Call <strong>121</strong> from your Vodafone mobile, navigate to the settings menu, and select the option to deactivate voicemail. This will restore missed call text notifications.</p>
 </div>
 <div title="How can I report spam calls or texts?">
 <p>Forward suspicious text messages to <strong>7726</strong> (free). For nuisance calls, text the word 'CALL' to 7726 and follow the instructions you receive.</p>
 </div>
 </div>
</FAQSection>

<SourcesList>
 <div title="Sources">
 <ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/my-vodafone-app/voicemail">Vodafone UK Voicemail Support</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/help-and-information/costs-and-charges/call-diverts">Vodafone UK Call Divert Management</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/help-and-information/contact-us">Vodafone UK Contact Information</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/help-and-information/costs-and-charges/stop-nuisance-calls">Vodafone UK Nuisance Call Support</a></li>
 </ul>
 </div>
</SourcesList>

## Quotations

> You can also manage Call Catcher by dialling 121 600 from your Vodafone phone and following the prompts.
>, Vodafone Australia (official support page) (https://www.vodafone.com.au/support/device/call-catcher)

> To reactivate the service, call *148# followed by the 'send' key.
>, User post (Cable Forum) (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=46252)

## Frequently asked questions

### how do I activate call catcher on vodafone uk

Dial *148# from your Vodafone phone and press send to reactivate Call Catcher. You should receive a confirmation message within a few seconds. If you don't get a response, try again in an area with stronger signal or contact Vodafone support, as availability can vary by plan.

### what is the code to check call catcher status vodafone

Dial *#148# from your Vodafone handset and press send to check whether Call Catcher is currently active. This code checks your status without making any changes to your service.

### vodafone call catcher ussd code

The two main USSD codes are *148# to reactivate the service and *#148# to check its status. Both are entered directly into your phone's dialler and require you to press send. These codes are community-verified on Cable Forum rather than official Vodafone documentation.

### can I manage call catcher by phone number vodafone australia

Yes, Vodafone Australia customers can dial 121 600 from their Vodafone handset and follow the automated prompts to manage Call Catcher. This is an alternative to using USSD codes and provides guided menu options.

### call catcher not working after entering code vodafone

If *148# or *#148# produce no response or an error, try redialling in an area with stronger signal or on a different network connection. If the issue persists, contact Vodafone support directly, as Call Catcher availability can vary depending on your specific plan.

## Sources

1. [Managing Call Catcher | Vodafone Australia](https://www.vodafone.com.au/support/device/call-catcher?srsltid=AfmBOoobspsSFcDzzvNd9kSNukDGZujyEBOdeXIte00ximf8qDqyKIIH) (www.vodafone.com.au)
2. [vodafone call catcher!? - Cable Forum](https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=46252) (www.cableforum.uk)