Voicemail. Is there any cherished relic of the past so painful to reckon with and tempting to avoid?

Like it or not, people are out there, and some of them want to talk to you. Being prepared for the inevitable means that you'll never be too far out of reach, even when away for a moment. In this quick explainer, we'll walk you through the basic process of how to change voicemail on Android.

Why Bother Setting Up Your Voicemail?

You never know when the opportunity of a lifetime will come knocking on your door. Much like in the world of written digital communication, it always pays to make a decent first impression, especially when a new client or connection becomes involved. Properly set up voicemail gets the job done.

An effective greeting is simple, brief, and identifies you quickly to whoever has given you a call. It lets the person on the other side know that they've dialed the right number, and that you'll be able to get back to them when you return. Now, they know for sure that the line has not fallen out of use.

How to Access Your Voicemail

You may be wondering: do I call my voicemail? Is there a specific app to set up voicemail?

In your Phone app, navigate to the number pad. Pressing and holding the 1 key will dial you into your Voicemail's main menu instantly. You can also call your own number or select Voicemail from the list of options under the three-dot menu in the app.

If this is your first foray into the matter, the friendly voice on the other end will guide you through the process of how to set up voicemail. Android provides a loving hand to hold; go forth fearlessly.

Related: How to Set Up Voicemail for iPhone

Making Your Way Through the Menu

From here, the verbal prompts will depend on your service provider. Among them will generally be things like language options, as well as security features; you will also usually be asked to provide some a PIN that you will use to access your messages through the system from that point forward.

After, you will be expected to come up with some sort of personal greeting for those looking to get ahold of you. Keeping things brief and professional will generally have you covered, no matter who decides to give you a ring.

How Do I Set Up My Voicemail Preferences?

Miscellaneous settings that may interest you include the order that the messages are played back to you, as well as fax and other group messaging options. Some carriers will even provide you with visual voicemail, which puts all of your messages right in front of you where they can be read and sorted through easily.

Related: The Best Mobile Carriers

Once It's Done, It's Out of Your Hair

Most of us can probably agree that voicemail sucks. In the name of adulthood, professionalism, and goodwill toward your fellow man, however, we heartily recommend getting it over with and out of the way. It takes five minutes. Thank us later.