Setting up COMBOX®

On this page:
How to switch your COMBOX® on/off, set it up on your telephone or on My Swisscom, listen to messages and change your personal greeting or your PIN.

Switching COMBOX® on/off

You can switch your COMBOX® on and off as follows:

Option 1 of 3

On My Swisscom (Customer Center)

If you are the contract owner, you can set up a call divert to your COMBOX® in My Swisscom. 

Go to My Swisscom

You can also manage the following settings on My Swisscom:

  • Manage your COMBOX® messages
  • Change your COMBOX® PIN
  • Manage direct access (accessing COMBOX® without entering your PIN)
  • Set your COMBOX® menu language
  • Set the menu options you are offered when you call your COMBOX®
Option 2 of 3

In the Swisscom Cockpit

Open the Swisscom Cockpit on your mobile phone to set up a call divert to your COMBOX®.

  1. Go to the menu in the upper right corner.

  1. Select call settings.

  1. Click on the desired on/off buttons so that your COMBOX® answers if you are busy, if you cannot answer the incoming call within 25 seconds or if you cannot be reached.

  1. "Save" turns on your Combox as desired.

Option 3 of 3

Via device settings

Read how to activate your COMBOX® step by step in the device manuals. If your device is not listed, try using the manual for an earlier or later model.

Go to device manuals

You can switch your COMBOX® on and off as follows:

Option 1 of 2

On My Swisscom (Customer Center)

Forward your fixed-network calls to the COMBOX® via My Swisscom. 

Go to My Swisscom

You can also manage the following settings on My Swisscom:

  • Manage your COMBOX® messages
  • Change your COMBOX® PIN
  • Manage direct access (accessing COMBOX® without entering your PIN)
  • Set your COMBOX® menu language
  • Set the menu options you are offered when you call your COMBOX®
Lösungsvorschlag 2 von 2

Via the keypad

Switching on your COMBOX®

Proceed as follows to switch on your COMBOX® using your telephone: 

  1. To divert to your COMBOX® if you don’t take the call:
    Enter the following key combination: *61 086 your phone number # (e.g. *610860441234567#)

    To divert to your COMBOX® if you are on a call:
    Enter the following key combination: *67 086 your phone number # (e.g. *670860441234567#)

    To divert all to calls to your COMBOX®:
    Enter the following key combination: *21 086 your phone number # (e.g. *210860441234567#)
  2. Press the Call button.

Switching off your COMBOX®

Proceed as follows to switch off your COMBOX®:

  1. Enter the respective key combination on your telephone: #21#, #61# or #67# – depending on which forwarding mode you want to switch off.
  2. Press the Call button.
  3. Wait for the deactivation confirmation and then hang up.

Adjust settings

As well as using My Swisscom, you can also change the COMBOX® settings via your fixed network as follows:

  1. Enter 086 for your COMBOX®, followed by your phone number (e.g. 086 044 123 45 67).
  2. As soon as you are connected, press the 9 key, followed by the 0 key for other functions.
  3. You then have the following options:

Listening to messages

If someone leaves you a message on your COMBOX®, you will be sent an SMS informing you automatically. As a COMBOX ®pro user, you can also be informed on two other mobile numbers by SMS(opens in new tab). If you have activated Visual Voicemail(opens in new tab), your COMBOX® messages will be displayed directly when you miss calls.

You can use the following options to listen to your mobile COMBOX®:

  1. With your mobile phone in Switzerland:
    Hold down the 1 key to automatically call your COMBOX®. If your COMBOX® is not saved on the 1 key, access your messages by entering +41 79 499 79 79. 
  2. Visual Voicemail:
    With Visual Voice Mail (VVM), your COMBOX® messages are displayed directly on your smartphone when you miss calls. You can therefore listen to them right away without having to call the COMBOX® number. VVM requires mobile data. If data roaming is activated, it may incur costs.
  3. From any phone:
    If you want to access your COMBOX® from a phone other than your mobile phone, enter 086 and your phone number and code e.g. 086 079 999 99 99. Press the * key during the greeting. Enter your PIN and #. Your messages will then be played back.
  4. With your mobile phone from abroad:
    Call your COMBOX®: +41 79 499 79 79. You will be prompted to enter your mobile phone number. Enter * to interrupt the welcome message which tells you that you need to enter the PIN first, followed by the # key. Otherwise you will continue to be guided through the menu. Enter your PIN. If you don’t know your PIN, a new one will be sent to you by SMS. You don’t need to interrupt your call to do so. Follow the instructions.

Read the device manuals(opens in new tab) for the easiest way to listen to the COMBOX® on your device. If your device is not listed, try using the manual for an earlier or later model.

Key functions when you listen to messages

Please note: the COMBOX® number when calling from a Liechtenstein phone number is: +423 779 88 88

COMBOX® pro: Forwarding by e-mail

For your COMBOX® pro, you can also opt to receive messages that have been left for you by e-mail as an audio file(opens in new tab).

Activating or deactivating Visual Voicemail (VVM)

Visual Voicemail is available on the Android devices. On these devices, the function is activated as standard. You can switch the function off in your device settings.

When you use Visual Voicemail for the first time on your iPhone, follow the instructions on the Apple website. To switch off Visual Voicemail, send a free SMS with the words “STOP VVM” to 444. Have you deactivated your Visual Voicemail, but now want to reactivate it? Send a free SMS with the words “Start VVM” to 444. Then follow the additional setup instructions on the Apple website.

If someone leaves a message for you on your COMBOX® this will show on the display for most fixed-network devices.  You can use the following options to listen to your fixed network COMBOX®:

  1. From your fixed network:
    Call your COMBOX® using the telephone number registered to your COMBOX®: speed-dialling key 1 or 086 + your telephone number.  Enter 086 and your phone number and code e.g. 086 044 123 45 67. Your messages will be played back automatically.
  2. From any phone:
    Enter 086 and your phone number and code e.g. 086 044 123 45 67. Press the * key during the greeting. Enter your PIN and #. Your messages will be played back.
  3. From abroad:
    Enter +41 840 266 269 and follow the instructions. Your COMBOX® will report the number of new messages and then play them back one by one.
Key functions when you listen to messages
COMBOX® pro: Messages by SMS and forwarding by e-mail

With COMBOX® pro, you can change the settings to

Personal greeting

You can set up a personal greeting as follows: 

  1. Call your COMBOX®: speed-dialling key 1 or 086 + your telephone number
  2. Press the 9 key and then the 1 key
  3. Press the 1 key to record your personal greeting.

You can also set up an international greeting or multiple greeting messages with COMBOX® pro: 

  1. Call your COMBOX® pro: speed dial key 1 or, if not set up: 086 + your phone number
  2. Press the number 9 and subsequently the number 1
  3. Press the key 1 in order to record your first personalised greeting
    Press the key 2 to record your second personalised greeting
    Press the key 3 to record an international greeting
  4. Choose whether or not a caller may leave a message:
    Yes: key 1
    No: key 2

Then manage your personalised greeting on My Swisscom(opens in new tab).

COMBOX® PIN

You need a PIN code to listen to your COMBOX® from any phone or when you are abroad. You can choose your own PIN code and change it at any time. The PIN code prevents unauthorised persons from listening to your messages. If you forget your COMBOX® PIN, call your COMBOX® and change your password in the settings.

  • If you forget your COMBOX® PIN for the fixed network, call your COMBOX® from your fixed network number and change your password in the settings.
  • If you need the PIN for your mobile phone COMBOX®, send an SMS stating “COMBOX” to 444. An SMS with a new PIN will then be sent to you immediately, which you may change again if necessary. This service is free in Switzerland.
Security recommendation for your PIN
  • Your COMBOX® PIN should consist of at least six randomly selected numbers. Please also note that the login should not be easy to guess (a birth date or postcode, for example).
  • Do not confide your PIN to anyone. In particular do not answer any e-mails or telephone calls asking for personal details like your PIN, passwords, credit card numbers etc. Swisscom will never request your PIN per e-mail, telephone, letter etc.
  • Change your PIN regularly on the My Swisscom(opens in new tab).

COMBOX® abroad

If you are abroad, you may be charged for messages on your COMBOX®. To avoid this, you can deactivate all call forwarding to your COMBOX® while you are abroad. Enter the key combination #21# on your mobile phone or follow these instructions:

  1. Open the cockpit at https://cockpit.swisscom.ch
  2. In the menu, click on "Call settings".
  3. Under “Incoming Call Forward”, select the options “If Busy”, “If No Reply” and “If Not Reachable”.
  4. Click on "Save".

You will require mobile data to use Visual Voicemail (VVM) on your mobile phone. This will incur costs if data roaming is activated.

Help from the Swisscom Community

Couldn't find an answer? Ask the Swisscom Community. More than 10,000 active users are waiting to help you.

Ask the community

Similar help pages