How to activate missed call alert “You attempted to call me” on Airtel Kenya network

Once in a while, we all reach a point when for whatever reason we just need to be off-air for sometime and switch off our mobile phones or activate airplane mode. In such instances, mobile service providers in Kenya such as Safaricom and Airtel have implemented a smart way you’d still be alerted on a missed call, so you could decide whether to call back or ignore altogether depending on how important the caller is.

I remember a while back when an insurance agent for some reason kept calling during work time, sometimes while I was attending those tense work meetings and just couldn’t hold back from disconnecting the calls immediately. The problem was, the agent was so persistent I could get more than a dozen calls just in a span of two or three hours, something that led me to always be shutting down my phone or activate airplane mode whenever I was in a meeting. This is a perfect scenario on just have those missed call alerts could be a lifesaver.

The feature allows someone to be off-air but keeps them informed of whoever tried to call, with a simple text message. Safaricom has a similar feature that will send a text message “You attempted to call me but I was not available”. As long as you have an active SIM card on the airtel network, you can simply activate the “You attempted to call” of missed call alert (MCA) service with just a simple text message.  

How to activate missed call alert (MCA) “You attempted to call me” on Airtel Kenya network

Activation Steps:

1. Compose Message: On your Airtel mobile phone, open the messaging app and compose a new text message.
2. Type MCA: In the body of the message, type “MCA” (without quotes). This indicates your request to activate the Missed Call Alert service.
3. Send to 555: Send the message to the short code “555”. This action informs Airtel that you want to enable the MCA service.
4. Confirmation: You should receive a confirmation message indicating that the Missed Call Alert service has been successfully activated.

Deactivation Steps:

1. Compose Message: Similarly, open the messaging app and compose a new text message.
2. Type STOP: In the body of the message, type “STOP” (without quotes). This signals Airtel that you want to deactivate the Missed Call Alert service.
3. Send to 555: Send the message to the short code “555”.
4. Confirmation: Once again, expect a confirmation message confirming the deactivation of the Missed Call Alert service.

Additional Service – Voice Mail:

• Voice Mail Activation: If you also want to activate Airtel’s Voice Mail services, compose a new text message with the word “VMS” and send it to “555”.

Note: Ensure you have an active SIM card on the Airtel network for these services to work.

By following these straightforward steps, you can customize your Airtel experience, staying informed about missed calls even when you’re temporarily unavailable. This feature can be particularly useful in scenarios where you need to manage calls without being constantly interrupted.