How to Reprogram Yealink Verizon VOIP Desk Phones

We had a number of Verizon desktop phones that were still usable after switching away from the carrier, and rather than send them to a landfill, I wanted to see if they could be repurposed. Turns out reprogramming them wasn't just easy, it saved us thousands of dollars in buying new phones.

This is a step by step guide to reprogramming these types of phones that requires a moderate amount of network knowledge. If you don't know what DHCP or an IP address is, this project may be beyond your skill.

Equipment

To use this guide, you will need the following equipment:

1. YeaLink Verizon OneTalk phone you wish to reprogram
2. PC or Laptop with Ethernet jack.
3. DHCP enabled router or other DHCP source
4. I used an Ubuntu machine with piHole installed so that I didn’t need a separate machine to do the reprogramming.
5. Switch (PoE preferred)
6. Power Injector (if switch is not PoE) or power cable for phone.
7. Ethernet cables

1. Download the latest firmware for your phone to your computer before disconnecting it from the internet. Be sure to note where you’ve stored it.
2. Set up your DHCP source (Router, piHole, etc), switches, and power injectors. You will need Ethernet cables to plug in the router/switch and the PC. You will plug in the phone when you are ready to start reprogramming the phone.

DO NOT PLUG THIS CONFIGURATION INTO ANY INTERNET ENABLED SOURCE

As soon as you plug any of this stack into the internet, the phone will reset it self back to Verizon settings and you will have to start over.

Do not skip any steps, or you will have to start over from Power On, Step 1. Phone will reboot 3 times before you can connect it to any internet enable source.

Every 3 minutes, you will get an error message about Authentication server failure. Wait for this error message before proceeding, as it will kick you out of any menus you may otherwise be in. You have 3 minutes between steps before this warning message.

1. Plug in Ethernet cable to phone from PoE source (Switch, injector) or use phone power cable to power on phone.
2. Phone will Power on with OneTalk splash screen.
3. Wait until the phone powers up.
4. When phone has booted up, press MENU softkey
5. Use the arrow buttons to scroll to Advanced menu option and press OK
6. Press the abc soft menu key until it reads 2aB.
7. This enables special characters, which you will need to input the admin password.
8. Enter the follow password: @N3ta!k2@2*
9. Press * 11 times for @
10. Press 6 6 times for capital N,
11. Press 3 1 time for 3, etc.
12. Scroll to “Reset Config” and press ok.
13. Scroll to Reset to Factory Config and press okay
14. Phone will reboot, still with OneTalk Logo.

1. When phone has booted up, press MENU softkey
2. Scroll to Advanced menu option (Down, right, right) and press OK
3. Enter the following password: admin
4. Select Network
5. Press 5 for Web server
6. Press Left to Enable http status.
7. Phone will ask to reboot.
8. Phone will reboot, still with OneTalk Logo.

1. When phone has booted up, press MENU softkey
2. Scroll to Status menu option (press OK)
3. Press Option 2:IPv4 and record the IP Address. This numbers should start with 192 or 10.
4. Remember this number and go to the PC/Laptop

1. Open a browser window (Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
2. Type in the number from Reboot 2, Step 3
3. The screen will read “Prime Business Phone”
4. Use the following login information:
5. Username: admin
6. Password: admin
7. Click Settings on left hand menu
8. Click Upgrade on left hand menu
9. Click Browse to Upgrade Firmware
10. Navigate to wherever you stored your firmware on the PC/Laptop.
11. Click Select
12. Click Upload
13. A message will appear. Press OK
14. Phone will say Firmware Update.
15. Do not navigate away from the screen.
16. Do not touch the phone

Do not touch phone until it has rebooted and is at the main screen. This will take 3-5 minutes.

After rebooting, your phone is now ready to be added to any other service.