Once you have pressed the mute button which takes you through choice you need to make about your phone, including giving it a name, area code, etc., end by choosing "no" for the default question and then place the phone into the main unit charger (not the little charger for the 2nd or 3rd phones.) Leave it there for 20 seconds and take it out and hit talk. You should get a dial tone. By temporarily putting it into the main charger, it programs your phone to work and you can then put it back into its own smaller charger.