Resetting a Polycom VVX Phone & Switching from Skype to Generic SIP

This article explains how to reset a Polycom VVX phone to factory defaults and reconfigure it from Skype for Business firmware to the Generic Polycom SIP profile. This process is essential for using the phone in standard SIP environments, such as those supported by Webvault voice services.

🔐 Accessing the Boot Menu

If you know the admin password (default is 456) or have just completed a factory reset, you can access the Boot Setup Menu as follows:

1. Power cycle the phone.

2. When prompted during the boot sequence, press the Setup key.

3. Enter the admin password to access the configuration menu.

💠 When You Don’t Know the Admin Password

If you can’t access the phone’s admin interface due to an unknown or changed password, perform a factory reset using the keypad:

Steps to Factory Reset Without Admin Password

1. Power cycle the phone.

2. During boot-up, press and hold the 0, 1, and 3 keys simultaneously for about three seconds until a confirmation tone is heard.
   (For VVX 1500, use 2, 4, 6 instead.)

3. When the boot countdown starts, press the Cancel soft key.

4. While the countdown continues, press and hold the 1, 3, and 5 keys until the password prompt appears.

5. Enter the phone’s MAC address as the password. This is usually printed on a sticker on the back or underside of the device.

MAC Address Format:
Use:

• 1A for lowercase letters (e.g., a → 1A)

• a1 for uppercase letters (e.g., A → a1)

• Aa for numbers (e.g., 1 → Aa)

• * for a period (.)

• # for a slash (/)

1. Press OK. The phone will now perform a full factory reset and reboot. This may take several minutes.

🔄 Reformatting the Phone (If Running Skype for Business Firmware)

Check if the phone is currently running Skype for Business firmware by looking at the profile setting in the boot menu.

If it is:

1. Navigate to the Reset to Defaults section.

2. Choose Reformat File System.
   ⚠️ This will erase all firmware and configurations.

3. Allow the phone to reboot and reformat.

4. Re-enter the Boot Setup Menu after reboot.

🔧 Changing the Phone Profile to Generic SIP

1. From the main boot menu, locate the Phone Profile setting.

2. Change it from Skype to Generic.

3. Next, configure DHCP Provisioning Options to allow the phone to download the correct firmware and config files.

🌐 Setting DHCP Provisioning Options

Ensure these provisioning settings are applied:

• Boot Server:Custom+Opt.66

• BootSrv Opt:160
  (Note: The default might be 161; change this if necessary.)

These settings allow the phone to retrieve its firmware and configuration from an FTP server, typically provided by your router if it has been configured for Polycom devices.

🔁 Final Reboot and Auto-Provisioning

1. Save the changes.

2. Exit setup and let the phone reboot.

3. The phone will now attempt to download the Generic SIP firmware and provisioning files. This may take up to 5 minutes.

Once complete:

• If successful, the phone will show its configured extension and line buttons.

• If unsuccessful and you are presented with an Admin Password Reset screen:

❌ DO NOT proceed.
This means the phone did not receive a valid configuration file.

Contact Webvault Support with your phone’s MAC address. Our team will verify your provisioning configuration and ensure your phone can retrieve the correct files on the next reboot.