You can disable voicemail on iPhone through your carrier's settings, but the method depends on which carrier you use

Voicemail on iPhone is managed by your wireless carrier, not by Apple. This means you cannot turn it off directly in the iPhone Settings app the way you might disable other features. Instead, you contact your carrier — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or another provider — and ask them to deactivate voicemail on your account. The exact steps vary by carrier, but most offer the option through their website, their customer service app, or by calling a support number.

If you simply want to hide the voicemail tab from your Phone app without fully disabling the service, you can do that in iPhone Settings. But if your goal is to stop voicemail from working entirely, you will need to reach out to your carrier directly.

Key Takeaways

  • Voicemail is controlled by your wireless carrier, not by iPhone itself, so you must contact AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or your other provider to turn it off.
  • You can hide the voicemail tab from the Phone app by going to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and toggling off, or by removing the Voicemail tab in the Phone app itself.
  • Most carriers let you manage voicemail through their website or mobile app without calling customer service.
  • If you turn off voicemail, callers will hear a message that you do not accept voicemail rather than being sent to a greeting.

How to hide the voicemail tab in your Phone app

If you do not want to see the Voicemail tab every time you open the Phone app, you can remove it from view. Open the Phone app, tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right, then tap Edit in the upper left corner. Tap the red minus sign next to Voicemail, then tap Remove. The tab will disappear from your Phone app immediately.

This does not disable voicemail itself — callers can still leave messages, and you can still retrieve them by calling your voicemail number. It only removes the shortcut from your app. If you change your mind later, you can restore the tab by tapping Edit again and selecting Add Voicemail.

How to disable voicemail through AT&T

AT&T customers can turn off voicemail through the AT&T mobile app or website. Open the AT&T app, go to Account, select your phone number, then look for Voicemail settings. You should see an option to disable or turn off voicemail. Alternatively, you can call AT&T customer service at 611 from your AT&T phone or 1-800-331-0500 from any phone and ask them to deactivate voicemail on your line.

Some AT&T accounts also allow you to dial *71 from your iPhone to disable call forwarding to voicemail, though this is a temporary setting that resets if you restart your phone. For a permanent change, use the app or call customer service.

How to disable voicemail through Verizon

Verizon customers can manage voicemail through the My Verizon app or website. Open the app, tap Account, select your phone number, then find Voicemail settings. Look for an option to turn off or disable voicemail. You can also call Verizon customer service at 611 from your Verizon phone or 1-908-559-4899 from any phone to request that voicemail be deactivated.

Verizon also offers the option to dial #71 from your iPhone to temporarily disable call forwarding to voicemail, but this resets when you restart your phone. For a permanent change, use the My Verizon app or contact customer service directly.

How to disable voicemail through T-Mobile

T-Mobile customers can disable voicemail through the T-Mobile app or website. Open the T-Mobile app, go to Account, select your phone number, then find Voicemail or Visual Voicemail settings. You should see an option to turn off voicemail. You can also call T-Mobile customer service at 611 from your T-Mobile phone or 1-844-839-4534 from any phone and ask them to deactivate voicemail on your account.

T-Mobile also allows you to dial #71 from your iPhone to temporarily disable call forwarding, but this setting does not persist after a restart. For a permanent solution, use the T-Mobile app or call customer service.

What happens when voicemail is turned off

Once your carrier disables voicemail on your account, callers will no longer be sent to your voicemail greeting when you do not answer. Instead, they will hear a message from your carrier saying that voicemail is not set up for this number, or they may hear a busy signal. The exact message depends on your carrier.

If you turn off voicemail and later decide you want it back, you can contact your carrier again and ask them to reactivate it. The process is the same as turning it off. Your voicemail greeting and any saved messages may or may not be preserved depending on your carrier's policies, so ask about that when you reactivate.

Disabling voicemail for other carriers

If you use a smaller carrier like US Cellular, Cricket Wireless, Boost Mobile, or another regional provider, the process is similar but the contact method differs. Check your carrier's website or app for voicemail settings, or call their customer service number (usually found on your bill or on the back of your SIM card). Most carriers offer the option to disable voicemail through their website or app without requiring a phone call.

Some prepaid carriers may not offer the option to disable voicemail, or they may charge a fee to do so. If your carrier does not provide a way to turn it off through their app or website, call their customer service line and ask whether the option is available on your plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I disable voicemail without calling my carrier?

Yes. Most carriers — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and others — let you disable voicemail through their website or mobile app. You only need to call if the option is not available in their app or if you prefer to speak with someone directly.

Will disabling voicemail stop people from calling me?

No. Disabling voicemail only prevents callers from leaving messages. People can still call you normally, and if you do not answer, they will hear a message that voicemail is not available instead of being sent to your greeting.

Can I turn voicemail back on after I disable it?

Yes. You can reactivate voicemail at any time by contacting your carrier through their app, website, or customer service line. Depending on your carrier, your old greeting and saved messages may or may not be restored.

Does hiding the voicemail tab turn off voicemail?

No. Hiding the voicemail tab in the Phone app only removes the shortcut from your view. Voicemail continues to work, and callers can still leave messages. To actually disable voicemail, you must contact your carrier.

What if my carrier does not offer a way to disable voicemail?

Some carriers, particularly prepaid or regional providers, may not allow you to disable voicemail or may charge a fee. Call your carrier's customer service line to ask whether the option is available on your specific plan.