The fastest way to check your Verizon voicemail

To access your Verizon voicemail, press and hold the 1 key on your phone's keypad. Your phone will dial your voicemail box automatically. When prompted, enter your voicemail password — the same PIN you set up when you first activated voicemail on your account.

If you're calling from a different phone (not your Verizon line), dial your own Verizon phone number, wait for the greeting to finish, then press the * key during the greeting. You'll be asked to enter your voicemail password.

The voicemail system will then play your messages in the order they arrived. You can delete, save, or replay each message using the keypad options the system announces.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold 1 on your Verizon phone to reach voicemail; from another phone, dial your own number and press * during the greeting.
  • You'll need your voicemail password, which is a PIN you created when you first set up voicemail on your account.
  • Verizon's My Verizon app and website let you listen to voicemail messages online without calling in.
  • If you forget your password, you can reset it through the My Verizon app or by calling Verizon customer service at 611 from your phone.
  • Visual Voicemail (available on some plans) shows a list of messages you can tap to play, rather than listening to them in order.

Resetting a forgotten voicemail password

If you don't remember your voicemail PIN, the easiest way to reset it is through the My Verizon app. Open the app, go to Account, then Voicemail, and look for the option to reset your password. You'll need to verify your identity using your phone number and account information.

You can also reset your password by calling 611 from your Verizon phone. A customer service representative will verify your identity and help you create a new PIN. This usually takes a few minutes.

If you're locked out of your voicemail after too many incorrect password attempts, the system will temporarily block access. Wait at least 30 minutes before trying again, or call 611 to have a representative unlock your account.

Checking voicemail through the My Verizon app or website

You don't have to call in to hear your messages. The My Verizon app (available for iPhone and Android) and the My Verizon website both let you listen to voicemail online. Open the app or website, sign in with your Verizon account, and navigate to the Voicemail section.

From there, you'll see a list of your messages with the caller's name or number, the date and time, and how long each message is. Tap or click any message to play it. You can also delete, save, or mark messages as read without listening to them.

This method is useful if you're in a situation where you can't make a phone call, or if you want to skip ahead to a specific message without listening to all of them in order.

Visual Voicemail on newer Verizon phones

If you have a newer iPhone or Android phone on a Verizon plan, you may have access to Visual Voicemail. This feature displays your voicemail messages as a list on your phone's screen, similar to text messages or emails. You can tap any message to play it, rather than listening to them in the order they arrived.

Visual Voicemail is usually turned on by default on compatible phones. If you don't see it, check your phone's settings or contact Verizon to confirm your plan includes it. Some older plans or prepaid accounts don't have this feature.

With Visual Voicemail, you can also see a transcript of the message on some phones, though the accuracy depends on how clearly the caller spoke. You still need your voicemail password to set up Visual Voicemail the first time.

What to do if you're not receiving voicemail notifications

If you're not getting alerts when someone leaves you a message, first check that voicemail is turned on in your phone's settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Voicemail and make sure it's enabled. On Android, the steps vary by phone model, but usually you'll find it under Settings > Apps > Phone > Permissions or Settings > Call Settings.

Next, confirm that your voicemail box isn't full. If your voicemail storage is at capacity, new messages may not be saved and you won't receive notifications. Call your voicemail (press and hold 1) and delete old messages you no longer need.

If voicemail is on and your box isn't full, restart your phone. Sometimes notification settings get stuck, and a restart clears them. If notifications still don't work after restarting, contact Verizon customer service at 611 from your phone to check whether there's an issue with your account.

Voicemail settings you can change

When you call your voicemail, you can customize several settings by following the system's menu options. Most systems let you record a custom greeting (instead of the default one), change your password, and adjust how long the system waits before sending a call to voicemail.

To access these settings, call your voicemail, enter your password, and listen for the menu option that says something like "Press 0 for settings" or "Press * for more options." The exact wording depends on your phone model and Verizon's current system setup.

You can also change some settings through the My Verizon app under the Voicemail section, though not all options are available there. The phone-based menu usually gives you more control over your voicemail behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I listen to my Verizon voicemail online without calling in?

Yes. Sign into the My Verizon app or website, go to Voicemail, and you'll see a list of your messages. Click or tap any message to play it. You can also delete or save messages from there without making a phone call.

What if I'm using a phone that's not a Verizon phone?

Dial your own Verizon phone number from any phone, wait for your greeting to finish, then press the * key. Enter your voicemail password when prompted. This works from landlines, other carriers' phones, or any phone that can make calls.

How do I change my voicemail greeting?

Call your voicemail by pressing and holding 1, enter your password, then look for the menu option to record a greeting (usually "Press 3" or similar). Follow the system's prompts to record and save your new greeting. You can also do this through the My Verizon app in some cases.

Why is my voicemail password not working?

Check that you're entering the correct PIN — it's case-sensitive and must match exactly what you set. If you've tried multiple times and it's still not working, wait 30 minutes before trying again, as the system locks you out temporarily after several failed attempts. Then call 611 to reset your password.

Does Verizon charge extra for voicemail?

Voicemail is included with most Verizon plans at no extra cost. If you're on a very old plan or a prepaid account, check your plan details through the My Verizon app or call 611 to confirm whether voicemail is included.