You can disable voicemail on iPhone through your carrier's settings or by deleting the Voicemail app
Turning off voicemail on an iPhone depends on which carrier you use and whether you want to remove the app or disable the service itself. Most carriers let you turn off voicemail through their website or customer service line, while some iPhones let you delete the Voicemail app directly from the home screen. The simplest route is usually your carrier's website or a quick phone call to their support team.
If you just want the Voicemail app off your home screen without disabling the service, you can delete it like any other app. If you want to stop receiving voicemails entirely, you'll need to contact your carrier because they control whether the service is active on your account.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting the Voicemail app from your home screen removes it visually but does not stop your carrier from recording messages.
- To fully disable voicemail, contact your carrier directly through their website, phone number, or customer service app.
- AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and other carriers each have different methods to turn off voicemail on your account.
- Some carriers let you disable voicemail through their online account portal without calling customer service.
Delete the Voicemail app from your iPhone home screen
If you want to remove the Voicemail app icon from your home screen, press and hold the Voicemail app until a menu appears. Tap "Remove App," then select "Remove from Home Screen" to keep the app but hide it, or "Delete App" to remove it entirely. If you choose "Delete App," you'll see a warning that deleting it will also remove any saved voicemails stored on your phone.
Deleting the app does not stop your carrier from recording new voicemails. Callers can still leave messages, and you can still retrieve them by calling your voicemail number from another phone. This option works if you simply don't want to see the app, but you still want the voicemail service active.
Turn off voicemail through AT&T
AT&T customers can disable voicemail by visiting att.com, signing into their account, and navigating to the voicemail settings under "Manage Services." You can also call AT&T customer service at 611 from your AT&T phone or 1-800-331-0500 from any phone and ask them to disable voicemail on your line.
AT&T also offers a feature called "Voicemail to Text" that transcribes messages into text. If you want to keep voicemail but turn off this feature, you can do that separately in your account settings.
Turn off voicemail through Verizon
Verizon lets you manage voicemail through the My Verizon app or website. Log in, go to "Account," then "Manage Services," and look for voicemail settings. You can also call Verizon customer service at 611 from your Verizon phone or 1-908-559-4899 and ask them to turn off voicemail on your account.
If you use Verizon's Visual Voicemail feature, disabling voicemail will also remove that service. Some Verizon plans include voicemail as part of the package, so check whether turning it off affects your plan cost.
Turn off voicemail through T-Mobile
T-Mobile customers can disable voicemail by calling 611 from their T-Mobile phone or 1-844-839-4534 from any phone. You can also log into your T-Mobile account online or through the T-Mobile app and look for voicemail settings under "Manage Services" or "Phone Settings."
T-Mobile's voicemail service is included with most plans, so disabling it won't change your bill. If you change your mind later, you can turn it back on through the same methods.
Turn off voicemail through other carriers
If you use a smaller carrier like US Cellular, Cricket, Boost Mobile, or a regional provider, contact their customer service directly. Most carriers have a customer service number on your bill or their website. Ask them to disable voicemail on your account, and they can usually do it over the phone in a few minutes.
Some prepaid carriers do not offer voicemail service at all, so if you switched to one recently, voicemail may already be inactive. Check your carrier's website or call their support line to confirm.
What happens when you disable voicemail
When you turn off voicemail through your carrier, callers who reach your voicemail box will hear a message saying the mailbox is not set up or is unavailable. They won't be able to leave a message. If you delete only the Voicemail app, callers can still leave messages, but you won't see them in the app—you'd have to call your voicemail number to retrieve them.
Disabling voicemail is permanent until you turn it back on. If you turn it back on later, any old messages will be gone. Some carriers keep messages for 30 days after you disable the service, but this varies by provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting the Voicemail app stop people from leaving messages?
No. Deleting the app only removes it from your home screen. Your carrier still records voicemails, and callers can still leave messages. You can retrieve them by calling your voicemail number from another phone or by reinstalling the app.
Can I turn off voicemail without calling my carrier?
Most carriers let you disable voicemail through their website or mobile app. Log into your account and look for voicemail or phone settings. If you can't find it online, calling customer service is usually faster than searching through menus.
What if I want to keep voicemail but just hide the app?
Press and hold the Voicemail app, tap "Remove App," then choose "Remove from Home Screen." This keeps the service active but removes the icon. You can still retrieve messages by calling your voicemail number.
Do I lose my saved voicemails if I disable the service?
Yes. When you disable voicemail through your carrier, saved messages are deleted. If you only delete the app, messages stay on your carrier's server, but you won't see them in the app until you reinstall it.
Can I turn voicemail back on after disabling it?
Yes. Contact your carrier using the same method you used to turn it off. They can reactivate voicemail on your account. Note that any messages from before you disabled it will be gone.