The fastest way depends on your phone type

Checking voicemail works differently on iPhone, Android, and traditional landlines, but the basic idea is the same: you call a number (usually your own) and enter a PIN to hear your messages. On most phones, you can also check voicemail through the built-in Phone app without dialing anything. The method you use depends on what device you have and whether you want to listen on the phone itself or through a different device.

If you have never set up voicemail before, your carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or whoever provides your service) will have sent you a default PIN in a text or email. You will need to change this PIN the first time you log in. If you have lost or forgotten your PIN, you can reset it through your carrier's website or by calling their customer service number.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open the Phone app, tap Voicemail, and tap the message you want to hear — no dialing required.
  • On Android, open the Phone app, tap Voicemail or the three-dot menu, and select your voicemail service to listen to messages.
  • You can also call your own phone number and press a key (usually 1 or *) when prompted to access voicemail from any phone.
  • If you forget your PIN, reset it through your carrier's website or customer service line using your account information.
  • Visual voicemail on iPhone and some Android phones shows you a list of callers and message lengths before you listen.

Checking voicemail on iPhone

Open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right of the screen. You will see a list of all your voicemail messages with the caller's name or number, the time the call came in, and how long the message is. Tap any message to play it. You can delete a message by swiping left on it and tapping Delete, or tap the info icon (circle with an i) to see more details about the caller.

If you do not see a Voicemail tab, your carrier may not have set up visual voicemail on your account yet. In that case, open the Phone app, tap Keypad, dial your own phone number, and wait for the voicemail greeting to play. When prompted, press 1 or the key your carrier specifies to enter your voicemail inbox. You will then hear your messages one at a time and can press keys to delete, save, or skip each one.

To change your voicemail greeting on iPhone, open the Phone app, tap Voicemail, tap Greeting in the top left, and choose Custom. Record your message and tap Save. You can also set a default greeting by tapping Default instead.

Checking voicemail on Android

Open the Phone app and look for a Voicemail tab or icon. If you see it, tap it to view your messages. The exact location depends on your phone manufacturer and Android version — on some phones it is at the bottom of the screen, on others it is in a menu. If you cannot find it, tap the three-dot menu icon and look for Voicemail or Settings.

Once you are in voicemail, you will see a list of messages. Tap any message to play it. You can delete messages by swiping left or right on them, depending on your phone. Some Android phones also support visual voicemail, which shows you the caller's name, number, and message length before you listen — this works the same way as iPhone.

If your Phone app does not have a built-in voicemail section, dial your own phone number from the Keypad, wait for your voicemail greeting, and press 1 when prompted. Enter your PIN and listen to your messages. You can press keys to delete, save, or skip messages as they play.

Calling your voicemail from any phone

You can check voicemail from any phone — yours, someone else's, or a landline — by dialing your own phone number. When your voicemail greeting plays, press 1 (or the key your carrier specifies) to enter your inbox. You will be asked to enter your PIN. Type it in using the keypad and press the key to submit (usually the pound sign #).

Once you are logged in, you will hear your messages one at a time. After each message, you can press a key to delete it (usually 7), save it (usually 9), or skip to the next one (usually 6). The exact keys vary by carrier, so listen to the menu options when you log in. If you are not sure which key does what, press 0 to hear the menu again.

This method is useful if you are traveling, do not have your phone with you, or your phone is broken. It also works if your phone does not have a built-in voicemail app.

Setting up and resetting your PIN

When you first set up voicemail, your carrier assigns you a temporary PIN. You must change this PIN the first time you log in. Call your voicemail (dial your own number, press 1, and enter the temporary PIN), then follow the prompts to create a new PIN. Your new PIN should be at least four digits and should not be your birth date or something easy to guess.

If you forget your PIN, you can reset it through your carrier's website. Log into your account, find the voicemail or phone settings section, and look for a PIN reset or voicemail settings option. You will need to verify your identity using your account number, phone number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. After you reset it, you can log into voicemail again with your new PIN.

If you cannot reset your PIN online, call your carrier's customer service number (usually on your bill or on their website). Have your account information ready. A representative can reset your PIN for you over the phone and send you a temporary one by text or email.

Troubleshooting when voicemail is not working

If you cannot access your voicemail, first check that you have a strong cellular signal or are connected to Wi-Fi. If you are on Wi-Fi, make sure your carrier's voicemail app is installed and up to date. On iPhone, check the App Store; on Android, check the Google Play Store. If an update is available, install it and try again.

If you are entering your PIN and getting an error message, make sure you are typing it correctly. The keypad may not show what you are typing for security reasons, so count your key presses carefully. If you are still locked out, reset your PIN through your carrier's website or call customer service.

If you can access voicemail but cannot hear any messages, check that your phone's volume is turned up. On iPhone, use the volume buttons on the side of the phone. On Android, press the volume up button and make sure the volume slider is not all the way down. If you still cannot hear anything, try restarting your phone and logging in again.

Listening to voicemail on your computer or email

Some carriers let you listen to voicemail through your email or a web portal. Check your carrier's website to see if this option is available. If it is, you can usually set it up in your account settings. Once enabled, voicemail messages will be sent to your email as audio files that you can play on any device.

To set this up, log into your carrier's website, find the voicemail or phone settings section, and look for an option like "Voicemail to Email" or "Visual Voicemail." Enter your email address and save the setting. You should start receiving voicemail messages in your email within a few minutes. This is useful if you want to keep a record of messages or listen to them on your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default PIN for voicemail?

Your carrier assigns a temporary PIN when you set up voicemail, usually the last four digits of your phone number or a random number sent to you by text or email. You must change this PIN the first time you log in. There is no universal default PIN across all carriers.

Can I check voicemail if my phone is off?

Yes. You can call your voicemail from any other phone by dialing your own number, pressing 1 when prompted, and entering your PIN. This works even if your phone is off, lost, or broken.

Why am I not receiving voicemail notifications?

Check that notifications are turned on in your Phone app settings. On iPhone, go to Settings, Phone, and make sure Voicemail Notifications is enabled. On Android, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings, and check that voicemail notifications are on. Also make sure your phone has a strong signal and enough storage space.

How do I delete all my voicemail messages at once?

Most phones do not have a delete-all option. You will need to delete messages one at a time by swiping on them or pressing the delete key after each message plays. If you have many old messages, this can take a while, but it is the standard way to clear your voicemail inbox.

Can I save a voicemail message permanently?

Yes. When a message plays, press 9 (or the save key your carrier specifies) to mark it as saved. Saved messages will not be automatically deleted after a certain number of days. On iPhone with visual voicemail, you can also swipe left on a message and tap Save to keep it.