The fastest way depends on your phone type and carrier

Checking voicemail works differently on an iPhone, Android phone, or landline, and your carrier may offer extra options. On most phones, you open the Phone app, tap Voicemail, and listen to your messages. Some carriers let you check voicemail through their website or a separate app instead. Landlines typically require you to dial a code like *98 or 1-800 followed by your account number.

The method also depends on whether you set up voicemail when you first got your phone. If you haven't, you'll need to create a voicemail box and record a greeting before you can receive messages. Most carriers walk you through this automatically the first time someone leaves you a message.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open the Phone app, tap the Voicemail tab, and select a message to play it.
  • On Android, open the Phone app, tap and hold the 1 key, or look for a Voicemail icon in your app drawer.
  • Your carrier's website or app may let you listen to voicemail online without calling your phone.
  • If you've never set up voicemail, call your own number and follow the prompts to create a greeting and PIN.
  • Landline voicemail usually requires dialing *98 or a carrier-specific code from your phone.

Checking voicemail on iPhone

Open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right of the screen. You'll see a list of all your voicemail messages, with the newest at the top. Each message shows the caller's name or number and the time it arrived. Tap any message to play it, and use the speaker icon to switch between speaker and earpiece audio.

If the Voicemail tab doesn't appear, your carrier hasn't activated voicemail yet. Call your own number and follow the automated prompts to set up your voicemail box. You'll record a greeting and create a PIN to protect your messages. After that, the Voicemail tab will show up in the Phone app.

To delete a message, swipe left on it and tap Delete. To save a message so it doesn't disappear, tap the message and look for a pin or archive icon. You can also call your voicemail box directly by pressing and holding the 1 key in the Phone app's keypad.

Checking voicemail on Android

The steps vary slightly depending on your phone's manufacturer and your carrier. On most Android phones, open the Phone app, press and hold the 1 key, and your voicemail box will call automatically. On some phones, you'll see a Voicemail icon or app in your app drawer instead — tap it to listen to messages.

If neither method works, your carrier may require you to dial a specific number. Common codes include *86, *98, or 1-800 followed by your account number. Check your carrier's website or call their customer service line to find the right code for your account.

Like iPhone, you'll need to set up voicemail the first time by calling your own number and recording a greeting. After that, you can check messages through the Phone app or by calling your voicemail box. Some Android phones let you delete or save messages by swiping or tapping options on the message itself.

Checking voicemail through your carrier's website or app

Most major carriers — including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and others — let you listen to voicemail online without calling your phone. Log into your carrier's website or open their mobile app, find the Voicemail or Messages section, and select a message to play it. This method works from any device with internet access and doesn't use your phone's minutes or data.

Some carriers also send voicemail transcripts by text or email, so you can read what someone said instead of listening. This feature may be turned off by default, so check your carrier's settings to enable it. Transcripts are usually not word-for-word accurate, especially if the caller had an accent or background noise, but they give you a quick idea of the message's content.

To find your carrier's voicemail portal, search "[Your Carrier] voicemail online" or call their customer service number. You'll typically need your phone number and account PIN to log in.

Setting up voicemail for the first time

When you first activate a phone line, voicemail isn't automatically ready to receive messages. The first time someone calls and you don't answer, they'll hear a generic message saying your voicemail box isn't set up. To activate it, call your own phone number from another phone or device.

Follow the automated prompts to record your greeting — this is what callers hear when they reach your voicemail. Keep it short and clear, like "Hi, this is [Your Name]. I can't take your call right now. Please leave a message." After recording your greeting, you'll be asked to create a PIN, usually four to six digits. Write this down somewhere safe; you'll need it to check voicemail from other phones or reset your greeting later.

Once you've completed these steps, your voicemail box is active and ready to receive messages. You can now check messages through your phone's Voicemail tab or by calling your voicemail box.

Checking voicemail on a landline

Landline voicemail works differently than mobile voicemail. Pick up your landline phone and listen for a stutter tone — a rapid on-and-off beeping sound — which means you have new messages. To check them, press *98 or the code your carrier provided. Some carriers use different codes like *99 or require you to dial 1-800 followed by your account number.

If you don't hear a stutter tone or the code doesn't work, call your landline provider's customer service number to confirm the correct access code. They can also tell you whether voicemail is active on your line or if you need to set it up first.

To set up a landline voicemail greeting, dial the access code and follow the prompts to record your message and create a PIN. After that, callers will hear your greeting when they reach your voicemail, and you can check messages by dialing the access code from your landline phone.

Troubleshooting common voicemail problems

If you can't access your voicemail, the most common cause is a forgotten PIN. Call your carrier's customer service line and ask them to reset it. They'll verify your identity using your account number or the last four digits of your Social Security number, then send you a temporary PIN by text or email.

If the Voicemail tab is missing from your iPhone or the voicemail app won't open on Android, restart your phone first. If that doesn't work, contact your carrier to confirm voicemail is active on your account. Sometimes a carrier's system glitch or a recent plan change can temporarily disable voicemail access.

If you're not receiving voicemail notifications when someone leaves a message, check your phone's notification settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Phone and make sure Voicemail notifications are turned on. On Android, open your Phone app settings and look for a Notifications or Voicemail section. You can also ask your carrier whether they offer voicemail notifications by text or email as a backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I listen to voicemail without calling my phone?

Yes. Most carriers let you log into their website or app to listen to voicemail online. This works from any device with internet access and doesn't use your phone's minutes or data. Some carriers also send voicemail transcripts by text or email so you can read the message instead of listening.

What do I do if I forgot my voicemail PIN?

Call your carrier's customer service number and tell them you need to reset your PIN. They'll verify your identity using your account number or the last four digits of your Social Security number, then send you a temporary PIN. You can change it to a new one the next time you access your voicemail box.

Why am I not getting notifications when someone leaves me a voicemail?

Check your phone's notification settings to make sure voicemail alerts are turned on. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Phone and enable Voicemail. On Android, open your Phone app settings and look for Notifications or Voicemail alerts. If notifications are already on, contact your carrier to confirm voicemail is active on your account.

Can I check voicemail from someone else's phone?

Yes. Call your own phone number from any phone, and when your voicemail greeting plays, press the asterisk or pound key to interrupt it. You'll be prompted to enter your PIN. After you enter it, you can listen to and manage your messages just as you would from your own phone.

What's the difference between voicemail and visual voicemail?

Standard voicemail requires you to call your voicemail box and listen to messages in order. Visual voicemail, available on most iPhones and some Android phones, shows you a list of messages in your Phone app so you can play them in any order. Some carriers charge extra for visual voicemail, while others include it with your plan.