The fastest way to check voicemail on iPhone
Open the Phone app, tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right, and tap the voicemail message you want to hear. The message will play immediately. If you have multiple voicemails, they appear in a list with the most recent at the top, and you can tap any one to listen.
If the Voicemail tab does not appear, your carrier has not set up voicemail on your account yet. Contact your wireless carrier to activate it — this is usually free and takes a few minutes on the phone or through their app.
You can also check voicemail by calling your own phone number from another phone and following the prompts, but using the Voicemail tab in the Phone app is faster and does not use your minutes or data.
Key Takeaways
- The Voicemail tab in the Phone app shows all your messages in one list, with the newest at the top.
- Tap any message to play it, and swipe left on a message to delete it without listening.
- If you do not see a Voicemail tab, contact your carrier to turn on voicemail for your account.
- You can save a voicemail by tapping the share icon and choosing a save option, or delete it by swiping left.
- Visual Voicemail — which shows a transcript of the message — is included with most carriers but may not work in all countries.
Playing and managing individual voicemails
When you tap a voicemail in the list, the message plays through your speaker by default. You can tap the speaker icon to switch to the earpiece if you want privacy, or tap the volume buttons to adjust how loud it plays.
To delete a voicemail without listening to it, swipe left on the message in the list and tap Delete. To save a voicemail, tap the message to open it, then tap the share icon (a box with an arrow pointing up) and choose how you want to save it — you can send it to Notes, Mail, or another app.
If you want to hear a message again, tap it in the list. The Voicemail tab keeps messages until you delete them, so old voicemails stay there unless you remove them yourself.
What to do if voicemail is not working
If the Voicemail tab is missing from the Phone app, your carrier has not activated voicemail on your account. Call your wireless carrier's customer service number (usually on your bill or their website) and ask them to turn on voicemail. They can do this in a few minutes, and it does not cost extra.
If the Voicemail tab exists but messages are not showing up, try closing the Phone app completely and opening it again. If that does not work, restart your iPhone by holding the side button and volume button together, then sliding to power off.
If you are traveling outside your home country, voicemail may not work the same way. Some carriers disable Visual Voicemail internationally, and you may need to call your voicemail box manually by dialing your own number. Check with your carrier before traveling if voicemail is important to you.
Listening to voicemail transcripts
If your carrier supports Visual Voicemail, you may see a transcript of the message below the play button. This transcript is generated automatically and is not always perfect — names and technical terms sometimes get transcribed wrong. Always listen to the actual message if the transcript seems unclear.
Not all carriers offer transcripts, and some charge a small monthly fee for the feature. If you do not see transcripts but your carrier offers them, check your carrier's settings in the Phone app or contact customer service to turn the feature on.
Transcripts are stored on your iPhone and in iCloud if you have iCloud Backup turned on, so they stay available even if you switch phones.
Changing voicemail settings and your greeting
To record or change your voicemail greeting, open the Phone app, tap Voicemail, then tap Greeting in the top left. Choose Custom to record your own greeting, or Default to use your carrier's standard message. If you choose Custom, tap Record and speak your greeting, then tap Stop and Save.
You can also change your voicemail password through your carrier's website or app. This is useful if you think someone else knows your password or if you want to change it regularly for security. Your carrier's customer service can walk you through this if you get stuck.
Some carriers let you set up voicemail notifications — a text message or notification when you receive a new voicemail. Check your carrier's app or website to turn this on if you want alerts instead of checking the Voicemail tab manually.
Voicemail on older iPhones and iOS versions
If you have an older iPhone running an older version of iOS, the Voicemail tab may look slightly different or have fewer features. The basic steps — tap Voicemail, tap a message, listen — work the same way on all versions that support Visual Voicemail.
If your iPhone is very old and does not have a Voicemail tab at all, you can still check voicemail by calling your own number from another phone. Your carrier will prompt you to enter your voicemail password and then play your messages.
To update your iPhone to the latest iOS version, go to Settings, tap General, then tap Software Update. Newer iOS versions often add features and fix problems with voicemail, so updating is worth doing if your carrier supports it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I see a red badge with a number on the Phone app?
The red badge shows how many unread voicemails you have. It disappears when you open the Voicemail tab and listen to all your messages. If you want to turn off these badges, go to Settings, tap Notifications, tap Phone, and toggle off Badge App Icon.
Can I forward a voicemail to someone else?
Yes. Tap the voicemail, tap the share icon, and choose Mail, Messages, or another app. You can send the audio file to anyone with an email address or phone number. Some carriers also let you forward voicemails directly through the Phone app — look for a forward arrow icon.
What happens to voicemails if I switch to a new iPhone?
Voicemails are stored on your carrier's server, not on your phone, so they stay in your account when you switch iPhones. When you set up your new phone with the same phone number and carrier, your voicemails will appear in the Voicemail tab automatically. Transcripts sync if you have iCloud Backup turned on.
Can I listen to voicemail without using cellular data or minutes?
Yes. Voicemail uses your data connection (Wi-Fi or cellular data) to download and play messages, not your voice minutes. If you are on Wi-Fi, it uses no minutes or data from your plan. If you are on cellular, it uses a small amount of data but no voice minutes.
How long does my carrier keep voicemails?
Most carriers keep voicemails for 30 days before deleting them automatically. Some keep them longer if you mark them as saved. Check your carrier's website or call customer service to find out their specific policy, as it varies by carrier.