The fastest way depends on your phone type and carrier

Closing voicemail means either turning off the service so calls go unanswered, or deleting your voicemail box entirely. Most people want to delete old messages rather than close the service — but if you genuinely don't want voicemail at all, the steps differ by whether you have an iPhone, Android phone, or a landline, and sometimes by your carrier.

The simplest option for most people is to delete individual messages through your phone's voicemail app. If you want to disable voicemail completely, you'll contact your carrier directly, because the setting lives in their system, not on your device.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting voicemail messages happens in your phone's voicemail app or by calling your voicemail box; turning off voicemail entirely requires a call to your carrier.
  • iPhone users can delete messages one at a time in the Phone app, or call their carrier to disable voicemail service.
  • Android users delete messages in Google Voice or their carrier's voicemail app, depending on which system they use.
  • Landline voicemail is managed through your phone company's website or by calling their customer service line.
  • Disabling voicemail may affect how calls are handled when you don't answer — some carriers route them to a busy signal instead.

Deleting voicemail messages on iPhone

Open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right. You'll see a list of all your voicemail messages with the caller's name or number and the date received. Tap the message you want to delete, then tap the trash icon or swipe left and tap Delete. Repeat for each message you want to remove.

To delete all messages at once, tap Edit in the upper left corner, select all the messages you want to remove, then tap Delete. This clears your voicemail box without disabling the service — new voicemails will still arrive.

If you want to keep the voicemail service but just clear everything out, this method works. If you want to disable voicemail entirely so people can't leave messages, you'll need to contact your carrier — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or whoever provides your service.

Deleting voicemail messages on Android

The method depends on whether you use Google Voice or your carrier's voicemail system. Most newer Android phones default to Google Voice for voicemail, but some carriers like Verizon still use their own system.

If you use Google Voice, open the Google Voice app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and select Voicemail. Find the message you want to delete, tap it, then tap the trash icon. You can also long-press a message to select multiple ones and delete them together.

If your carrier manages voicemail instead, open your carrier's voicemail app (Verizon Voicemail, AT&T Mobile, T-Mobile Voicemail, etc.), find the message, and look for a delete or trash option. The exact steps vary by app, but the delete button is usually visible once you open a message.

Disabling voicemail through your carrier

To turn off voicemail completely, you need to contact your carrier directly. They manage the voicemail service on their network, so your phone's settings alone can't disable it. Call your carrier's customer service number — it's usually on your bill or their website — and ask to disable voicemail.

AT&T customers can call 611 from their phone or 1-800-331-0500. Verizon customers can call 611 or 1-908-559-4899. T-Mobile customers can call 611 or 1-844-839-4534. For other carriers, search "[your carrier name] customer service" to find the right number.

When you call, tell them you want to disable voicemail service. They may ask why, but you don't have to explain. Some carriers will ask if you want calls to go to a busy signal or ring indefinitely when you don't answer — let them know your preference. The change usually takes effect within a few hours.

Clearing voicemail on a landline

Landline voicemail is managed through your phone company's website or by calling their customer service line. Log into your account on your provider's website — Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, or your local phone company — and look for a voicemail or messaging section. You should be able to see your messages and delete them individually or in bulk.

If you can't find the option online, call your phone company's customer service and ask them to help you delete your voicemail messages or disable the service. They can walk you through it or do it for you over the phone.

What happens when you disable voicemail

When you turn off voicemail, incoming calls that you don't answer won't be recorded. Instead, the caller will hear a busy signal, a message that you're unavailable, or the call will simply disconnect — the exact behavior depends on your carrier and their settings.

Some callers may find this frustrating if they're used to leaving messages. If you're disabling voicemail because you get too many spam calls, know that spammers will still call you — they just won't be able to leave messages. For spam reduction, consider using your phone's built-in call screening or a third-party app like Nomorobo or RoboKiller instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting voicemail messages free up storage space on my phone?

Voicemail messages are stored on your carrier's servers, not on your phone, so deleting them won't free up your phone's storage. However, deleting them does remove them from your voicemail box permanently, so you won't be able to listen to them again.

Can I recover a voicemail message after I delete it?

Once you delete a voicemail, it's gone. Most carriers don't keep a backup or recovery option. If the message was important, you should have saved it or written down the information before deleting it.

What if I disable voicemail and then change my mind?

Call your carrier back and ask them to re-enable voicemail. They can turn it back on, usually within a few hours. Your old messages won't return, but the service will work again for new calls.

Do I have to pay extra to disable voicemail?

No. Voicemail is usually included in your plan, and disabling it doesn't lower your bill. Some carriers may charge a small fee to re-enable it later, but disabling it is free.

Can I disable voicemail for just certain callers?

No, voicemail is an all-or-nothing service through your carrier. If you want to block specific people from calling you, use your phone's built-in blocking feature instead — both iPhone and Android let you block individual contacts.