The fastest way depends on your phone type and carrier
Voicemail notifications — the badge on your phone app, the banner that pops up, the sound that plays — come from different places depending on whether you have an iPhone or Android phone, and which carrier you use. Turning them off is usually a setting in your phone's voicemail app or in your carrier's settings, not something you do in your main notification panel. The exact steps vary, so this guide walks through the most common paths.
If you use an iPhone, you control most voicemail notifications through the Phone app settings. If you use Android, the path depends on whether you use Google Voice, your carrier's voicemail app, or a third-party app like YouMail. The good news: you do not have to delete voicemail or stop receiving messages. You can keep voicemail working and just silence the alerts.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone users can turn off voicemail notifications in Phone settings under Voicemail, or disable the badge and sound separately in the main Notifications panel.
- Android users with Google Voice can mute notifications in the Google Voice app settings, while those using carrier voicemail need to check their carrier's app or dial a code like *61 to adjust settings.
- You can keep voicemail active and just turn off the sound, badge, or banner — you do not have to disable voicemail entirely.
- If you use a third-party voicemail app like YouMail or Visual Voicemail+, check that app's notification settings separately from your phone's main settings.
How to turn off voicemail notifications on iPhone
Open the Phone app and tap Voicemail at the bottom right. Tap Greeting at the top left. If you see a toggle for Notifications, turn it off. This disables all voicemail alerts for that account.
If you do not see a Notifications toggle in the Voicemail section, go to Settings > Notifications and scroll down to find Phone. Tap it and look for voicemail-related options. You can turn off Badge App Icon (the red number on the Phone app), Sounds, or Banners individually. This gives you more control — for example, you could keep the badge but silence the sound.
If you have multiple phone numbers or SIM cards on your iPhone, each one may have separate voicemail settings. Check the Voicemail tab in the Phone app to see if you have more than one voicemail account listed, and repeat these steps for each one.
How to turn off voicemail notifications on Android with Google Voice
Open the Google Voice app. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left, then tap Settings. Tap Notifications. You will see toggles for Voicemail, Missed calls, and other alert types. Turn off the Voicemail toggle to stop voicemail notifications.
If you want to keep some notifications but not others, you can turn off just the sound or vibration. In the same Notifications menu, tap Voicemail again and you will see options for Sound and Vibration. Turn off whichever ones you do not want.
Google Voice also lets you set a notification schedule. If you want voicemail alerts during work hours but not at night, tap Quiet hours in the Notifications menu and set your preferred times. Voicemail will still arrive, but you will not be notified until quiet hours end.
How to turn off voicemail notifications on Android with carrier voicemail
If you use your carrier's voicemail app instead of Google Voice — for example, Verizon Voicemail, AT&T Visual Voicemail, or T-Mobile Voicemail — open that app and look for Settings. The exact menu name varies by carrier, but most have a Notifications or Alerts section where you can toggle voicemail notifications on or off.
If the carrier app does not have a clear notifications menu, try this alternative: dial *61 from your phone (this is the code to check your voicemail settings on most carriers). Follow the voice prompts to adjust your voicemail greeting and notification settings. You can usually press a number to turn notifications off without hanging up. If *61 does not work, try *71 or check your carrier's website for the correct code.
You can also go to your carrier's website or call their customer service line to adjust voicemail settings from there. This is slower than using the app or dialing a code, but it is an option if the in-app settings are unclear.
How to turn off notifications from third-party voicemail apps
If you use an app like YouMail, Visual Voicemail+, HulloMail, or another third-party voicemail service, the notification settings live in that app, not in your phone's main settings. Open the app, tap Settings or the menu icon, and look for Notifications or Alerts. Turn off the toggle for voicemail notifications.
Some third-party apps also let you set notification rules — for example, notify you only for voicemails from contacts in your address book, or only during certain hours. If you want to keep voicemail but reduce the number of notifications, check whether the app has filtering options.
Be aware that if you use a third-party app, your phone's main notification settings may not control its alerts. Even if you turn off notifications in your phone's Settings panel, the third-party app may still send notifications. Always check the app itself first.
What to do if voicemail notifications keep coming back
Sometimes after you turn off notifications, they reappear — usually because an app updated, you switched carriers, or a setting reset. If this happens, check whether you have multiple voicemail accounts active. Go to your phone's main Settings > Accounts or Mail, Contacts, Calendars (on iPhone) and look for duplicate voicemail or carrier accounts. Delete any you do not use.
On Android, check whether you have both Google Voice and your carrier's voicemail app installed. If you do, and you only want to use one, uninstall the other. Having both active can cause conflicting notifications.
If notifications keep returning after you disable them, restart your phone. This clears temporary settings glitches that sometimes cause notifications to re-enable themselves. If the problem persists, contact your carrier's customer service — they can disable voicemail notifications from their end, which overrides your phone's settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I still receive voicemail if I turn off notifications?
Yes. Turning off notifications only silences the alerts — the badge, sound, and banner. Your voicemail will still arrive and be stored on your carrier's server. You can check it anytime by opening the Phone or voicemail app. You are just choosing not to be interrupted when a new message comes in.
Can I turn off notifications for some callers but not others?
This depends on your voicemail service. Google Voice lets you set notification rules based on contacts — you can notify only for voicemails from people in your address book. Most carrier voicemail apps do not have this feature. If you need this level of control, consider switching to Google Voice or a third-party app that offers filtering.
What is the difference between turning off notifications and disabling voicemail?
Turning off notifications stops the alerts but keeps voicemail active. Disabling voicemail stops the service entirely — callers will hear a message that you do not accept voicemail, and no messages will be stored. If you want to disable voicemail completely, contact your carrier and ask them to turn it off on your account.
Why do I have voicemail notifications from two different apps?
You likely have both your carrier's voicemail app and Google Voice installed and active. Each one sends its own notifications. To stop this, uninstall the app you do not use, or turn off notifications in both apps. If you want to keep both, disable notifications in the one you use less often.
Can I turn off the red badge but keep the sound?
Yes, on both iPhone and Android. In your phone's Notifications settings, find the voicemail or Phone app and toggle each notification type separately. You can turn off Badge App Icon while keeping Sound enabled, or vice versa. This lets you customize exactly which alerts you see and hear.