Where voicemail notifications live and how to find them

Voicemail notifications appear in different places depending on your phone type and carrier. On most phones, they show up as a badge (a small red circle with a number) on your Phone or Voicemail app, a banner at the top of your screen when a message arrives, or a sound alert. Some carriers also send text messages or email notifications about new voicemails.

The settings you need are usually in your phone's main Settings app under Notifications, Sound, or Phone — not in your voicemail app itself. Your carrier may also have separate notification controls that override your phone settings, which is why turning off notifications in one place sometimes doesn't work.

Key Takeaways

  • Voicemail notifications are controlled in your phone's Settings app under Notifications or Sound, not in the voicemail app itself.
  • You can turn off sounds, badges, banners, and vibrations separately — you don't have to disable all of them at once.
  • Your carrier may send separate text or email notifications that require a different setting to disable.
  • Turning off notifications does not delete voicemails or prevent them from being stored — you can still retrieve them manually.

Disabling notifications on iPhone

Open Settings and go to Notifications. Scroll down and tap Phone. Under the Phone notification settings, you will see toggles for Sounds, Badges, and Banners. Turn off whichever ones you want to disable. If you want to keep badges but remove the sound, turn off only the sound toggle.

If you use Visual Voicemail (the built-in voicemail app on newer iPhones), you can also go to Settings > Phone > Voicemail and turn off notifications there. However, the main Notifications settings for the Phone app will override this, so check both places if notifications are still appearing.

Disabling notifications on Android

Open Settings and go to Apps & Notifications (or Notifications, depending on your Android version). Find and tap Phone or Voicemail. Tap Notifications. You will see toggles for different notification types — turn off the ones you don't want. Some Android phones also let you tap into each notification type individually to adjust sounds, vibration, and visual alerts separately.

If your carrier is Google Fi, Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile, check whether they have a separate voicemail app installed. Open that app, look for Settings, and disable notifications there as well. Carrier apps sometimes send their own alerts that your phone's main notification settings won't control.

Turning off carrier text and email notifications

Some carriers automatically send you a text message or email when you receive a voicemail. These notifications bypass your phone's settings entirely. To stop them, you usually need to contact your carrier directly or use their online account portal.

For AT&T, log into your account at att.com and look for Voicemail Settings. For Verizon, go to verizon.com and search for Voicemail Notifications. T-Mobile customers can check t-mobile.com under Account Settings. Google Fi users can disable notifications in the Google Fi app under Voicemail Settings. If you cannot find the option online, call your carrier's customer service — they can disable these notifications on your account in a few minutes.

The difference between disabling notifications and deleting voicemails

Turning off notifications does not delete your voicemails or prevent new ones from being stored. It only stops your phone from alerting you when a message arrives. You can still listen to voicemails by opening your Phone app or Voicemail app and checking manually.

If you want to delete voicemails instead, open your Voicemail app, select the message, and tap Delete. If you want to stop receiving voicemails altogether, that requires a different setting — usually in your carrier's voicemail settings or by contacting them directly.

Why notifications might still appear after you turn them off

If you have turned off notifications in your phone settings but they are still appearing, check whether your carrier is sending separate text or email alerts. You may also have multiple notification settings active — for example, both the Phone app and a carrier's voicemail app sending alerts. Disable notifications in both places.

Another common reason is that your phone's Do Not Disturb or Focus mode is set to allow notifications from certain apps. Go to Settings > Focus (iPhone) or Settings > Do Not Disturb (Android) and check whether Phone or Voicemail is listed as an exception. If it is, remove it or adjust the Focus to block those notifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I miss voicemails if I turn off notifications?

No. Voicemails will still arrive and be stored in your voicemail inbox. You simply won't be alerted when they come in. You can check your voicemail app manually whenever you want to see if new messages are waiting.

Can I turn off notifications for some callers but not others?

On iPhone, you can use Focus modes to allow notifications from specific contacts while blocking others. On Android, some phones let you create notification rules for individual contacts, but this varies by manufacturer. Check your phone's notification settings to see if this option is available.

What if my carrier keeps sending text notifications even after I disable them online?

Call your carrier's customer service line. Online settings sometimes take time to update, or the option may be in a different part of your account. A representative can disable the notifications immediately and confirm the change has taken effect.

Do I need to turn off notifications in both my phone settings and my voicemail app?

Usually your phone's main notification settings control everything, but some carrier voicemail apps have their own notification toggles. If notifications persist after disabling them in Settings, check your voicemail app for a separate Notifications option and turn it off there too.