The fastest way to hear your messages

To access your voicemail, press and hold the 1 key on your phone's keypad. This works on most mobile phones and takes you straight to your voicemail inbox. If you are calling from a different phone, dial your own number and wait for the voicemail greeting to finish, then press the asterisk (*) or pound (#) key — the exact key varies by carrier, so listen to the prompt.

On an iPhone, open the Phone app, tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right, and tap any message to play it. On Android, open the Phone app, tap the three dots at the top, select Voicemail, and tap the message you want to hear. If you do not see a Voicemail tab or option, your carrier may not have set it up yet, or you may need to contact them to activate the service.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold 1 on your phone to reach voicemail from your own device; from another phone, dial your number and follow the voice prompt.
  • iPhone users tap the Voicemail tab in the Phone app; Android users tap the three dots, select Voicemail, and choose a message.
  • You will need a voicemail PIN or password to listen to messages from a phone that is not yours.
  • If voicemail is not working, check that your carrier has activated the service and that you have set up a greeting.

Accessing voicemail from your own phone

The simplest method is to press and hold the 1 key. Your phone will dial into your voicemail system automatically. You will hear a greeting, then a menu of options. Follow the voice prompts to listen to new messages, delete old ones, or save messages you want to keep.

If pressing 1 does not work, try dialing your own phone number manually and waiting for the voicemail greeting. When you hear it, press the asterisk (*) or pound (#) key — your carrier's system will tell you which one. You may then be asked to enter your PIN before you can hear messages.

Accessing voicemail from a different phone

Dial your own phone number from any phone. When your voicemail greeting plays, press the asterisk (*) or pound (#) key to interrupt it and reach the login screen. Enter your voicemail PIN when prompted. If you do not know your PIN, contact your carrier to reset it.

Some carriers use different codes. Verizon typically uses the asterisk (*), AT&T uses the pound (#), and T-Mobile uses the asterisk (*), but always listen to the prompt — it will tell you which key to press. If the system does not recognize your PIN, wait a few seconds and try again, as the system sometimes needs time to process.

Setting up voicemail if you have not already

When you first activate a phone, your carrier may send you a text message with instructions to set up voicemail. Follow the link or call the number provided. You will be asked to create a PIN (usually four to six digits) and record a greeting so callers know they have reached the right person.

If you never received a setup message, call your carrier's customer service number — it is on your bill or on the carrier's website. They can confirm whether voicemail is turned on and walk you through the setup process. Some carriers charge a small monthly fee for voicemail, though most include it with your plan.

Troubleshooting when voicemail is not working

If pressing 1 does nothing, your phone may not have voicemail set up. Contact your carrier to confirm the service is active on your account. If it is active but you still cannot reach it, restart your phone and try again — sometimes the connection needs to refresh.

If you can reach voicemail but cannot hear messages, check that you entered your PIN correctly. If you are certain the PIN is right, your carrier may have reset it for security reasons. Call their customer service line to verify your identity and get a new PIN. If voicemail keeps disconnecting before you finish listening, you may have a weak signal — move to a location with better reception and try again.

Checking voicemail on your phone's app

Most modern phones show voicemail messages directly in the Phone app instead of requiring you to call in. On iPhone, the Voicemail tab displays all your messages with a play button next to each one. Tap the message to hear it, and swipe left to delete it or tap the three dots to save it.

On Android, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, and select Voicemail. You will see a list of messages. Tap any message to play it. Some Android phones do not have a built-in voicemail app — if yours does not, your carrier may have a separate app you can download from the Google Play Store.

Saving or deleting voicemail messages

On iPhone, swipe left on a message to see the delete and save options. Tap the trash icon to delete, or tap the three dots and select Save to keep it permanently. Saved messages stay in your voicemail inbox even after you listen to them multiple times.

On Android, tap and hold a message to select it, then tap the trash icon to delete or the three dots to see more options. Some Android voicemail apps let you save messages by tapping a star or heart icon. If you want to keep a message but do not see a save option, you can take a screenshot or use your phone's voice recorder to capture the audio.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I forgot my voicemail PIN?

Call your carrier's customer service number — it is on your bill or their website. Verify your identity with your account number or the phone number associated with your account, and they will reset your PIN. You can usually set a new one immediately over the phone.

Can I listen to voicemail on my computer?

Some carriers offer voicemail-to-email, which sends a recording of each message to your email inbox. Contact your carrier to see if this is available on your plan. If it is, you can listen to messages from any device with email access.

Why does my voicemail say I have a new message but I already listened to it?

The message may not have been marked as heard by the system. Try listening to it again and waiting for the menu to appear, then select the option to mark it as heard. If the problem continues, restart your phone or contact your carrier.

Can someone else access my voicemail with my PIN?

Yes, if they know your PIN, they can call your number and listen to your messages. Change your PIN regularly and do not share it with anyone. If you think someone has accessed your voicemail without permission, contact your carrier immediately to reset it.

Does voicemail cost extra?

Most carriers include voicemail with standard phone plans at no additional charge. A few carriers or older plans may charge a small monthly fee. Check your bill or contact your carrier to confirm what is included with your plan.