The fastest way depends on your phone type and carrier

To cancel or delete voicemail, you have two separate options: turn off the voicemail service itself so calls go unanswered, or delete individual messages you've already received. Most people want to delete old messages rather than disable the service entirely. On iPhone, open the Phone app, tap Voicemail, select a message, and tap Delete. On Android, open the Phone or Google Phone app, go to Voicemail, long-press the message, and select Delete. If you want to disable voicemail completely, you'll need to contact your carrier — the method varies by whether you use AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or another provider.

Deleting messages one at a time works fine if you have a few old voicemails. If you have dozens, some phones let you select multiple messages at once. On iPhone, tap Edit in the Voicemail tab, then tap each message you want to remove before hitting Delete. On Android phones, the process varies by manufacturer, but usually involves long-pressing one message, then tapping others to select them before deleting.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open Phone > Voicemail, select a message, and tap Delete to remove it.
  • On Android, open Phone or Google Phone, go to Voicemail, long-press a message, and select Delete.
  • To turn off voicemail entirely, contact your carrier directly — AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile each have different methods.
  • Some phones let you select multiple messages at once before deleting them all together.

Deleting voicemail 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 any message to play it, then tap the trash or delete icon (usually at the bottom of the screen) to remove it.

To delete multiple messages at once, tap Edit in the top left corner of the Voicemail tab. Tap each message you want to remove — a checkmark appears next to selected messages. Once you've chosen all the ones to delete, tap Delete in the bottom right corner. This is much faster than deleting one message at a time if you have a backlog.

Deleting voicemail on Android

The exact steps depend on your phone manufacturer and which voicemail app you use. Most Android phones come with either the built-in Phone app or Google Phone. Open whichever one you have, then look for a Voicemail tab or section — it's usually at the bottom of the screen or in the menu.

Long-press any voicemail message to select it. A delete option should appear on the screen or in a menu. On some phones, you can tap additional messages while one is selected to choose multiple voicemails before deleting them all at once. If you don't see a delete option, try swiping left or right on the message — some Android phones use swipe gestures instead of menus.

Turning off voicemail completely

If you don't want voicemail at all, you need to disable it through your carrier. This is different from deleting messages — it stops the voicemail system from answering your calls when you don't pick up. The method varies by carrier, so contact yours directly or check their website.

AT&T: Call 611 from your AT&T phone or 611 from another phone, then say "Disable Voicemail" or ask the representative to turn it off. You can also dial *71 to disable it temporarily for a single call.

Verizon: Call 611 from your Verizon phone, or dial *61 to disable voicemail for the next call only. To turn it off permanently, ask the representative when you call.

T-Mobile: Call 611 from your T-Mobile phone or 611 from another phone. Ask the representative to disable voicemail on your account.

Other carriers: Check your carrier's website or call their customer service number — it's usually on your bill or in your account online.

What happens when you disable voicemail

When voicemail is turned off, incoming calls that you don't answer will simply ring until they go to a generic "call failed" message. The caller won't be able to leave a message. Some carriers let you set up a custom message that plays instead, but the voicemail system itself won't be active.

Disabling voicemail is permanent until you turn it back on. If you change your mind later, call your carrier again and ask them to re-enable it. There's no charge to turn voicemail on or off.

Recovering deleted voicemail messages

Once you delete a voicemail from your phone, it's usually gone for good. Most carriers don't keep a backup copy that you can retrieve later. If you think you might need a message, listen to it and write down the important information before deleting it, or take a screenshot of the caller's details.

Some carriers keep voicemail messages on their servers for a limited time after you delete them from your phone — usually 30 days or less. If you've just deleted something important, contact your carrier immediately and ask if they can recover it. The sooner you ask, the better your chances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete all my voicemails at once?

Most phones don't have a "delete all" button, but you can select multiple messages at once. On iPhone, tap Edit, then tap each message before hitting Delete. On Android, long-press one message, then tap others to select them. If you have hundreds of messages, this still takes time, but it's faster than one at a time.

What's the difference between deleting a message and disabling voicemail?

Deleting a message removes one voicemail you've already received. Disabling voicemail turns off the entire service, so new callers can't leave messages at all. Most people just delete old messages and keep voicemail on.

If I disable voicemail, will callers know?

Callers will hear a message saying the voicemail box is unavailable or that the call couldn't be completed. They won't get a chance to leave a message. Some carriers let you record a custom message that plays instead, so you can tell them why you're not accepting voicemail.

Can I recover a voicemail I deleted by accident?

Once deleted from your phone, voicemail is usually gone permanently. Some carriers keep messages on their servers for 30 days or less after deletion. Contact your carrier right away if you need to recover something — the sooner you ask, the better your chances.

Does it cost anything to turn voicemail off?

No. Turning voicemail on or off is free. You can disable it anytime by calling your carrier, and you can turn it back on just as easily if you change your mind.