The basic steps depend on your phone type and carrier

Checking voicemail works differently on iPhone, Android, and traditional phones because each uses its own system. On most phones, you open the Phone app, find the Voicemail tab, and tap the message you want to hear. Some carriers let you check voicemail through their website or a separate app instead. The fastest way is usually to press and hold the 1 key on your phone's dial pad — this calls your voicemail directly — but this only works if your carrier supports it.

If you have not set up voicemail yet, your carrier will prompt you to create a greeting and password the first time you try to access it. This takes about two minutes. Once that is done, you can check messages from your phone, another phone, or online.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open the Phone app, tap Voicemail, and select the message you want to hear.
  • On Android, open the Phone app, tap Voicemail or the three-dot menu, then select the message.
  • Pressing and holding 1 on your dial pad calls voicemail directly on most carriers.
  • You can check voicemail from another phone by calling your own number and entering your PIN when prompted.
  • Most carriers let you check voicemail online through their website or mobile app.

Checking voicemail on iPhone

Open the Phone app and look for the Voicemail tab at the bottom right of the screen. Tap it, and you will see a list of all your voicemail messages with the caller's name or number and the time the message arrived. Tap any message to play it. You can delete it, save it, or call the person back from this screen.

If the Voicemail tab does not appear, your carrier may not have set it up yet. Call your carrier's customer service number (usually on your bill or their website) and ask them to activate voicemail on your account. If you see a notification badge with a number on the Phone app icon, that number tells you how many unheard messages you have.

Checking voicemail on Android

Open the Phone app and look for a Voicemail tab or icon — the location varies by phone maker and Android version. On Samsung phones, tap the three horizontal lines (menu) at the top, then select Voicemail. On Google Pixel phones, tap the Voicemail tab directly. Once you find your voicemail inbox, tap any message to play it.

Some Android phones do not have a built-in voicemail tab. If yours does not, call your carrier and ask them to send you a link to their voicemail app, or visit their website to download it. You can also press and hold 1 on your dial pad to call voicemail directly, which works on most carriers regardless of your phone type.

Using the dial pad shortcut

The fastest way to check voicemail on any phone is to press and hold the 1 key on your dial pad. This automatically calls your voicemail system. When you hear the greeting, enter your PIN (usually the last four digits of your phone number, unless you changed it). You will then hear your messages in order and can delete, save, or reply to each one.

This method works on most carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and many smaller carriers. If it does not work on your phone, your carrier may require you to dial a specific number instead — check your carrier's website or call their customer service to find out what that number is.

Checking voicemail from another phone

Call your own phone number from any phone. When your voicemail greeting plays, press the asterisk key (*) or pound key (#) — the prompt will tell you which one. Enter your PIN when asked. You will then hear your messages the same way you would on your own phone.

This is useful when you are away from your phone or do not have it with you. Keep your PIN private, since anyone who knows it can listen to your messages. If you think someone has learned your PIN, call your carrier and ask them to change it.

Checking voicemail online or through an app

Most carriers let you check voicemail through their website or mobile app. Log in with your account credentials, find the Voicemail or Messages section, and you will see a list of your messages. You can play them, download them, or delete them from there. Some carriers also let you read a text version of your voicemail if they offer transcription.

Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and most regional carriers have their own apps available on the App Store or Google Play. If you do not know your carrier's app name, visit their website and look for a link to download it. Online voicemail checking is especially useful if your phone is lost or broken, since you can still hear your messages from a computer or tablet.

What to do if you cannot access your voicemail

If you press 1 and nothing happens, or if the Voicemail tab does not appear in your Phone app, your carrier may not have activated voicemail on your account yet. Call your carrier's customer service number (on your bill or their website) and tell them you want to set up voicemail. They will activate it and may ask you to create a greeting and PIN over the phone.

If you forgot your PIN, call your carrier's customer service line. They can reset it for you, usually by verifying your account information. If your voicemail is full, you will not be able to receive new messages until you delete some old ones. Delete messages through your Phone app or by calling voicemail directly and following the prompts to remove them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change my voicemail greeting?

Call your voicemail by pressing and holding 1, then follow the prompts to record a new greeting. You can usually do this from the main voicemail menu. Some carriers also let you change your greeting through their website or app — look for a Settings or Preferences section in the voicemail area.

Can I listen to voicemail without calling my carrier?

Yes. On iPhone and Android, open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab to see your messages without making a call. You can also check voicemail online through your carrier's website or app. Only the dial pad shortcut (pressing and holding 1) requires an actual call.

What happens if I do not check my voicemail for a long time?

Most carriers keep voicemail messages for 30 days before deleting them automatically. Some carriers keep them longer. Check your carrier's website or call them to find out their specific policy. After messages are deleted, you cannot recover them.

Can I save a voicemail message permanently?

On iPhone and Android, you can mark messages as saved so they do not get deleted automatically. Tap the message, then look for a Save or Keep button. Some carriers also let you download voicemail messages as audio files through their website or app.

Why does my voicemail say I have unheard messages when I have already listened to them?

Your phone may not have synced with your carrier's system yet. Try closing the Phone app completely and reopening it, or restart your phone. If the issue continues, call your carrier — they can manually reset your voicemail status.