Delete voicemail the way your phone stores it

How you delete a voicemail depends on what kind of phone you have and whether the message is stored on your device or on your carrier's server. On most phones, you can delete voicemail directly from the Voicemail app or Phone app without calling your carrier. The steps differ between iPhone and Android, and some carriers add their own voicemail apps that work differently from the built-in options.

The key difference: deleting a voicemail from your phone's app removes it from your device, but the message may still exist on your carrier's server for a limited time. If you want to make sure a message is completely gone, you may need to delete it both places. Most carriers keep deleted voicemails for 30 days before permanently removing them, though this varies.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open the Phone app, tap Voicemail, select the message, and tap Delete; on Android, open Phone or your carrier's voicemail app and swipe left or tap the delete icon.
  • Deleting from your phone's app removes the message from your device but may not remove it from your carrier's server immediately.
  • Most carriers keep deleted voicemails on their server for 30 days, so you can recover them during that window if you change your mind.
  • Some carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile have their own voicemail apps with different delete steps than the built-in phone app.

Delete voicemail on iPhone

Open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right of your screen. You will see a list of all your voicemail messages with the most recent at the top. Find the message you want to delete and tap it to play it.

Once the message is open, look for the Delete button — it usually appears as a trash can icon at the bottom of the screen. Tap it, and the message disappears from your iPhone immediately. If you want to delete multiple messages at once, tap Edit in the upper left corner, select the messages you want to remove by tapping the circle next to each one, then tap Delete.

If you cannot find the Delete button, swipe left across the message in the list view instead. A red Delete button will appear on the right side. Tap it to remove the message.

Delete voicemail on Android

Open the Phone app on your Android device and look for the Voicemail tab or icon — the location varies by manufacturer and Android version, but it is usually at the bottom of the screen or in a menu. Tap it to see your voicemail list.

Find the message you want to delete. You can either tap and hold the message until a menu appears with a Delete option, or swipe left across the message to reveal a delete button. Tap Delete to remove it from your device.

Some Android phones show a trash or delete icon next to each message. If you see one, tap it directly. To delete multiple messages, tap and hold the first one, then tap the other messages you want to remove — they will be highlighted. Once you have selected all the messages, look for a Delete button at the top or bottom of the screen and tap it.

Delete voicemail through your carrier's app

Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and other carriers offer their own voicemail apps that work differently from your phone's built-in voicemail. If you use one of these apps, you will need to delete messages through that app instead of the Phone app.

Verizon: Open the My Verizon app or the Verizon Voicemail app, find the message, and tap the three dots or menu icon next to it. Select Delete from the menu.

AT&T: Open the AT&T Mobile app, go to Voicemail, select the message, and tap Delete. Some versions show a trash icon you can tap instead.

T-Mobile: Open the T-Mobile Voicemail app, find the message, swipe left (iPhone) or tap and hold (Android), then tap Delete.

If you are not sure which voicemail system you use, check your phone's app drawer or home screen for a voicemail app with your carrier's name. If you only see the Phone app's Voicemail tab, you are using your phone's built-in system.

Recover a deleted voicemail

If you delete a voicemail by mistake, you may be able to recover it. Most carriers keep deleted messages on their server for 30 days before permanently removing them. To recover a message, call your voicemail box from your phone or another phone and listen to the options — many carriers have a "Deleted Messages" or "Trash" folder you can access by pressing a number key.

Call your carrier's customer service if you cannot find the deleted messages folder in your voicemail system. Tell them the approximate date of the message and who it was from. They can sometimes restore messages that were deleted within the last 30 days, though this is not may provide and may take a few business days.

If more than 30 days have passed, the message is permanently gone and cannot be recovered. This is why it is a good idea to save important voicemails by recording them or writing down the information they contain.

Prevent accidental deletion

Some phones let you mark voicemails as "saved" or "keep" to prevent them from being automatically deleted. On iPhone, open a voicemail message and look for a Save or Keep button. On Android, the option varies by phone — check your Phone app settings or your carrier's voicemail app for a similar feature.

You can also back up important voicemail messages by recording them with a voice memo app or by asking the caller to send you the information in a text or email instead. This way, even if you delete the voicemail, you still have the information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting a voicemail from my phone delete it from my carrier's server?

Not immediately. Deleting from your phone removes it from your device, but your carrier keeps a copy on their server for about 30 days. After that period, it is permanently deleted. If you want to remove it from the carrier's system sooner, you may need to delete it through your carrier's voicemail portal or app.

Can I recover a voicemail I deleted weeks ago?

Probably not. Most carriers delete voicemails permanently after 30 days. If it has been longer than that, the message is gone. If it has been less than 30 days, call your voicemail box and look for a Deleted Messages or Trash folder, or contact your carrier's customer service.

Why do I have two voicemail apps on my phone?

Your phone comes with a built-in voicemail app, but your carrier may have installed their own app as well. You can use either one, though your carrier's app may have extra features. If you prefer the built-in app, you can usually disable or hide the carrier's app in your phone settings.

What happens if I don't delete old voicemails?

Old voicemails take up storage space on your phone and on your carrier's server. Deleting them regularly keeps your voicemail box from filling up and prevents your phone from slowing down. Some carriers limit how many voicemails you can store, so deleting old ones makes room for new messages.

Can I delete all my voicemails at once?

Yes. On iPhone, tap Edit in the Voicemail tab, then tap Select All or tap each message individually, and tap Delete. On Android, tap and hold the first message, then tap the others to select them, and tap Delete. Your carrier's app may have a similar option — check the menu or settings.