You can block voicemail by disabling it through your carrier, using your phone's built-in settings, or routing unwanted calls to a silent voicemail box

The method depends on what you want to accomplish. If you want to stop receiving voicemail altogether, your carrier can disable the service on your account — this is the most complete option. If you want to keep voicemail but prevent specific people from leaving messages, your phone's native call blocking tools can send their calls to voicemail and then delete those messages automatically. If you want to receive calls but not voicemail notifications, you can silence the alerts while keeping the service active.

The steps differ between iPhone and Android, and between carriers. Your carrier is usually AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or a smaller provider that uses one of those networks. Start with your phone's settings first — that's often the fastest route — then contact your carrier if you need account-level changes.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone users can enable "Filter Unknown Senders" to send calls from unknown numbers straight to voicemail, then delete those voicemails automatically through the Phone app settings.
  • Android users can block numbers directly through the Phone app, and blocked callers' messages go to voicemail but do not trigger notifications.
  • Disabling voicemail entirely requires contacting your carrier by phone or through their online account portal — this is permanent until you re-enable it.
  • Silencing voicemail notifications without disabling the service is possible on both platforms through notification settings, separate from blocking calls.
  • Some carriers charge a small monthly fee for voicemail; disabling it may reduce your bill, but check your plan first.

Blocking voicemail on iPhone

Open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right. Tap Edit in the upper left corner. Select any voicemail message you want to delete, then tap Delete. This removes individual messages but does not prevent future ones from arriving.

To prevent unknown callers from leaving voicemail, go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers and turn it on. This sends calls from numbers not in your contacts directly to voicemail. Those messages still arrive, but you will not get a notification. To delete them automatically, open Settings > Phone > Voicemail and look for a Delete Voicemail After option if your carrier offers it — not all do.

To block a specific person's voicemail, open the Phone app, find their number in your call history, tap the i icon next to it, scroll down, and tap Block This Caller. Their calls will still ring through to voicemail, but the message will not trigger a notification on your lock screen or in the Voicemail tab.

Blocking voicemail on Android

Open the Phone app and tap Recents or Call History. Long-press the number you want to block, then tap Block Number or Block (the exact wording varies by phone maker). Blocked callers can still reach your voicemail, but you will not see a notification.

To block all unknown callers, go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Permissions and check that the Phone app has permission to filter calls. Then open the Phone app itself, tap the three-line menu, go to Settings > Spam and Call Screen, and turn on Filter Unknown Callers or Call Screen (the name depends on your carrier and phone model). Unknown numbers will go straight to voicemail without ringing your phone.

Some Android phones also let you delete voicemail messages directly from the voicemail app. Open Voicemail, long-press a message, and tap Delete. This removes the message but does not prevent future ones.

Disabling voicemail through your carrier

If you want to turn off voicemail completely, you must contact your carrier. They can disable it on your account so that callers hear a message saying you are not accepting voicemail, rather than being able to leave a message.

AT&T: Call 611 from your AT&T phone, or call 1-800-331-0500. Say you want to disable voicemail. You can also log into your AT&T account online and look for voicemail settings under your phone number.

Verizon: Call 611 from your Verizon phone, or call 1-908-559-4899. Ask to disable voicemail. Verizon also lets you manage this through their My Verizon app under Account > Phone Settings.

T-Mobile: Call 611 from your T-Mobile phone, or call 1-844-839-4534. Request voicemail be turned off. You can also manage it through the T-Mobile app under Account > Phone Settings.

Other carriers: Check your bill or your carrier's website for their customer service number. Have your phone number and account PIN ready.

Disabling voicemail is reversible — you can call back and re-enable it anytime. Some carriers charge a small monthly fee for voicemail service, so disabling it may lower your bill, but this varies by plan.

Silencing voicemail notifications without disabling the service

If you want to keep voicemail active but stop getting alerts when messages arrive, you can mute the notifications separately from blocking calls.

On iPhone: Go to Settings > Notifications > Phone. Turn off Allow Notifications. This silences all Phone app alerts, including voicemail. Alternatively, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and lower the volume, or turn on Silent Mode using the physical switch on the side of your phone.

On Android: Open the Phone app, tap the three-line menu, go to Settings > Notifications, and turn off Voicemail Notifications or Missed Call Notifications. The exact option name depends on your phone model and carrier.

Messages will still be stored in your voicemail box — you just will not be notified when they arrive. You can check them manually by opening the Phone app and tapping Voicemail.

What happens when you block someone's voicemail

When you block a caller on your phone, their calls still connect to your voicemail system, but you do not receive a notification that they called or left a message. The message sits in your voicemail box, but you will not see a badge or alert telling you it is there.

If you want to check whether a blocked caller left a message, you have to manually open your voicemail and look. Some people do this to screen messages from blocked numbers without being interrupted. Others delete blocked callers' messages without listening to them.

Blocking someone on your phone does not prevent them from calling you — they can still dial your number and hear it ring. It only affects notifications and voicemail alerts. If you want to prevent someone from reaching you at all, you would need to use a separate call-blocking service through your carrier, which is a different feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block voicemail from a specific person but still see their calls?

Yes. Block their number in your Phone app. Their calls will still ring through to you, but if they leave a voicemail, you will not get a notification. You can check their message manually by opening voicemail, or you can set your phone to delete their messages automatically if your carrier supports that feature.

Does disabling voicemail stop people from calling me?

No. Disabling voicemail only changes what happens after the call goes unanswered. Callers will still hear your phone ring, and if you do not pick up, they will hear a message saying you are not accepting voicemail instead of being able to leave one. They can still text you or call back later.

Will blocking voicemail cost me money?

Disabling voicemail through your carrier may lower your bill if your plan charges a separate fee for the service, but most plans include voicemail at no extra cost. Blocking individual callers or silencing notifications costs nothing. Check your carrier's website or call them to see if voicemail is a separate charge on your plan.

What if I block someone and then want to hear their voicemail later?

Open your voicemail box and look for their message — it will still be there, just without a notification badge. You can listen to it anytime. To unblock them, go back to your Phone app's call history or contacts, find their number, and tap Unblock.

Can I block voicemail on a work phone or business line?

That depends on your employer's phone system. If you use a company-provided phone on a corporate network, voicemail settings may be controlled by your IT department or phone administrator rather than your carrier. Ask your IT support team whether you can disable or block voicemail on your work number.