How to cancel voicemail on your phone

The way you cancel voicemail depends on your phone carrier and whether you want to turn it off temporarily or remove it entirely. Most carriers let you disable voicemail through your phone settings, your online account, or a call to customer service. Some phones also have a voicemail app you can delete, though that only removes the app—not the service itself.

The fastest route is usually your carrier's website or app, where you can toggle voicemail off without waiting on hold. If you cannot find the option there, calling your carrier's customer service line (the number is on your bill or your phone's SIM card packaging) takes about five minutes. Have your phone number and account PIN ready.

Key Takeaways

  • Disabling voicemail through your carrier's website or app is faster than calling and does not require you to wait on hold.
  • Turning off voicemail does not delete old messages—you may need to retrieve them before disabling the service if you want to keep them.
  • Some carriers charge a small monthly fee for voicemail, so disabling it may lower your bill slightly.
  • If you disable voicemail, callers will hear a message that you are not accepting voicemails instead of being routed to your greeting.
  • You can re-enable voicemail later through the same method you used to turn it off.

Canceling voicemail on major carriers

Verizon: Log into My Verizon on the web or open the My Verizon app, go to Account, then Services. Find Voicemail and toggle it off. If you use a landline, call 611 from that line or 1-908-559-4899 from another phone. You can also dial *71 from your phone to disable call forwarding to voicemail temporarily.

AT&T: Open the AT&T mobile app, tap the menu, select Manage Services, and look for Voicemail. You can also log into your AT&T account online and find the same option under Services. For landlines, call 611 or 1-800-331-0500. Dialing *90 from your phone disables voicemail for that call only.

T-Mobile: Log into your T-Mobile account online or use the T-Mobile app, go to Account, then Services, and turn off Voicemail. You can also text VOICEMAIL OFF to 611611 and wait for a confirmation message. Call 611 from your phone or 1-844-839-4644 from another phone if you need help.

US Cellular: Log into your account at uscellular.com, go to Services, and toggle Voicemail off. You can also call 611 from your phone or 1-888-873-1000 from another phone.

What happens when you turn off voicemail

When you disable voicemail, callers will hear a message saying you are not accepting voicemails instead of hearing your personal greeting. The call will not be transferred anywhere—it will straightforward end. Some callers may try calling back or sending a text instead, so make sure people who need to reach you know an alternative way to contact you.

Disabling voicemail does not delete messages you have already received. If you want to save old voicemails before turning off the service, retrieve them first. Some carriers let you read or forward voicemails through their app or website, but this varies. Check your carrier's help section or call customer service to learn what options are available for your account.

Temporarily disabling voicemail for one call

If you want to prevent voicemail from picking up for a single incoming call, you can use a code before the call arrives. These codes work on most carriers but vary by provider:

  • Verizon: Dial *71 to disable call forwarding to voicemail for the next call only. Dial *91 to turn it back on.
  • AT&T: Dial *90 before the call comes in to skip voicemail for that call. Dial *91 to re-enable it.
  • T-Mobile: Dial #21# to disable call forwarding to voicemail, then *21# to turn it back on.

These codes work only if you dial them before the call arrives. Once someone is calling you, it is too late to use them. If you find yourself using these codes regularly, it may be worth disabling voicemail entirely instead.

Voicemail fees and your bill

Some carriers charge a monthly fee for voicemail, though many include it free with your plan. Verizon typically charges $2.99 per month for voicemail on some plans, while AT&T and T-Mobile often include it at no extra cost. US Cellular's pricing varies by plan. Check your bill to see if voicemail appears as a separate line item.

Disabling voicemail will not lower your bill if it is included free with your plan. If you are paying a separate fee, turning it off should remove that charge within one or two billing cycles. If the fee remains after you have disabled the service, contact your carrier to request a credit or confirm the service is actually off.

Re-enabling voicemail later

You can turn voicemail back on anytime using the same method you used to turn it off. If you disabled it through your carrier's website or app, log back in and toggle it on. If you called customer service, call again and ask them to reactivate it. The process takes just a few minutes.

When you re-enable voicemail, your old greeting will return. If you want a new greeting, you can record one after the service is back on. Most carriers let you set a greeting through your phone's voicemail app or by calling your voicemail number from your phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling voicemail affect my phone plan or service?

No. Turning off voicemail only stops the voicemail service itself. Your phone will still make and receive calls normally. If voicemail is included free with your plan, disabling it will not change your bill. If you pay a separate fee for it, that charge should disappear.

Can I delete my voicemail without canceling the service?

Yes. You can delete individual messages or clear all messages through your voicemail app or by calling your voicemail number. Deleting messages does not disable the service—new voicemails will still be recorded. To stop receiving voicemails entirely, you need to disable the service itself.

What if I need voicemail back in an emergency?

You can re-enable voicemail through your carrier's website, app, or by calling customer service. It usually takes effect within a few minutes. If you are in an emergency, focus on calling 911 or the person you need to reach directly rather than waiting for voicemail to be restored.

Do I lose old voicemails if I cancel the service?

Disabling voicemail does not automatically delete old messages, but you may lose access to them after a certain period. Some carriers keep voicemails for 30 days after the service is disabled, while others keep them longer. If you want to save important messages, retrieve them before you disable the service.