Where blocked voicemails go and how to reach them

When you block a caller on your phone, their voicemails still arrive — they just go to a separate folder instead of your main inbox. On most phones, this folder is called "Blocked Messages," "Spam," or "Blocked Voicemails," depending on your device and carrier. You can listen to them whenever you want, but they won't notify you the way regular voicemails do.

The exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or a carrier-specific voicemail system. Each one stores blocked messages in a different place, and some require you to open a separate app to find them.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocked voicemails are stored separately from your main inbox but remain on your phone or carrier's server until you delete them.
  • iPhone users check the Voicemail tab and look for a "Blocked Messages" section at the bottom of the list.
  • Android users typically find blocked voicemails in the Phone app's voicemail tab or in a dedicated spam folder within their carrier's app.
  • Carrier voicemail systems like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile have their own apps where blocked messages appear in a separate folder.
  • You can unblock a caller and move their voicemail back to your main inbox, or delete blocked messages permanently.

Checking blocked voicemails on iPhone

On iPhone, open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab in the bottom right corner. Scroll to the bottom of your voicemail list — if you have blocked callers, you will see a "Blocked Messages" section. Tap it to expand and see all voicemails from people you have blocked.

Tap any blocked voicemail to listen to it. You can also swipe left on a blocked message to delete it, or tap "Unblock Caller" to move that person's voicemail back to your main inbox. If you do not see a "Blocked Messages" section, it means you have not blocked anyone or no blocked callers have left voicemails yet.

Checking blocked voicemails on Android

On Android, the process depends on your phone's manufacturer and your carrier. Open the Phone app and look for a Voicemail tab or icon — it is usually at the bottom of the screen. Tap it, then look for a "Blocked" or "Spam" folder. If you see one, tap it to view all blocked voicemails.

If your Phone app does not show a blocked folder, your carrier may store blocked voicemails in a separate app. Check your app drawer for apps named after your carrier — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or your regional provider. Open that app and look for a voicemail or messages section, where blocked calls usually appear in their own folder.

Accessing blocked voicemails through your carrier's app or website

Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and other carriers let you check blocked voicemails through their official apps or websites. read your carrier's app from the App Store or Google Play, sign in with your account, and navigate to the voicemail section. Blocked messages typically appear in a folder labeled "Blocked," "Spam," or "Junk."

You can also log into your carrier's website on a computer. Go to your account page, find the voicemail or messages section, and look for a blocked or spam folder. This method is useful if you want to listen to blocked voicemails on a larger screen or if your phone app is not working properly.

Unblocking a caller and recovering their voicemail

If you decide you want to hear from a blocked caller again, you can unblock them and move their voicemail back to your main inbox. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Phone, then Blocked Contacts, and swipe left on the person's name to unblock them. On Android, open the Phone app, go to Call History or Recents, find the blocked number, and tap "Unblock."

Once you unblock someone, their voicemail will not automatically move back to your main inbox — you have to do that manually. In most cases, you can swipe left on their blocked message and tap "Unblock Caller," which moves it to your regular voicemail list. If that option does not appear, delete the blocked message and ask the caller to leave a new voicemail after you have unblocked them.

Deleting blocked voicemails permanently

To delete a blocked voicemail, open your voicemail app, find the blocked message, and swipe left (on iPhone) or long-press (on Android). Tap Delete or the trash icon. The message will be removed permanently and cannot be recovered, so make sure you do not need it before deleting.

If you have many blocked voicemails and want to clear them all at once, some carrier apps let you select multiple messages and delete them together. Check your carrier's app for a "Select All" option in the blocked or spam folder.

What to do if you cannot find your blocked voicemails

If you are looking for a blocked voicemail and cannot find it, the caller may not have left a message — blocked callers can still call you, but not every call results in a voicemail. Check your call history or recent calls to see if the blocked number appears there.

Another possibility is that the voicemail was automatically deleted. Most phones and carriers keep voicemails for 30 days before removing them permanently. If more than a month has passed since the call, the message may no longer be available. Some carriers also have storage limits — if you have too many voicemails, older ones may be deleted to make room for new ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked caller tell if I listened to their voicemail?

No. Blocked callers cannot see whether you listened to their voicemail, and they do not receive any notification that you checked it. They only know they are blocked because their calls go straight to voicemail and they may not receive delivery confirmation.

Do blocked voicemails take up storage space on my phone?

Yes, blocked voicemails are stored the same way as regular ones — either on your phone or on your carrier's server, depending on your voicemail system. Deleting them frees up space, but most modern phones have enough storage that a few voicemails will not make a noticeable difference.

What happens if I unblock someone and they call again?

Once you unblock someone, their calls will ring through to you normally instead of going straight to voicemail. If they call and you do not answer, the voicemail will go to your main inbox like any other call. Their old blocked voicemails will remain in the blocked folder unless you manually move them.

Can I listen to blocked voicemails if I switch phones?

If your voicemails are stored on your carrier's server (which is common with carrier apps), you can access them on a new phone by signing into your account. If they are stored only on your old phone's local storage, they will not transfer to a new device.

Why am I not getting notifications for blocked voicemails?

Blocked voicemails do not trigger notifications by design — that is part of how blocking works. Your phone silences alerts from blocked callers so you are not disturbed. You have to manually check the blocked folder to see if any messages are there.