The fastest way to check Verizon voicemail

Call your own Verizon number from any phone and press 1 when the greeting plays, or dial *86 from your Verizon phone. If you have not set up a voicemail password yet, Verizon will prompt you to create one the first time you access your messages. Once you have a password, you can check messages from any phone — you do not need to be calling from your own device.

If you are calling from outside the United States, dial your Verizon number and press 1 when prompted. International calling rates explore, so check your plan before calling from abroad.

Key Takeaways

  • Press *86 from your Verizon phone or call your own number and press 1 to hear voicemail messages.
  • You must set a password the first time you access voicemail, and you will need it to check messages from any phone.
  • The My Verizon app and website let you listen to voicemail, read transcripts, and delete messages without calling in.
  • Voicemail transcripts appear in the app within a few minutes of a message arriving, though accuracy depends on audio quality and accents.
  • If you cannot reach voicemail, check that voicemail is turned on in your phone settings and that you have not hit your message storage limit.

Using the My Verizon app to check messages

Open the My Verizon app on your phone, tap the Messages tab at the bottom, and select Voicemail. You will see a list of all voicemail messages with the caller's number or name, the date and time, and how long the message is. Tap any message to play it.

The app shows a transcript of each voicemail below the play button. Verizon generates these transcripts automatically within a few minutes of the message arriving. The transcript is usually accurate for clear speech, but background noise, heavy accents, or technical terms can produce errors. Always listen to the actual message if the transcript seems unclear or incomplete.

You can delete messages directly from the app by swiping left on a message and tapping Delete, or by tapping the three dots next to a message and selecting Delete. Deleted messages go to a trash folder and stay there for 30 days before Verizon removes them permanently.

Checking voicemail on the Verizon website

Go to verizon.com, sign in with your account username and password, and click Messages in the left menu. Select Voicemail to see your list. The website works the same way as the app — you can play messages, read transcripts, and delete them.

The website is useful if you are at a computer and want to manage multiple messages at once. You can also read voicemail messages as audio files by clicking the read icon next to a message, though this feature is not available on all account types.

Setting up and changing your voicemail password

The first time you call voicemail, Verizon asks you to create a password. Choose something you can remember but that is not obvious — avoid birthdays, sequential numbers, or your phone number. Your password must be at least 6 digits long.

To change your password later, call *86 from your Verizon phone, press * during the main menu, and select the option to change your password. You will be asked to enter your current password, then enter your new password twice. The change takes effect when ready.

If you forget your password, call Verizon customer service at 611 from your Verizon phone or 1-908-559-4899 from any phone. They can reset it for you after verifying your account information.

Why you might not be able to reach voicemail

If you call *86 or your own number and do not hear a voicemail greeting, check that voicemail is turned on. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Voicemail and make sure the toggle is on. On Android, the setting varies by phone model — check your phone's settings under Call Settings or Voicemail.

Voicemail can also stop working if you have reached your message storage limit. Verizon typically stores up to 20 voicemail messages. If you have 20 messages, new callers will hear that your voicemail is full and cannot leave a message. Delete old messages from the app or by calling *86 to free up space.

If voicemail is on and you have space available but still cannot access it, restart your phone and try again. If the problem continues, call Verizon customer service at 611 to check whether there is a service issue in your area.

Understanding voicemail notifications

When someone leaves a voicemail, Verizon sends you a notification on your phone. On iPhone, you will see a notification on your lock screen and in the Notification Center. On Android, you will see a notification in your notification panel. Both show the caller's number or name if it is in your contacts.

If you do not want notifications for every voicemail, you can turn them off in the My Verizon app. Open the app, tap Menu, go to Settings, and look for Notifications. You can choose to get notifications for all messages, missed calls only, or none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I listen to voicemail from someone else's phone?

Yes. Call your own Verizon number from any phone and press 1 when the greeting plays. Enter your voicemail password when prompted. You can also use the My Verizon app on any phone if you sign in with your Verizon account username and password.

What happens to voicemail if I switch phones?

Your voicemail stays with your phone number, not your device. When you move your Verizon number to a new phone, all your existing messages stay in your voicemail box. You can access them the same way on the new phone.

Can I save a voicemail message permanently?

You can read voicemail messages as audio files through the My Verizon website if your account type supports it. Open the message and click the read icon. The file saves to your computer as an MP3 that you can keep or move to cloud storage.

How long does Verizon keep deleted voicemail messages?

Deleted messages stay in your trash folder for 30 days. After 30 days, Verizon permanently removes them. If you delete a message by mistake, you can recover it from trash within that 30-day window by opening the message and selecting Restore.

Why is my voicemail transcript full of errors?

Voicemail transcription works best with clear speech and minimal background noise. Heavy accents, technical terms, music, or overlapping voices can produce inaccurate transcripts. Always listen to the actual message if the transcript seems wrong or incomplete.