The fastest way depends on your phone type
Checking voicemail works differently on iPhone, Android, and older phones, but the basic idea is the same: you call your voicemail box and listen to messages left for you. On most phones, you can reach voicemail by holding down the 1 key on your dial pad, or by opening the Phone app and tapping the Voicemail tab. Some carriers let you check voicemail through a website or app instead of calling in.
The method your phone uses depends on whether you have an iPhone or Android device, and which carrier you use — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or another provider. Each carrier's voicemail system works slightly differently, but the steps are similar enough that once you know your phone type, you can find the right path in seconds.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, open the Phone app, tap Voicemail in the bottom right, and tap a message to play it.
- On Android, hold down the 1 key on your dial pad, or open the Phone app and look for a Voicemail or Messages tab.
- If you do not know your voicemail password, call your carrier's customer service number on the back of your phone bill to reset it.
- Visual voicemail — which shows a list of messages instead of making you call in — is built into iPhone and available as an app on many Android phones.
- If you cannot reach voicemail, check that your phone has a signal and that you are not in airplane mode.
Checking voicemail on iPhone
Open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab in the bottom right corner. You will see a list of all your voicemail messages, with the caller's name or number, the time the call came in, and how long the message is. Tap any message to play it out loud through your speaker or earpiece.
If you do not see a Voicemail tab, your carrier may not have set up visual voicemail on your account yet. In that case, hold down the 1 key on your dial pad to call your voicemail box directly. Your phone will prompt you to enter your voicemail password, then play your messages one at a time. You can press keys to delete, save, or skip to the next message — your carrier's system will tell you which keys to press.
To delete a message from the list, swipe left on it and tap Delete. To save a message so it does not disappear, tap it and look for a Keep or Save button. You can also call your voicemail box and press keys to manage messages there, though the visual list is usually faster.
Checking voicemail on Android
Hold down the 1 key on your dial pad. Your phone will call your voicemail box, and you will hear a voice prompt asking for your password. Enter your voicemail password using the number keys, then listen to your messages. Press keys to delete, save, or skip messages — the system will tell you which keys to use.
Some Android phones and carriers offer visual voicemail through an app. Open your Phone app and look for a Voicemail, Messages, or Voice Mail tab. If you see one, tap it to view a list of messages instead of calling in. You can tap any message to play it. If your carrier offers a voicemail app, you can also read it from the Google Play Store — search for your carrier's name plus "voicemail".
If you do not see a voicemail option in your Phone app, your carrier may not offer visual voicemail on Android. Calling in by holding 1 is the standard way to check messages on most Android phones.
What to do if you forgot your voicemail password
Call your carrier's customer service number. You can find this number on the back of your phone bill, on your carrier's website, or by searching online for "[your carrier name] customer service". When you call, tell them you need to reset your voicemail password.
They will ask you to verify your identity — usually by giving your phone number, account PIN, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Once you are verified, they can reset your password to a temporary one, which you can change the next time you call your voicemail box. When you call in, the system will prompt you to create a new password.
If you do not remember your account PIN either, the customer service representative can help you reset that too. Keep your new password somewhere safe so you do not lose it again.
Checking voicemail when you have no signal
If you cannot reach voicemail, first check that your phone has a signal. Look at the top of your screen — you should see bars or a signal indicator. If the bars are empty or grayed out, you do not have a signal and cannot call voicemail until you move to an area with coverage.
Check that airplane mode is off. Swipe down from the top of your screen to open Control Center (iPhone) or Quick Settings (Android) and look for an airplane icon. If it is highlighted or turned on, tap it to turn it off. Airplane mode blocks all calls and data, including voicemail.
If you have signal and airplane mode is off but voicemail still will not work, restart your phone. Turn it off completely, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. This fixes most connection problems. If voicemail still does not work after restarting, call your carrier's customer service to check whether your voicemail is set up correctly on your account.
Using your carrier's voicemail website or app
Many carriers let you check voicemail through a website or app without calling in. Verizon offers the My Verizon app, AT&T offers the AT&T Mobile app, and T-Mobile offers the T-Mobile app. Open the app, log in with your phone number and password, and look for a Voicemail or Messages section.
You can also visit your carrier's website on a computer. Log in to your account and look for a Voicemail, Voice Mail, or Messages tab. From there, you can listen to messages, delete them, or read them as audio files to keep.
Using an app or website is often faster than calling in, especially if you have many messages. You can also see the date and time each call came in at a glance, and you do not have to listen to messages in order — you can jump to any message you want.
Why you might not hear a voicemail notification
If someone left you a voicemail but you did not get a notification, check your notification settings. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Notifications, find the Phone app, and make sure Allow Notifications is turned on. On Android, go to Settings, tap Apps or Applications, find the Phone app, tap Notifications, and make sure notifications are on.
You might also not hear a notification if your phone is on silent or Do Not Disturb mode. Check the side of your iPhone — if the mute switch is flipped toward the back, your phone is in silent mode. On Android, swipe down from the top and look for a Do Not Disturb icon. If it is on, tap it to turn it off.
Even if you do not get a notification, your voicemail messages are still saved in your voicemail box. You can check them anytime by opening the Voicemail tab (iPhone) or calling in (Android), so you will not miss important messages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I listen to voicemail without calling in?
Yes, if your phone has visual voicemail. iPhone has it built in, and many Android phones offer it through an app or their carrier's app. Visual voicemail shows a list of messages on your screen so you can tap any message to play it without calling your voicemail box.
What if I deleted a voicemail by mistake?
On iPhone, open the Phone app, tap Voicemail, then tap Edit in the top left. Tap Deleted Messages at the bottom to see messages you deleted recently. You can tap Recover to restore a message. On Android, call your voicemail box and ask the system to restore deleted messages — some carriers keep them for a few days before permanently removing them.
Can I save a voicemail to listen to later?
Yes. On iPhone, tap the message and look for a Keep or Save button. On Android, call your voicemail box and press the key to save the message — usually 9. You can also read voicemail messages through your carrier's app or website and save them as audio files on your computer.
Why does my voicemail say I have a new message when I already listened to it?
On iPhone, make sure you tapped the message to mark it as played. On Android, the voicemail system may not have registered that you listened. Call your voicemail box again and delete the message, or use your carrier's app to mark it as read.
Can I change my voicemail greeting?
Yes. Call your voicemail box by holding 1, enter your password, and listen for a menu option to record a greeting. Follow the prompts to record a new message. You can also record a greeting through your carrier's app or website if they offer that option.