Where blocked voicemails go and how to find them
When you block a caller on your phone, their voicemails still arrive — they just go to a separate folder instead of your main voicemail inbox. On most phones, this folder is called Blocked Messages, Spam, or Blocked Voicemail, depending on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or your carrier's voicemail system. You can listen to these messages anytime, but they stay separated from your regular voicemails so they do not clutter your main list.
The reason blocked voicemails are kept at all is straightforward: you might change your mind about a blocked caller, or you might need to hear what they said for legal or personal reasons. Your phone stores them for a set time — usually 30 days on iPhone and 14 to 30 days on Android, depending on your carrier — before deleting them automatically.
Key Takeaways
- Blocked voicemails are stored separately from your main inbox and you can listen to them anytime by opening the Blocked Messages or Spam folder.
- On iPhone, open the Phone app, tap Voicemail, then look for a Blocked Messages tab or scroll to find blocked calls.
- On Android, the location depends on your phone brand and carrier, but usually appears in the Phone app under Blocked or Spam, or in your carrier's voicemail app.
- Blocked voicemails delete automatically after 14 to 30 days, so save or screenshot any you need to keep.
- You can unblock a caller directly from the blocked voicemail message if you decide you want to hear from them again.
How to access blocked voicemail on iPhone
Open the Phone app on your iPhone and tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right. Look for a tab or button labeled Blocked Messages or Blocked near the top of the screen. If you do not see a separate tab, scroll down through your voicemail list — blocked messages often appear at the bottom, sometimes marked with a small blocked icon or labeled as "Blocked Caller."
Tap any blocked voicemail to play it. The message will play through your speaker or earpiece just like a regular voicemail. If you want to keep the message, do nothing — it will stay in the Blocked Messages folder until it expires. If you want to delete it when ready, swipe left on the message and tap Delete.
To unblock the caller so their future messages go to your main voicemail inbox, tap Edit in the top left, select the message, then tap Unblock. The caller will be removed from your blocked list and their next voicemail will arrive normally.
How to access blocked voicemail on Android
The steps vary depending on your phone brand and carrier. Start by opening the Phone app and looking for a Voicemail tab or icon. If your phone has one, tap it and look for a Blocked, Spam, or Blocked Messages section. On Samsung phones, this is usually a tab at the top. On Google Pixel phones, tap the three-dot menu and look for Blocked or Spam.
If your carrier runs voicemail through its own app — such as Verizon Voicemail, AT&T Mobile, or T-Mobile Voicemail — open that app instead. Look for a menu option labeled Blocked Voicemail, Spam, or Blocked Messages. Tap any message to play it. To unblock a caller, press and hold the message, then select Unblock or Remove from Blocked.
If you cannot find a blocked voicemail folder in either place, your phone may not be storing blocked voicemails separately. Contact your carrier's customer service to ask whether they keep blocked messages on their server, and if so, how to access them.
What to do if you cannot find the blocked voicemail folder
Some older Android phones and some carriers do not create a separate folder for blocked voicemails. If you have looked in the Phone app and your carrier's voicemail app and found nothing, the blocked messages may be stored on your carrier's server instead of on your phone.
Call your carrier's customer service number — it is usually on the back of your bill or on your carrier's website — and ask whether they store blocked voicemails and how to access them. Have your phone number and account PIN ready. The representative can tell you whether the messages are kept, how long they are stored, and whether you can listen to them through a web portal or by calling a special number.
If your carrier does not store blocked voicemails at all, they are deleted when ready when the caller leaves them, and there is no way to retrieve them. In that case, you would need to unblock the caller to receive their future messages.
How long blocked voicemails stay before they delete
iPhone keeps blocked voicemails for 30 days before deleting them automatically. Android carriers vary: Verizon keeps them for 14 days, AT&T for 30 days, and T-Mobile for 30 days, though these timelines can change. Check your carrier's website or call their customer service to confirm the exact retention period for your account.
If you need to keep a blocked voicemail longer than the automatic deletion date, save it before it expires. On iPhone, you can take a screenshot of the message details or use the Voice Memos app to record the audio while it plays. On Android, some carrier apps let you save or archive messages — look for a save or archive button in the message menu. If your app does not offer that option, record the audio with a voice recorder app while the message plays.
Unblocking a caller and what happens next
If you decide you want to hear from a blocked caller again, you can unblock them directly from the blocked voicemail message. On iPhone, open the blocked message, tap Edit, select the message, and tap Unblock. On Android, press and hold the message and select Unblock or Remove from Blocked. The caller will be removed from your blocked list when ready.
Once unblocked, the caller's future calls will ring through normally and their voicemails will go to your main inbox. Any voicemails they left while blocked will stay in the Blocked Messages folder until they expire — unblocking does not move them. If you want to hear those old messages, listen to them before unblocking, or listen to them in the blocked folder after unblocking.
Unblocking a caller does not notify them that you have unblocked them. They will not know unless you call or text them yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I listen to blocked voicemail if I lost my phone?
If you have an iPhone, you can sign into iCloud.com on any computer, go to Settings, and look for voicemail options — though not all carriers support this. For Android, contact your carrier directly and ask whether they can play blocked voicemails over the phone or through a web portal. Bring your account PIN and phone number.
What if a blocked caller keeps calling and leaving messages?
Blocking only stops calls and texts from reaching you — it does not stop voicemails from being left. If someone is harassing you, contact your carrier's abuse team and ask about a permanent block or a restraining order. Your carrier can sometimes escalate the case if the calls are threatening or illegal.
Do blocked voicemails count toward my voicemail storage limit?
Usually yes — blocked voicemails take up space in your voicemail account just like regular ones do. If you are running out of storage, deleting old blocked messages can free up room for new voicemails. Check your voicemail settings to see how much storage you have used.
Can I recover a blocked voicemail after it deletes?
Once the automatic deletion period ends, the message is gone and cannot be recovered. If you need to keep a blocked voicemail, save it before the expiration date by recording it or taking a screenshot of the details.