The fastest way to listen to your messages

To hear your voicemail, press and hold the 1 key on your phone's keypad. Your carrier will connect you to your voicemail system, which will ask for your PIN — usually the last four digits of your phone number, though you may have changed it. After you enter your PIN, you can listen to, delete, or save messages.

If you are away from your phone or do not have it with you, you can call your voicemail from any other phone. Dial your own phone number, and when your greeting plays, press the asterisk (*) key. This interrupts the greeting and takes you to the login screen, where you enter your PIN.

Some carriers let you check voicemail through their website or app instead of calling in. This method is slower than pressing 1, but it shows you a list of who called and when before you listen, and you can skip around between messages more easily.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold 1 on your phone to reach voicemail, then enter your PIN to listen to messages.
  • From another phone, dial your own number and press * when your greeting plays to access voicemail remotely.
  • Your PIN is usually your last four phone digits unless you changed it when you first set up voicemail.
  • Your carrier's website or app can show you a list of callers before you listen, which is useful if you have many messages.

Resetting a forgotten PIN

If you do not remember your PIN, you cannot access voicemail by phone. You will need to use your carrier's website or app, or call customer service to reset it.

To reset through the website: log in with your phone number and account password, find the voicemail settings, and look for a "reset PIN" or "change PIN" option. The system will send a temporary PIN to your email or phone, which you use to log in and create a new one.

If you do not have access to your account online, call your carrier's customer service number (usually on your bill or their website). Tell them you need to reset your voicemail PIN. They will verify your identity by asking for your account number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, or answers to security questions you set up when you opened the account. After verification, they can reset your PIN when ready or send you a temporary one.

Why you should change your default PIN

Your voicemail PIN is usually set to the last four digits of your phone number when the account is created. This is a problem because anyone who knows your phone number can guess your PIN in a few tries — and if they do, they can listen to all your messages, delete them, or change your greeting.

Change your PIN to something only you know. Use your carrier's website, app, or voicemail system itself. When you call voicemail, look for a menu option like "manage your account" or "change PIN." Follow the prompts to enter your current PIN and then create a new one. Most carriers require at least four digits, and some allow letters and symbols — the longer and less predictable, the better.

A strong PIN does not contain your birth year, address, or any sequence that appears in your phone number. "1234" and "0000" are the first things someone will try. Pick something like "7429" or "5891" instead.

Accessing voicemail on different phone types

iPhone: Press and hold 1 on the keypad, or open the Phone app, tap Voicemail at the bottom right, and tap a message to play it. If you see "No Voicemail" but you know you have messages, your carrier may not have set up voicemail yet — call customer service to set up it.

Android: Open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, select Voicemail, and tap a message to listen. Some Android phones have a dedicated Voicemail app instead. If you do not see a Voicemail tab, press and hold 1 to call voicemail directly.

Older phones (flip, basic): Press and hold 1. When voicemail answers, enter your PIN at the prompt. Navigate messages using the number keys — usually 1 to listen, 7 to delete, 9 to save.

Google Voice or other third-party services: If you use Google Voice, open the app or visit voice.google.com, click Voicemail on the left, and click a message to play it. The process is different from carrier voicemail and does not require a PIN if you are logged into your Google account.

What to do if voicemail is not working

If you press 1 and nothing happens, or if you hear a message saying voicemail is not set up, your carrier may not have activated it on your account. Call customer service and ask them to turn on voicemail. set up is usually when ready.

If you can reach voicemail but cannot hear messages, check that your phone's volume is turned up. Press the volume buttons on the side of your phone and make sure the slider is not all the way down. If volume is on and you still hear nothing, try calling voicemail from a different phone to rule out a problem with your device's speaker.

If you are locked out because you entered the wrong PIN too many times, wait 30 minutes and try again. If that does not work, call customer service to reset your PIN or temporarily unlock your account.

Protecting your voicemail from hackers

Since you arrived here from an article about voicemail security, here are the steps that matter most: change your PIN from the default, do not share it with anyone, and do not write it down where others can find it. If you suspect someone has accessed your voicemail without permission — for example, you notice messages are missing or your greeting has changed — call your carrier when ready and ask them to reset your PIN and review your account activity.

Some carriers offer two-factor authentication for voicemail, which requires a code sent to your phone or email before you can log in from the web. Turn this on if your carrier offers it. It makes voicemail much harder to break into, even if someone knows your PIN.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I listen to voicemail without calling in?

Yes. Most carriers have a website or app where you can log in and see a list of voicemails, then click to play them. This is slower than pressing 1, but it lets you skip between messages and see who called before you listen. Some phones also show voicemail in the Phone app without calling in.

What if I forgot my voicemail PIN and do not remember my account password?

Call your carrier's customer service number. They will verify your identity using your account number, Social Security number, or security questions, then reset your PIN. This usually takes a few minutes.

Can someone listen to my voicemail if they have my phone number?

Only if your PIN is still the default (last four digits of your number). Change your PIN to something random and long, and they cannot access it. If you suspect someone has already broken in, call your carrier to reset your PIN and ask them to check your account activity.

Why does my voicemail say it is not set up?

Your carrier may not have activated voicemail on your account yet. Call customer service and ask them to turn it on. It usually takes a few minutes. If you recently switched carriers, your new carrier may need to set it up separately.

Can I check voicemail from another country?

Yes, but calling your voicemail number from abroad may cost you international calling charges. Using your carrier's website or app instead is usually free if you have internet access. Check with your carrier about international calling rates before you dial.