Delete voicemail one message at a time or clear them all at once

The steps to delete voicemail depend on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or a landline with voicemail service. On most phones, you open the voicemail app or dial into your voicemail system, find the message you want to remove, and press delete. On iPhones, deleted voicemails stay in a trash folder for 30 days before disappearing permanently. On Android phones, they usually vanish right away. If you use a landline or a phone plan's voicemail service, you may need to call your voicemail number and follow voice prompts instead.

Deleting voicemail is straightforward once you know where to look, but the exact location and process shifts between phone types. This guide walks you through each platform so you can clear out old messages without losing ones you need to keep.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhones, open the Phone app, tap Voicemail, swipe left on a message, and tap Delete — deleted messages stay in a Deleted Messages folder for 30 days.
  • On Android phones, open the Phone or Google Phone app, find Voicemail, tap and hold a message, then tap Delete to remove it permanently.
  • If you use a landline or carrier voicemail service, call your voicemail number and follow the voice prompts to delete messages one at a time.
  • Some voicemail systems let you delete all messages at once, but this action cannot be undone, so use it only when you are certain you do not need any of them.

Delete voicemail on an iPhone

Open the Phone app on your home screen. Tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right — it looks like a cassette tape icon. You will see a list of all your voicemail messages, with the newest at the top. Each message shows the caller's name or number, the date and time, and how long the message is.

To delete a single message, swipe your finger from right to left across the message you want to remove. A red Delete button will appear on the right side. Tap it. The message moves to your Deleted Messages folder, where it stays for 30 days before Apple removes it permanently. If you change your mind within those 30 days, you can recover it by tapping Edit in the Deleted Messages folder, selecting the message, and tapping Recover.

To delete multiple messages at once, tap Edit in the top left corner of the Voicemail tab. Red circles appear next to each message. Tap the circles next to the messages you want to delete, then tap Delete in the bottom right. Again, these messages go to Deleted Messages for 30 days.

Delete voicemail on an Android phone

Open the Phone app — the icon that looks like a phone handset. Look for a Voicemail tab or button, usually at the bottom of the screen. If you do not see it, tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) and look for Voicemail or Messages. Tap it to see your list of voicemail messages.

To delete one message, tap and hold your finger on the message until it highlights. A menu will pop up with options including Delete. Tap Delete. The message is removed when ready and does not go to a trash folder — it is gone for good. Some Android phones show a trash or recycle bin icon instead; tap that to delete.

To delete multiple messages, tap and hold the first message, then tap the other messages you want to remove while still holding. Once you have selected all the messages you want gone, look for a Delete button or trash icon at the top or bottom of the screen and tap it. Check your phone's voicemail app settings — some Android phones let you set messages to delete automatically after a certain number of days.

Delete voicemail from a landline or carrier service

If you have a landline or use your phone carrier's voicemail service (rather than the phone's built-in voicemail app), you access voicemail by calling your voicemail number. This is usually your own phone number or a number your carrier gave you. Call that number and enter your PIN or password when prompted.

Once you are in your voicemail system, listen to the message you want to delete. After the message plays, the system will give you options — usually you press a number key like 7 or 9 to delete. Press whichever key the voice prompt tells you. The message is deleted when ready. Repeat this for each message you want to remove.

Some carrier voicemail systems offer a "delete all" option, usually by pressing a specific key after the system asks if you want to delete all messages. Use this only if you are absolutely certain you do not need any of your voicemail, because there is no way to recover messages after you choose this option. If you are unsure, delete messages one at a time instead.

Recover deleted voicemail on iPhone

If you deleted a voicemail on your iPhone by mistake, you have 30 days to get it back. Open the Phone app and tap Voicemail. Look for a Deleted Messages folder or button — it usually appears at the bottom of your voicemail list. Tap it to see messages you have deleted in the last month.

Find the message you want to restore, tap Edit, select the message by tapping the circle next to it, then tap Recover. The message moves back to your main Voicemail list. If the 30 days have passed, the message is gone permanently and cannot be recovered.

Prevent voicemail from piling up

Rather than waiting until you have dozens of old messages, delete voicemail regularly as you listen to them. On iPhones, swipe left and delete when ready after you have heard a message. On Android phones, tap and hold, then delete. This keeps your voicemail list short and makes it easier to find important messages you need to keep.

If you get a lot of voicemail and want to keep some messages for reference, consider saving important ones to a notes app or recording them separately before you delete them. Some phones let you mark voicemail as unread so it stays at the top of your list until you decide what to do with it. Check your phone's voicemail settings to see if this option is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover voicemail after I delete it on Android?

No. When you delete a voicemail on an Android phone, it is removed permanently right away. There is no trash or recovery folder like there is on iPhones. If you think you might need a message later, do not delete it — instead, mark it as unread or save the information from it before you remove it.

What happens if I delete all my voicemail at once?

All your voicemail messages are removed when ready. On iPhones, they go to the Deleted Messages folder for 30 days, so you can still recover them if you change your mind. On Android and carrier voicemail systems, they are gone permanently. Only use the delete-all option if you are certain you do not need any of the messages.

Why does my voicemail keep coming back after I delete it?

This usually means the message was not fully deleted from your carrier's server, or your phone is syncing with an older backup. Try deleting the message again, then restart your phone. If it keeps reappearing, contact your phone carrier — they may need to clear it from their end.

Can I set voicemail to delete automatically?

Some Android phones and carrier voicemail systems have an auto-delete setting that removes messages after 30 or 60 days. Check your voicemail app settings or call your carrier to ask if this feature is available on your account. iPhones do not have this option, but deleted messages disappear after 30 days anyway.