How to cancel voicemail depends on your phone type and carrier
Voicemail cancellation works differently on iPhone, Android, and landlines, and your carrier may charge a monthly fee you can stop paying. On most phones, you disable voicemail through your carrier's website or customer service line rather than through the phone itself — the voicemail system lives on their servers, not on your device. Some carriers let you turn it off in seconds through an app or online account; others require a phone call. If you pay for voicemail as an add-on service, cancelling it also stops the charge.
The fastest route is usually your carrier's website or app, where you can toggle voicemail off without waiting. If that option does not appear, call your carrier's customer service number (printed on your bill or found on their website) and ask them to disable voicemail on your account. Have your phone number and account PIN ready.
Key Takeaways
- Voicemail is a service your carrier runs on their servers, so you cancel it through them, not through your phone's settings.
- Most carriers let you turn voicemail off through their website, app, or a quick phone call to customer service.
- If you pay a monthly voicemail fee, disabling the service stops the charge on your next billing cycle.
- Some carriers include voicemail free with your plan; others charge $2 to $5 per month, so check your bill to see whether you are paying.
Cancelling voicemail on iPhone
iPhone does not have a built-in setting to turn off voicemail — Apple routes the request to your carrier instead. Open the Phone app, tap Voicemail in the bottom right, then tap the gear icon in the top left corner. Tap Voicemail Settings, then look for an option to turn voicemail off or disable it. What you see depends on your carrier; some show a toggle switch, others show a link to their website or app.
If you do not see a voicemail settings option in the Phone app, your carrier does not offer that feature through iPhone. Call your carrier's customer service line instead. You can find the number on your bill, on your carrier's website, or by searching "[your carrier name] customer service phone number."
Cancelling voicemail on Android
Android phones do not have a universal voicemail off switch either. Open the Phone app (the one you use to make calls), tap the three-line menu icon, then look for Settings or Voicemail Settings. Some Android phones show a voicemail option here; others do not. If you find it, tap it and look for a disable or turn off option.
If the Phone app does not have a voicemail setting, check whether your carrier has its own app — Verizon has My Verizon, AT&T has AT&T Mobile, T-Mobile has T-Mobile, and so on. Open that app, log in, and search for voicemail settings. If you still cannot find the option, call your carrier's customer service number.
Cancelling voicemail through your carrier's website or app
Most carriers let you manage voicemail through their online account portal. Log in to your carrier's website using your phone number and password. Look for a section called Account, Settings, Services, or Manage Services. Find Voicemail in the list and look for an option to disable, turn off, or remove it. The exact wording varies by carrier.
If your carrier has a mobile app, you can often do the same thing there. Open the app, log in, navigate to your account or services section, find voicemail, and disable it. Changes usually take effect within minutes, though some carriers may take up to an hour to process the request.
Cancelling voicemail by calling your carrier
If you cannot find the option online or in an app, call your carrier's customer service number. Have your phone number, account PIN (if you have one), and a form of ID ready. Tell the representative you want to disable or cancel voicemail on your account. They will confirm the request and may ask why you are cancelling — you do not have to explain, but some carriers use the feedback to improve their service.
The call usually takes five to ten minutes. Ask the representative to confirm that voicemail is now off and when the change will take effect. If you were paying a monthly fee for voicemail, ask whether the charge will stop on your next billing cycle or when ready.
What happens after you cancel voicemail
Once voicemail is disabled, callers who reach your voicemail box will hear a message saying the mailbox is not set up or is unavailable. They cannot leave a message. If you have old voicemail messages saved, they will be deleted when you cancel the service — some carriers give you a window to read them first, so ask the representative before you confirm the cancellation.
If you change your mind later, you can turn voicemail back on by reversing the same steps: through your carrier's website, app, or by calling customer service. There is no penalty for turning it back on, though you may have to wait a few hours for the system to reactivate.
Voicemail fees and what you might be paying
Many carriers include voicemail free with your plan, especially if you have a monthly contract or a recent phone. However, some carriers charge $2 to $5 per month for voicemail as an add-on service. Check your phone bill under Services, Add-ons, or Features to see whether you are paying for voicemail. If you see a line item for voicemail, cancelling it will remove that charge from your next bill.
Prepaid carriers sometimes charge differently — some include voicemail, others do not offer it at all. If you use a prepaid service, check your carrier's website or call customer service to find out whether voicemail is available and whether it costs extra.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will cancelling voicemail affect my phone service or calling ability?
No. Voicemail is a separate service from your phone line. Turning it off does not change your ability to make or receive calls — callers straightforward will not be able to leave messages. Your phone will still ring normally when someone calls you.
Can I save my voicemail messages before I cancel?
Some carriers let you read or export voicemail messages before you disable the service. Call your carrier and ask whether this option is available. If it is, they will tell you how to access the messages — usually through your online account or by calling a special number. Do this before you confirm the cancellation, because messages are typically deleted once voicemail is turned off.
How long does it take for voicemail to turn off after I request it?
Most carriers disable voicemail within minutes to an hour. If you request it through their website or app, the change usually takes effect when ready. If you call customer service, ask the representative when the change will be active so you know when callers will stop reaching your voicemail box.
What if my carrier does not let me turn off voicemail?
A few carriers do not offer the option to disable voicemail entirely, though this is rare. If your carrier will not turn it off, ask whether you can set a voicemail greeting that tells callers not to leave messages, or whether you can forward calls to a different number instead. Some people also choose to straightforward ignore their voicemail and let it fill up, though this is not ideal.
Will I be charged for voicemail if I cancel and then turn it back on?
If voicemail was a paid add-on, you will be charged again once you turn it back on. The charge will appear on your next billing cycle. If voicemail was free with your plan, turning it back on will not cost anything. Check your bill before you cancel to know which applies to you.