Disable voicemail by contacting your carrier

The fastest way to turn off voicemail on Android is to call your mobile carrier and ask them to disable it on your account. Voicemail is a service your carrier provides, not a feature built into Android itself, so turning it off at the source stops calls from routing to voicemail in the first place.

Call the customer service number on the back of your phone bill or on your carrier's website. Tell them you want voicemail disabled. They will confirm your account and make the change — this usually takes less than five minutes. Ask them to confirm the change is active before you hang up.

If you use Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or another major carrier, this method works the same way. Regional carriers and prepaid services may have slightly different processes, but all of them can disable voicemail from their end.

Key Takeaways

  • Voicemail is controlled by your carrier, not by Android, so disabling it requires contacting them directly.
  • Calling your carrier's customer service is the most reliable way to turn off voicemail permanently.
  • You can also forward unanswered calls to a fake number or disable call forwarding in your phone settings as a workaround, though this does not actually disable the voicemail service.
  • If you want to keep voicemail but just stop hearing notifications, you can delete the voicemail app from your home screen or turn off its notifications in Android settings.

Forward calls to a number that does not exist

If you cannot reach your carrier or prefer not to call, you can redirect all unanswered calls away from voicemail by setting up call forwarding to a fake number. This does not disable voicemail on your account, but it prevents calls from reaching it.

Open the Phone app on your Android device. Tap the three-dot menu (or the settings icon, depending on your phone model) and look for "Settings" or "Call settings." Find the option labeled "Call forwarding" or "Forwarding settings." Select "Forward when unanswered" or "Forward if unreachable."

Enter a number that does not exist — something like 555-0199 works. Save the setting. Now when you do not answer a call, it will attempt to forward to that fake number instead of going to voicemail. The caller will hear a message that the number is not in service, rather than reaching your voicemail.

This method has a drawback: callers will not hear a voicemail greeting, and they may think something is wrong with your phone. If you want them to hear a message, this approach is not ideal.

Remove or silence the voicemail app

If voicemail is still active on your account but you do not want to see notifications or access it, you can remove the voicemail app from your home screen or turn off its notifications.

Find the voicemail app on your phone — it is usually called "Voicemail" or "Visual Voicemail" and may be made by your carrier (like Verizon Voicemail or AT&T Voicemail). Long-press the app icon. A menu will appear with options like "Remove," "Uninstall," or "Disable." If the option says "Uninstall," tap it. If it says "Disable," that will turn off the app without removing it completely.

If you cannot uninstall the app (some carrier apps cannot be removed), you can silence it instead. Go to your Android Settings, find "Apps" or "Applications," locate the voicemail app, and tap "Notifications." Toggle off "Allow notifications" or "Show notifications." You will no longer see alerts when voicemail arrives, though the service will still be active on your account.

Disable call forwarding if you set it up yourself

If you previously set up call forwarding to send calls somewhere else, you may want to turn that off so calls ring your phone normally. This is different from disabling voicemail itself, but it affects how calls are handled.

Open the Phone app and go to Settings or Call settings. Find "Call forwarding" and look for any active forwarding rules. Common options include "Forward when busy," "Forward when unanswered," and "Forward when unreachable." If any of these are turned on, tap them and select "Disable" or "Turn off."

After you disable call forwarding, calls will ring your phone normally. If you do not answer, they will go to voicemail unless you have also disabled voicemail through your carrier.

What happens after you disable voicemail

Once your carrier disables voicemail, callers who reach your voicemail box will hear a message saying the voicemail service is not available or that your mailbox is not set up. They will not be able to leave a message. Some callers may try again or send you a text instead.

If you only removed the voicemail app from your phone but did not contact your carrier, voicemail is still active on your account — you just cannot see it on your device. Callers can still leave messages, and you can access them by calling your carrier's voicemail number from another phone.

Disabling voicemail does not affect text messaging, email, or other ways people can reach you. It only stops the voicemail service itself.

Re-enable voicemail if you change your mind

If you disable voicemail and later want it back, call your carrier again and ask them to turn it back on. This usually takes the same amount of time as disabling it. You may need to set up a new voicemail PIN and greeting.

If you only removed the voicemail app, you can reinstall it from the Google Play Store or your carrier's app store. Search for your carrier's voicemail app by name and tap "Install."

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling voicemail stop people from calling me?

No. Disabling voicemail only stops calls from being recorded when you do not answer. Calls will still ring your phone normally. People can still reach you — they just cannot leave a recorded message if you do not pick up.

Can I disable voicemail on just one contact?

No. Voicemail is a carrier-level service that applies to your entire phone number. You cannot turn it off for one person and keep it for others. You can block specific contacts from calling you, but that is different from disabling voicemail.

What if my carrier will not disable voicemail?

Some carriers make it difficult or charge a fee to disable voicemail. If that happens, the call forwarding workaround (forwarding to a fake number) is your best option. It prevents calls from reaching voicemail without requiring carrier approval.

Does disabling voicemail affect my phone bill?

Most carriers include voicemail for free as part of your plan, so disabling it will not lower your bill. Some older plans or business accounts may charge separately for voicemail, in which case disabling it could reduce your bill slightly.

Can I disable voicemail temporarily?

Yes. You can ask your carrier to disable it and then re-enable it later. You can also use the call forwarding method, which you can turn on and off whenever you want through your phone settings.