Voicemail is a recorded message system that stores calls you miss

Voicemail is a service that records and stores voice messages from people who call you when you don't answer. Instead of the call going nowhere, the caller hears a greeting (usually your voice) and can leave a message. You can listen to that message later by calling your voicemail box, usually from your own phone.

Every phone plan includes voicemail, though you have to set it up first. The setup process is the same whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or a traditional landline — you record a greeting, create a password, and then you can start receiving messages. Once messages arrive, you access them by dialing a code from your phone or through an app.

Voicemail is different from text messaging or email because it's voice-based and asynchronous — the caller speaks, you listen later. It's also different from call waiting, which lets you see that someone is calling while you're on another call.

Key Takeaways

  • Voicemail stores recorded messages from callers and is included with every phone plan, but you must set it up by recording a greeting and choosing a password.
  • On most phones, you access voicemail by pressing and holding the 1 key, or by dialing your own phone number from another phone and entering your password.
  • Your phone will show a voicemail icon or notification when new messages arrive, and you can delete, save, or replay messages after listening.
  • If you forget your voicemail password, your phone carrier can reset it — contact them through your bill, your account online, or by calling customer service.

How to set up voicemail on your phone

When you first get a phone, voicemail is usually already active, but you need to record a personal greeting before callers can leave messages. On an iPhone, open the Phone app, tap Voicemail at the bottom right, then tap Greeting. On an Android phone, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings, then Voicemail, then Greeting. You'll be prompted to record your message — keep it short, like "Hi, this is [your name], I can't take your call right now, please leave a message."

After you record your greeting, you'll be asked to create a voicemail password (usually four to six digits). Write this down somewhere safe — you'll need it to listen to messages from another phone, and if you forget it, resetting takes time. Some carriers let you skip the password, but that's less find. Once your greeting and password are set, callers can start leaving messages.

Accessing voicemail from your own phone

The fastest way to check voicemail is from your own phone. On most phones, press and hold the 1 key on the dial pad — your phone will automatically call your voicemail box. You'll hear your greeting play back, then a prompt asking for your password. Type your password and press the pound key (#). You'll then hear a list of your messages with the date and time each arrived.

On some phones, especially older ones, you may see a voicemail icon or notification on your home screen or lock screen. Tap that icon and it will take you directly to your voicemail. iPhones show a red circle with a number on the Phone app icon when you have new messages — tap Voicemail at the bottom to see them listed.

Once you're listening to a message, you can usually press keys to control playback: press 4 to replay, press 7 to delete, or press 9 to save the message. Different carriers use slightly different key commands, so listen for the menu options after each message.

Accessing voicemail from another phone

If you're away from your phone and need to check messages, call your own phone number from any other phone. When your voicemail greeting plays, press the star key (*) or pound key (#) — this interrupts the greeting and prompts you for your password. Enter your password and you'll hear your messages the same way you would from your own phone.

This method works from a friend's phone, a work phone, a hotel phone, or any other phone line. You don't need to know your phone number — just dial it like you're calling yourself. If you're calling from outside your country, you may need to dial your full number with the country code, depending on your carrier.

What to do if you can't access your voicemail

If you press and hold 1 and nothing happens, your voicemail may not be set up yet. Call your phone carrier's customer service number (it's on your bill or your account online) and ask them to set up voicemail on your line. They can do this in minutes. If voicemail is active but you can't remember your password, call customer service again and ask them to reset it — they'll verify your identity and send you a temporary password or let you create a new one.

If you're hearing a message that says your voicemail is full, you have too many saved messages. Go into your voicemail and delete old messages you no longer need. Most carriers keep messages for 30 days before automatically deleting them, but deleting them yourself frees up space when ready.

If you're getting a message that says "mailbox not available" or "not set up," your carrier may have had a service interruption. Wait a few minutes and try again. If the problem continues, contact your carrier — there may be an issue with your account.

Voicemail versus visual voicemail

Visual voicemail is a newer feature available on most iPhones and many Android phones. Instead of calling your voicemail box and listening to messages in order, visual voicemail shows you a list of messages on your screen. You can tap any message to listen to it in any order, and you can see the caller's name or number, the time the message arrived, and how long it is — all before you listen.

Visual voicemail is usually included free with your plan, though some carriers charge a small monthly fee. If your phone supports it, you'll see a Voicemail tab in your Phone app that looks like a list instead of a traditional voicemail interface. The password and setup process are the same as regular voicemail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I listen to my voicemail messages online or through an app?

Some carriers offer a web portal or app where you can see your voicemail messages and listen to them on a computer. Log into your carrier's website or account app and look for a Voicemail or Messages section. Not all carriers offer this, so check your carrier's website to see what's available for your account.

What happens if I don't check my voicemail for a long time?

Most carriers keep voicemail messages for 30 days, then automatically delete them. Some carriers keep them longer if you mark them as saved. If a message is important, listen to it and save it, or write down the information before the 30 days are up.

Can I change my voicemail greeting without calling my phone?

On iPhones, you can change your greeting through the Phone app without calling voicemail. On Android, it depends on your carrier — some let you change it through the Phone app settings, others require you to call voicemail. Check your phone's voicemail settings first.

Is voicemail the same as an answering machine?

Voicemail and answering machines do the same job — they record messages from callers — but voicemail is stored on your carrier's servers, while an answering machine is a device in your home. Voicemail works on any phone, anywhere, and you can access messages from other phones. Answering machines only work at home.

Why do I need a voicemail password?

The password protects your messages from being heard by someone else who calls your number. Without a password, anyone could interrupt your greeting and listen to your messages. Keep your password private and change it if you think someone else knows it.