The fastest way depends on what kind of phone you have

To check voicemail, you call your voicemail box — a recorded message system that stores calls you missed. On most phones, you do this by pressing and holding the number 1 on your keypad, which dials your voicemail automatically. Some carriers let you check voicemail through an app instead. The method changes slightly between iPhone, Android, and older phones, but the core idea is the same: you're calling into your own phone's message storage.

Your voicemail box is maintained by your phone carrier — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or whoever you pay for service. They keep the messages stored on their servers, not on your phone itself. This is why you can check voicemail even if your phone is broken, as long as you can borrow another phone and dial your number.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold the 1 key on your phone's keypad to call voicemail directly — this works on most phones without any setup.
  • Your carrier stores voicemail on their servers, so you can check messages from any phone by dialing your own number and entering your PIN.
  • If you don't know your voicemail PIN, call your carrier's customer service line and ask them to reset it or tell you what it is.
  • iPhone and Android both have voicemail apps that show a list of messages instead of making you listen to them in order.
  • Visual voicemail — seeing a list of who called instead of hearing messages sequentially — costs extra on some carriers but comes free on others.

Checking voicemail on iPhone

Open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right. You'll see a list of all your voicemail messages with the caller's name or number, the time they called, and how long the message is. Tap any message to play it. If you don't see a Voicemail tab, your carrier may not have set up visual voicemail on your account yet — call them to turn it on, or use the method below instead.

If visual voicemail isn't available, press and hold the 1 key. Your phone will dial your voicemail box. When prompted, enter your PIN (usually the last four digits of your phone number, unless you changed it). Listen to your messages in order. To save a message, press 9. To delete it, press 7. To skip to the next message, press the # key.

Checking voicemail on Android

Open the Phone app and look for a Voicemail icon or tab — it's usually at the bottom of the screen or in the menu. Tap it to see your message list. If your phone doesn't have a built-in voicemail app, read Google Voice from the Play Store, sign in with your Google account, and tap the Voicemail tab to see messages there.

If you don't have visual voicemail set up, press and hold the 1 key to call your voicemail box directly. Enter your PIN when prompted. You'll hear each message in order. Press 4 to delete the current message, press 9 to save it, or press the # key to move to the next one. The exact buttons vary slightly by carrier, so listen to the menu options when you call in.

What to do if you don't know your PIN

Your voicemail PIN is usually set to the last four digits of your phone number by default. Try that first. If it doesn't work, call your carrier's customer service number — it's on your bill or on their website. Tell them you need to reset your voicemail PIN. They'll verify your identity and either tell you what the current PIN is or set a new one for you.

Some carriers let you reset your PIN through their website or app instead of calling. Log into your account, look for a Voicemail or Account Settings section, and follow the prompts. This is faster than calling if you have access to your account.

Checking voicemail from another phone

Borrow any phone and dial your own phone number. When your voicemail picks up instead of ringing through, enter your PIN. You'll hear your messages the same way you would on your own phone. This is useful if your phone is lost, broken, or out of battery.

If you're calling from outside your home country, dial your phone number with the country code — for example, +1 followed by your 10-digit number if you're calling from abroad. Your carrier will route the call to your voicemail box. You may be charged international calling rates, so check with your carrier first if cost is a concern.

Why some voicemail messages disappear

Most carriers keep voicemail messages for 30 days before deleting them automatically. If you delete a message yourself, it usually goes to a deleted folder for another 30 days before being permanently erased. After that, it's gone. If you need to keep a message, don't delete it — just leave it in your inbox.

Some carriers let you read or forward voicemail messages to email, which is a way to keep them permanently. Check your carrier's website or call them to see if this option is available on your account. If it is, you can set up automatic forwarding so every new voicemail is sent to your email as an audio file.

Turning voicemail on or off

Voicemail is usually turned on by default when you set up your phone. If you want to turn it off, call your carrier's customer service and ask them to disable voicemail on your account. This means calls will go straight to a busy signal instead of being recorded.

If you want to turn voicemail back on, call your carrier again and ask them to reactivate it. You can also set up a voicemail greeting — a message that plays before the beep — through your voicemail box. Press and hold 1, enter your PIN, and look for the option to record or change your greeting. Most carriers keep your greeting stored for as long as your account is active.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I listen to voicemail without calling my voicemail box?

Yes, if your phone has visual voicemail — a list view of messages instead of a phone call. iPhone and most Android phones support this, but it depends on your carrier. If you don't see a Voicemail tab in your Phone app, contact your carrier to turn it on. Some carriers charge a small monthly fee for visual voicemail, while others include it free.

What if I forgot my voicemail PIN and can't reach my carrier?

Call your carrier's main customer service line — the number is on your bill or their website. You don't need to know your PIN to reach them. Tell them you need to reset it, and they'll verify your identity by asking security questions or checking your account. They can set a temporary PIN or tell you the current one.

Can someone else check my voicemail?

Only if they know your PIN. Your voicemail is protected by this four-digit code, so change it if you think someone has it. Call your carrier to set a new PIN. Don't share your PIN with anyone, and don't use an obvious number like your birthday or address.

Why does my voicemail say the mailbox is full?

You've reached your carrier's limit on stored messages — usually 20 to 30 messages depending on the carrier. Delete old messages you don't need. Press 7 while listening to a message to delete it, or tap and swipe left on a message in visual voicemail. Once you delete enough messages, you'll be able to receive new ones again.

Can I save a voicemail message forever?

Your carrier will delete messages after 30 days unless you keep them in your inbox. Some carriers let you forward voicemail to email as an audio file, which keeps it permanently. Check your carrier's website or call them to see if voicemail-to-email is available. If it is, you can set it up in your account settings or through your voicemail box menu.