The fastest way: use the voicemail app to select and delete
Open the Phone app on your iPhone, then tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right. You will see a list of all your voicemails with the newest at the top. Tap "Edit" in the upper left corner — the word appears in blue. Now tap the red minus sign next to each voicemail you want to delete, or tap "Select All" if your voicemail app offers it (this depends on your carrier and iOS version). Once you have selected the messages, tap "Delete" to remove them.
If you do not see an "Edit" button, swipe left on individual voicemails instead. A red "Delete" button will appear on the right side of each message. Tap it to remove that voicemail. This method is slower if you have many messages, but it works on all iPhone models and iOS versions.
Key Takeaways
- The Phone app's Voicemail tab is where you manage all your voicemails — open it and tap Edit to delete multiple messages at once.
- If your carrier supports it, you can tap "Select All" to mark every voicemail for deletion rather than selecting them one by one.
- Swiping left on a single voicemail and tapping Delete works on every iPhone, even if the Edit button is not available.
- Deleted voicemails are usually gone permanently, so double-check that you do not need any messages before you delete them.
When "Select All" is not available
Some carriers do not offer a "Select All" option in the voicemail app. If you tap Edit and see only the red minus signs next to individual messages, you will need to delete voicemails one at a time. Tap the minus sign next to each one, then tap Delete to confirm.
This is more tedious with a large number of messages, but it is the only option your carrier provides. If you have hundreds of voicemails, you may want to delete them in batches over a few days rather than all at once.
Deleting voicemails through your carrier's website or app
Some carriers — including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile — let you manage voicemails through their own apps or websites. Log into your carrier's account online or open their app, then look for a voicemail or messages section. From there, you can often delete multiple voicemails at once without using the Phone app.
This route can be faster if your carrier's interface supports bulk deletion. However, you still need to log in with your account credentials, so it is not necessarily quicker than using the Phone app directly. Check your carrier's support page to see whether this option is available to you.
Why deleted voicemails do not come back
When you delete a voicemail from your iPhone, it is removed from your device and from your carrier's voicemail server. Unlike text messages or emails, voicemails are not backed up to iCloud by default, so deletion is permanent. If you think you might need a voicemail later, save it as a voice memo or ask the caller to send you the information another way before you delete it.
Some carriers keep deleted voicemails in a trash or recently deleted folder for a short time — usually 30 days — before permanently removing them. Check your voicemail app to see whether a trash folder exists. If it does, you can recover a message you deleted by mistake within that window.
Preventing voicemail buildup in the future
If you delete voicemails regularly, you can avoid the problem of having hundreds to clear out at once. Set a reminder to delete old messages once a week or once a month, depending on how many voicemails you receive. This keeps your voicemail storage from filling up and makes it easier to find important messages when you need them.
You can also turn off voicemail entirely if you do not use it. Go to Settings, then Phone, then Voicemail, and toggle off the voicemail feature. Callers will hear a message that you do not accept voicemails instead of being able to leave one. This is useful if you prefer to communicate by text or email and do not want to manage voicemail at all.
What happens if you run out of voicemail storage
Your carrier assigns you a certain amount of voicemail storage — typically enough for 20 to 100 messages depending on the length of each one. Once you hit that limit, new callers will hear a message saying your voicemail is full and they cannot leave a message. Deleting old voicemails frees up space for new ones.
If you are not sure how much storage you have used, call your voicemail from your iPhone (usually by pressing and holding 1 on the dial pad) and listen for an automated message about your storage status. Your carrier's app or website may also show you how many messages you have and how much space is left.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a voicemail after I delete it?
Most carriers do not keep deleted voicemails, so recovery is not possible once you confirm the deletion. However, some carriers maintain a trash folder for 30 days. Check your voicemail app for a Recently Deleted or Trash folder. If your carrier does not offer this, the voicemail is gone permanently.
Why does my voicemail app not have an Edit button?
Your carrier may not support bulk deletion through the Phone app. Try swiping left on individual voicemails instead — a Delete button will appear. If you want faster bulk deletion, log into your carrier's website or app to see whether they offer that option there.
Will deleting voicemails free up space on my iPhone?
Voicemails are stored on your carrier's server, not on your iPhone's storage, so deleting them does not free up space on your device. However, deleting old messages does free up your voicemail storage quota, which allows new callers to leave messages if your voicemail was full.
Can I delete all voicemails without opening each one?
Yes, if your carrier supports it. Tap Edit in the voicemail tab, then tap Select All, then Delete. Not all carriers offer Select All, so you may need to delete messages individually by swiping left and tapping Delete on each one.
What if I accidentally delete a voicemail I needed?
Check your voicemail app when ready for a Recently Deleted or Trash folder — some carriers keep deleted messages there for up to 30 days. If your carrier does not have a trash folder, contact them to ask whether they can recover the message from their server. Recovery is not may provide, so ask the caller to resend the information if possible.