Where voicemails live and how to get them out

Voicemails exist in three places: on your phone's built-in voicemail app, in your carrier's voicemail system (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile), or in a third-party service like Google Voice. To read a voicemail, you need to know which one holds it, because the steps differ. Most people can read directly from their phone's voicemail app in under a minute. If that app doesn't offer a read button, your carrier's website usually does.

The file you get is typically an MP3 or WAV audio file that plays on any device — computer, tablet, phone, or media player. Some carriers email the voicemail to you automatically if you turn on transcription or voicemail-to-email features. Others require you to read manually through their website or app.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone's voicemail app usually has a read or share button next to each message — tap it and choose where to save the file.
  • If your phone app doesn't offer read, log into your carrier's website (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) and read from there instead.
  • Google Voice voicemails can be downloaded as MP3 files directly from the Google Voice website or app.
  • Voicemail-to-email features automatically send new messages to your inbox as audio files, so you don't have to read manually each time.

Downloading from your phone's voicemail app

Open the voicemail or phone app on your device. Look for the voicemail tab or section — on iPhone it's usually labeled "Voicemail" at the bottom of the Phone app. On Android, it may be a separate Voicemail app or a tab within your carrier's app.

Find the message you want to save. Press and hold the message, or tap the three-dot menu next to it. Look for options like "read," "Save," "Share," or "Export." If you see "Share," tap it and choose where to send the file — you can email it to yourself, save it to cloud storage like Google Drive or OneDrive, or send it to a messaging app. If you see "read" or "Save," the file goes directly to your phone's storage or downloads folder.

On iPhone, you may only see a "Share" option. Tap it, then choose "Save to Files" to store the voicemail in your phone's file system, or email it to yourself. On Android, the process is similar — tap the menu and look for "read" or "Save," or use "Share" to send it elsewhere.

Downloading from your carrier's website

If your phone's app doesn't have a read option, log into your carrier's account online. Go to Verizon.com, ATT.com, or T-Mobile.com and sign in with your phone number and password. Look for a section called "Voicemail," "Messages," or "My Account."

Find the voicemail message in the list. Most carriers show a play button and a read button next to each message. Click the read button — the file will save to your computer's downloads folder as an MP3 or WAV file. Some carriers also let you delete, transcribe, or forward messages from this page.

If you can't find the voicemail section on your carrier's website, call their customer service number on the back of your bill. They can walk you through where to find it or read the message for you over the phone.

Using Google Voice to read voicemails

If you use Google Voice, open voice.google.com in a web browser and sign in with your Google account. Click "Voicemail" in the left menu to see all your messages.

Find the voicemail you want to save. Hover over the message and click the three-dot menu. Select "read" — the audio file will save to your computer. Google Voice voicemails read as MP3 files that play on any device. You can also click the play button to listen before you read.

Setting up automatic voicemail-to-email

Instead of downloading each voicemail manually, you can have your carrier send new messages to your email automatically. This works with most carriers and Google Voice.

On Verizon, go to your account settings online and look for "Voicemail to Email" or "Visual Voicemail." Turn it on and enter your email address. Verizon will send new voicemails as audio files attached to emails. AT&T and T-Mobile have similar features — check their websites for the exact steps, as the menu location changes periodically.

With Google Voice, go to Settings (the gear icon) and click "Voicemail." Check the box next to "Email voicemail transcripts to" and enter your email address. Google will transcribe each voicemail and email you the text plus a link to play the audio.

What to do if read isn't working

If the read button doesn't appear or the file won't save, the voicemail may be too old. Most carriers keep voicemails for 30 days before deleting them. If you need an older message, contact your carrier's customer service — they may be able to recover it from backup, though there's no may provide.

If the file downloads but won't play, check that your device has an audio player installed. MP3 and WAV files play on any computer, phone, or tablet without special software. If you're on a computer, try opening the file with Windows Media Player, QuickTime, or VLC. If you're on a phone, the default music or media app should open it.

If the read button exists but clicking it does nothing, try a different browser or clear your browser's cache and cookies. Log out of your carrier's website, close the browser completely, and log back in. If it still doesn't work, call your carrier — the issue may be on their end.

Storing and organizing downloaded voicemails

Once you read a voicemail, it's just an audio file. You can organize it like any other file — move it to a folder, rename it, back it up to cloud storage, or burn it to a CD.

Create a folder on your computer or phone called "Voicemails" or "Important Messages" and move downloaded files there. Rename each file with the caller's name and date so you can find it later — for example, "Mom_2024-01-15.mp3" or "Work_Callback_2024-01-15.mp3." Back up important voicemails to Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox so you don't lose them if your phone or computer fails.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read a voicemail that I already deleted?

It depends on how long ago you deleted it. Most carriers keep deleted voicemails in a trash or deleted folder for 30 days. Check your voicemail app for a "Deleted" or "Trash" section and see if the message is still there. If it's been longer than 30 days, contact your carrier — they may have a backup, but there's no may provide.

What format will my voicemail read as?

Most carriers and Google Voice read voicemails as MP3 or WAV files. Both formats play on any device without special software. MP3 is more common and takes up less storage space. If your carrier offers a choice, MP3 is usually the better option unless you need the higher quality of WAV.

Can I read voicemails from someone else's phone?

No. You can only read voicemails from your own account. You need to log in with your phone number and password, or your Google account if you use Google Voice. If someone else needs their voicemails, they have to read them themselves or give you permission to access their account.

Will downloading a voicemail delete it from my phone?

No. Downloading creates a copy of the voicemail on your computer or cloud storage. The original stays in your voicemail app until you delete it manually. You can read the same voicemail as many times as you want.

How do I read voicemails if I switched phones?

Log into your carrier's website or Google Voice from your new phone or computer. Your voicemails are stored in your account, not on the phone itself, so you can read them from any device. If you switched carriers, contact your old carrier — they may still have your voicemails for a limited time, but you'll need to read them before your account closes.