In the fast-paced digital age, where instant communication is the norm, voicemail can often feel like a relic of the past. Whether you’re constantly bombarded with unwanted messages or simply prefer to handle your conversations in real-time, disabling voicemail on your iPhone can be a convenient and time-saving solution. By eliminating the need to listen to and respond to voicemails, you can streamline your communication and focus on the more immediate and important tasks at hand.
Disabling voicemail on your iPhone is a simple process that can be completed in just a few steps. Depending on your carrier and preferences, you can choose to have your incoming calls go straight to your phone’s voicemail box or to have them automatically forwarded to another phone number. By disabling voicemail, you can regain control over your time and ensure that you’re only receiving the calls that you want to take.
In addition to the convenience and time-saving benefits, disabling voicemail can also help you maintain your privacy. By preventing callers from leaving voicemail messages, you can prevent sensitive or confidential information from being inadvertently shared. Whether you’re concerned about protecting your personal data or simply want to keep your conversations private, disabling voicemail can provide an added layer of security and peace of mind.
Disabling Voicemail in Settings
Voicemail can be a convenient feature, but it can also be annoying if you don’t use it regularly. If you’re one of those people who prefers to disable voicemail, here’s how to do it on your iPhone.
There are two ways to disable voicemail on your iPhone: through the Settings app or by contacting your carrier. We’ll show you how to do both.
Disable Voicemail in the Settings App
To disable voicemail in the Settings app, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on “Phone”.
- Tap on “Voicemail”.
- Toggle the “Voicemail” switch to the “Off” position.
Once you’ve followed these steps, voicemail will be disabled on your iPhone. You will no longer receive voicemail messages, and callers will hear a message stating that your voicemail is not available.
If you want to re-enable voicemail, simply follow the same steps and toggle the “Voicemail” switch to the “On” position.
| iPhone Model | Disable Voicemail Code |
|---|---|
| iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11, XS, X, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 | *#61# |
| iPhone 3GS, 3G | *#406# |
Turning Off Voicemail with Dialing Commands
You can disable voicemail on your iPhone by dialing specific commands into the Phone app. Follow these steps:
- Open the Phone app on your iPhone.
- Dial the following code: ##002#
- Press the call button.
Your iPhone will process the code and disable voicemail. You will receive a confirmation message indicating that voicemail has been turned off.
Additional Notes:
Here are some additional notes about using dialing commands to disable voicemail on your iPhone:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| ##002# | Disable voicemail |
| ##004# | Enable voicemail |
| *#61# | Check voice mailbox number |
These commands may vary depending on your carrier. If you encounter any issues, contact your carrier for assistance.
Using the Phone App to Disable Voicemail
1. Open the "Phone" app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the "Voicemail" tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Select the voicemail message you want to disable.
Once you have selected the voicemail message you want to disable, you will see a menu of options appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap the "Disable Voicemail" button to disable the voicemail message.
4. Confirm that you want to disable the voicemail message.
A confirmation dialog box will appear asking you if you are sure you want to disable the voicemail message. Tap the "Disable" button to confirm.
5. The voicemail message will now be disabled.
You will no longer be able to listen to the voicemail message or receive notifications when new voicemail messages are left.
| Device | iOS Version |
|---|---|
| iPhone 6s | iOS 10 |
| iPhone 7 | iOS 11 |
| iPhone 8 | iOS 12 |
| iPhone X | iOS 13 |
| iPhone 11 | iOS 14 |
Deactivating Voicemail via Carrier Support
If you prefer a personal touch, you can reach out to your carrier’s customer service directly. They will gladly assist you in disabling your voicemail.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to deactivating voicemail via carrier support:
- Locate your carrier’s customer service number. You can usually find this on their website or in your phone bill.
- Call the customer service number and explain that you want to disable your voicemail.
- Provide the customer service representative with your account information to verify your identity.
- Follow the instructions provided by the representative to complete the deactivation process.
Here are the customer service numbers for major carriers in the United States:
| Carrier | Customer Service Number |
|---|---|
| AT&T | 611 |
| Verizon | *611 |
| T-Mobile | 611 |
| Sprint | *2 |
Removing Your Voicemail Greeting
Step 1: Open the ‘Phone’ app on your iPhone.
Tap the ‘Phone’ icon on your home screen or in your App Library.
Step 2: Navigate to the ‘Voicemail’ tab.
At the bottom of the Phone app’s screen, you’ll see four icons. Tap the ‘Voicemail’ icon (the one with an envelope and a microphone).
Step 3: Tap the ‘Greeting’ button.
On the Voicemail tab, you’ll see a list of recent voicemails and a ‘Greeting’ button at the top right corner. Tap the ‘Greeting’ button.
Step 4: Choose ‘Turn Off’ from the greeting options.
A pop-up window will appear with three greeting options: ‘Default,’ ‘Custom,’ and ‘Turn Off.’ Tap the ‘Turn Off’ option.
Step 5: Confirm your choice.
A second pop-up window will ask you to confirm that you want to disable your voicemail greeting. Tap ‘Turn Off Greeting’ to confirm your choice.
| Notification | Description |
|---|---|
| Default Greeting | Your iPhone’s default voicemail greeting is a standard message that includes your name and contact information. |
| Custom Greeting | You can record a custom voicemail greeting that will be played to callers who leave a message. |
| Turn Off Greeting | Disabling your voicemail greeting means that callers will not hear any message before leaving a voicemail. |
Setting Call Forwarding to Bypass Voicemail
To disable voicemail using call forwarding, follow these steps:
- Open the Phone app on your iPhone.
- Tap the “Voicemail” tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the “Call Forwarding” option.
- Toggle the “Call Forwarding” switch to the on position.
- Enter the phone number you want to forward your calls to.
- Tap the “Forward” button to save your settings.
Additional Tips for Setting Up Call Forwarding
- Make sure you enter a valid phone number in the “Forward To” field.
- You can use a different phone number for each contact or set up a general forwarding number for all calls.
- If you want to disable call forwarding, simply toggle the “Call Forwarding” switch back to the off position.
Troubleshooting Call Forwarding
If you’re having trouble setting up call forwarding, try the following:
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Calls are still going to voicemail | Make sure call forwarding is turned on and you have entered a valid phone number. |
| Calls are forwarding to the wrong number | Double-check the phone number you entered in the “Forward To” field. |
| I can’t turn off call forwarding | Contact your carrier for assistance. |
Blocking Calls from Your Voicemail Number
If you’re receiving unwanted calls from your voicemail number, you can block them by adding the number to your blocked list. Here’s how:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the Recents tab.
- Find the voicemail number you want to block.
- Tap the i icon next to the number.
- Scroll down and tap Block this Caller.
- Tap Block Contact.
You can also block multiple voicemail numbers at once. To do this:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Phone.
- Tap Blocked Contacts.
- Tap Add New.
- Enter the voicemail number you want to block.
- Tap Block Contact.
Once you’ve blocked a voicemail number, they will no longer be able to call you. You can unblock a number at any time by repeating the steps above and tapping Unblock this Caller.
Additional Information
Here are some additional things to keep in mind about blocking voicemail numbers:
- You can only block up to 100 numbers at a time.
- Blocked numbers will not be able to leave you voicemails.
- You can still receive text messages from blocked numbers.
Using Siri to Disable Voicemail
Disabling voicemail using Siri is a quick and convenient method that only takes a few steps:
-
Activate Siri
Press and hold the side button (iPhone X and later) or the Home button (iPhone 8 and earlier)
-
Request to disable voicemail
Say “Disable voicemail” or “Turn off voicemail”
-
Confirm the action
Siri will ask for confirmation. Say “Yes” or “Confirm”
Additional Notes:
Depending on your carrier, you may receive a confirmation message after disabling voicemail. If you change your mind, you can re-enable voicemail by following the same steps and saying “Enable voicemail” or “Turn on voicemail”.
Here is a table summarizing the steps:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1. | Activate Siri |
| 2. | Request to disable voicemail |
| 3. | Confirm the action |
Troubleshooting Common Voicemail Issues
Missed Calls Not Appearing in Voicemail
Ensure that voicemail is enabled on your iPhone. Go to Settings > Phone > Voicemail, and check if “Voicemail” is enabled. If not, tap “Set Up Now” to activate it.
Voicemail Messages Not Playing
Check your network connection. You need an active data or Wi-Fi connection to access voicemail messages.
Voicemail Not Working After Switching Carriers
You may need to contact your new carrier to activate voicemail. They will provide you with a new voicemail number and instructions on how to set it up.
Getting Voicemail Even When Phone Is On
Check your call forwarding settings. Go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding, and make sure that “Call Forwarding” is disabled.
Voicemail Is Full
Delete old or unwanted voicemail messages to free up space. Go to the Voicemail tab in the Phone app, select a message, and tap “Delete” > “Delete Message.”
Receiving Spam Voicemails
Report the spam voicemails to your carrier. They may be able to block the sender or filter out future spam messages.
Voicemail Notifications Not Working
Check your notification settings. Go to Settings > Notifications > Phone, and make sure that “Allow Notifications” is turned on for “Voicemail.”
Voicemail Password Issues
If you’ve forgotten your voicemail password, contact your carrier. They can help you reset your password or provide a temporary password.
Unable to Access Voicemail Remotely
Ensure that you’ve set up remote voicemail access. Go to Settings > Phone > Voicemail, and check if “Remote Access” is enabled. If not, tap on it and follow the instructions to set it up.
Restoring Default Voicemail Settings
To restore the default voicemail settings on your iPhone, follow these steps:
- Open the “Phone” app.
- Tap the “Voicemail” tab.
- Tap the “Settings” button.
- Scroll down and tap the “Restore Default Settings” button.
- Enter your voicemail password.
- Tap the “OK” button.
| Setting | Default Value |
|---|---|
| Greeting | “Your call is important to us. Please leave a message after the tone.” |
| Password | 1234 |
| Notification | On |
| Transcription | Off |
Once you have restored the default voicemail settings, your iPhone will use the original greeting, password, and notification settings. You can always change these settings later by following the steps above.
How to Disable Voicemail iPhone
If you don’t want to receive voicemail messages on your iPhone, you can disable voicemail. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the Phone app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap the Disable Voicemail button.
4. Enter your voicemail password when prompted.
5. Tap the Disable Voicemail button again.
Your voicemail will now be disabled. You will no longer receive voicemail messages, and callers will hear a message saying that your voicemail is not available.
People Also Ask About How To Disable Voicemail iPhone
How do I disable visual voicemail on my iPhone?
To disable visual voicemail on your iPhone, follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap Phone.
3. Tap Visual Voicemail.
4. Toggle the Visual Voicemail switch to Off.
How do I turn off voicemail transcription on my iPhone?
To turn off voicemail transcription on your iPhone, follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap Phone.
3. Tap Voicemail.
4. Toggle the Transcribe Voicemail switch to Off.
How do I change my voicemail greeting on my iPhone?
To change your voicemail greeting on your iPhone, follow these steps:
1. Open the Phone app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap the Greeting tab at the top of the screen.
4. Tap the Custom Greeting option.
5. Record your new voicemail greeting.
6. Tap the Save button.
