Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t want your calls to go to voicemail? Maybe you were in a meeting, or in a quiet place where you didn’t want to disturb others. Whatever the reason, there are times when it’s helpful to know how to turn off your voicemail on your iPhone. In this article, we’ll show you how to do just that, with step-by-step instructions and clear screenshots. Whether you’re a new iPhone user or just need a refresher, this guide will help you get the job done quickly and easily.
Firstly, it’s important to note that there are two ways to turn off your voicemail on your iPhone: through the Phone app or through the Settings app. We’ll cover both methods in detail, so you can choose the one that works best for you. Additionally, keep in mind that the steps may vary slightly depending on your carrier and iOS version. However, the overall process should be similar for most iPhone users.
To turn off your voicemail through the Phone app, follow these steps: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom of the screen. Tap the Greeting tab at the top of the screen. Tap the Turn Off Voicemail button. To turn off your voicemail through the Settings app, follow these steps: Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Phone. Tap Voicemail. Tap the Turn Off Voicemail button. Once you’ve turned off your voicemail, callers will no longer be able to leave you voicemails. Instead, they will hear a message saying that your voicemail is not available. You can turn your voicemail back on at any time by following the same steps and tapping the Turn On Voicemail button.
Accessing the Phone App
To begin the process of disabling voicemail on your iPhone, you must first navigate to the Phone app. This application is a prominent pillar of Apple’s operating system, serving as the central hub for making and receiving phone calls. Its ubiquitous presence ensures that users can swiftly access its functionalities from any screen on their iPhone, regardless of the current activity they may be engaged in.
The Phone app’s icon is distinctly characterized by a green and white silhouette of an old-fashioned telephone handset. Upon locating this icon, either on the home screen or within the app library, simply tap on it to launch the application. Once the Phone app has fully loaded, you will be presented with a streamlined interface that grants you immediate access to your contacts, recent calls, voicemail, and other pertinent features.
The Phone app’s versatility extends beyond its core functionality as a dialer and extends to supplementary services such as voicemail management. This comprehensive approach to communication ensures that users have access to a comprehensive suite of tools to manage their telephonic interactions with ease and efficiency.
Toggling the Voicemail Option
To turn off your voicemail using the toggle option:
1. Open the Phone app
Tap the green Phone icon on your Home screen or in the App Library. This will open the Phone app.
2. Go to the Voicemail tab
Tap the Voicemail icon located at the bottom-right corner of the screen. This will display your voicemail inbox.
3. Disable the voicemail toggle
At the top of the Voicemail inbox, you will see a large toggle switch labeled “Voicemail.” Tap the switch to turn it off. When the toggle is off, it will appear gray and the background will be white. When the toggle is on, it will appear green and the background will be black.
| Toggle State | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Off (gray) | Voicemail is turned off |
| On (green) | Voicemail is turned on |
Once the voicemail toggle is turned off, callers will no longer be able to leave voicemails. They will instead hear a message indicating that your voicemail is not set up or is temporarily unavailable.
Contact Your Carrier
The most straightforward method to disable voicemail on your iPhone is to contact your carrier. You can call their customer service number or visit their website. Once you’ve reached a representative, they can help you deactivate your voicemail service. Keep in mind that this process may vary depending on your carrier.
Use Device Settings
If you don’t want to contact your carrier, you can also disable voicemail through your iPhone’s settings. Here are the steps:
- Go to the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
- Tap “Phone”.
- Tap “Voicemail”.
- Toggle the “Voicemail” switch to “Off”.
Use Dial Codes
You can also use dial codes to disable voicemail on your iPhone. Here are some common dial codes:
| Carrier | Dial Code |
|---|---|
| AT&T | *21*number# |
| Verizon | *73 |
| T-Mobile | #21# |
| Sprint | *180 |
Confirming the Deactivation
To make sure that your voicemail has been successfully deactivated, you can follow these steps:
- Make a call to your own phone number from another phone.
- If your voicemail is disabled, you should hear the phone ring without going to voicemail.
- If voicemail is still active, you will need to contact your carrier or try one of the other methods described in this article.
Alternative Method Using Settings App
Step 1: Go to “Settings”
Launch the “Settings” app from your iPhone’s home screen. Tap on the gear icon to access the app.
Step 2: Select “Phone”
Scroll down in the left-hand menu and tap on “Phone” to access phone-related settings.
Step 3: Choose “Call Forwarding”
Under the “Calls” section, tap on “Call Forwarding” to manage how incoming calls are forwarded.
Step 4: Disable Call Forwarding
The “Call Forwarding” toggle should be enabled. Tap on the toggle to disable it. This will prevent all calls from being forwarded to your voicemail.
Step 5: Disable Voicemail Service
Scroll down to the bottom of the “Call Forwarding” page and tap on “Voicemail.” You will see a list of voicemail providers. Tap on your current voicemail provider.
On the next page, a table-like interface will appear. Under the “Voicemail” column, you will find a toggle switch. Tap on the switch to disable voicemail. This will completely turn off your voicemail and prevent it from receiving any messages.
| Voicemail Provider | Toggle Switch |
|---|---|
| Visual Voicemail | Toggle Switch |
| AT&T Voicemail | Toggle Switch |
| Verizon Voicemail | Toggle Switch |
Once you disable voicemail service, all incoming calls will go directly to your phone without being redirected to voicemail.
Enabling Voicemail for Specific Contacts
You can customize your voicemail settings to only receive voicemails from specific contacts. This feature allows you to filter out unwanted messages and prioritize important calls. To enable voicemail for specific contacts:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the Voicemail tab.
- Tap Custom in the voicemail greeting section.
- Select the contacts you want to receive voicemails from.
- Tap Done to save your settings.
Once enabled, voicemails from selected contacts will be directed to your voicemail. You can manage the contacts receiving voicemails by updating the list in the Phone app under the Voicemail tab.
Resetting Voicemail Password
If you’ve forgotten your voicemail password, you can reset it by following these steps:
-
Dial your voicemail.
-
Press **.
-
Enter your old password.
-
If you don’t know your old password, press **#**.
-
Enter your new password.
-
Press **#** to confirm.
| What is the default voicemail password? |
|---|
| 1234 |
Checking for Network Connectivity
If you’re experiencing issues accessing your voicemail, it’s crucial to ensure that your device is connected to a reliable network.
Network Connectivity: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Toggle Airplane Mode: Enable and disable Airplane Mode on your iPhone. This refreshes your network connection.
- Power Cycle Your iPhone: Turn your iPhone off and back on to reset its network settings.
- Check Network Indicator: Ensure that your iPhone’s top bar displays “LTE,” “5G,” or other connectivity indicators.
- Reset Network Settings: Navigate to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will restore your network configuration to factory defaults.
- Connect to Wi-Fi: If possible, connect your iPhone to a stable Wi-Fi network to ensure faster and more reliable connectivity.
- Inspect SIM Card: Remove and reinsert your SIM card. Check for any debris or damage that may affect connectivity.
- Disable VPN: If you’re using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), disable it as it can interfere with network connections.
- Contact Carrier: If all else fails, contact your mobile carrier. They can troubleshoot network issues and provide further assistance.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
1. I Can’t Turn Off My Voicemail
Ensure that you’re using the correct phone number to call your voicemail. If you’re still having issues, contact your carrier.
2. My Screen Says “Voicemail Unavailable”
Restart your phone. If the message persists, contact your carrier.
3. My Phone Doesn’t Ring When I Call My Voicemail
Make sure that your ringer is turned on and the volume is loud enough. Alternatively, try using a different phone to call your voicemail.
4. I’m Hearing a Busy Signal When I Call My Voicemail
Try again later. The voicemail system may be experiencing high traffic.
5. I Can’t Delete a Voicemail
Listen to the voicemail and press the “#” button to delete it.
6. I Can’t Save a Voicemail
Make sure that you have enough storage space on your phone. If you’re still having issues, contact your carrier.
7. My Voicemail Isn’t Transcribed
Ensure that your phone has an active internet connection. If the problem persists, contact your carrier.
8. I Can’t Change My Voicemail Greeting
Call your voicemail and follow the prompts to record a new greeting.
9. My Voicemail Is Full
Delete old voicemails or set your voicemail to automatically delete messages after a certain number of days. Your carrier may impose a limit on the number of messages you can store, so you may need to contact them to increase your storage limit:
| Carrier | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| AT&T | 611 |
| Verizon | 611 |
| T-Mobile | 611 |
| Sprint | 611 |
How to Turn Off Your Voicemail on iPhone
To disable your voicemail on an iPhone, you can follow these steps:
- Tap the “Phone” icon on your iPhone.
- Select the “Voicemail” tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the “Voicemail Settings” button in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Toggle the “Enable Voicemail” switch to the “Off” position.
- Confirm your selection by tapping the “Turn Off Now” button.
Additional Tips and Tricks
Here are some additional tips and tricks you may find useful when managing your voicemail:
- Customize your voicemail greeting: You can record a personal greeting to be played when callers leave a message. To do this, tap the “Greeting” button in the Voicemail Settings menu and select “Record Custom Greeting.”
- Set up visual voicemail: Visual voicemail allows you to view and manage your voicemails as a list, similar to text messages. To enable visual voicemail, tap the “Visual Voicemail” button in the Voicemail Settings menu and follow the instructions.
- Forward your voicemails to another number: If you want your voicemails to be forwarded to another phone number, tap the “Forwarding” button in the Voicemail Settings menu and enter the desired number.
- Change your voicemail password: To change your voicemail password, tap the “Change Password” button in the Voicemail Settings menu. You will be prompted to enter your current password and create a new one.
- Disable voicemail notifications: If you don’t want to receive notifications when you have a new voicemail, you can disable them by going to the “Notifications” menu in the iPhone Settings app and toggling the “Voicemail” switch to the “Off” position.
- Delete all voicemails at once: To delete all of your voicemails at once, tap the “Edit” button in the Voicemail tab and select the “Delete All” option.
- Auto-delete voicemails after a certain time: You can set your iPhone to automatically delete voicemails after a certain period of time (e.g., 1 month, 3 months, or 1 year). To do this, go to the “Voicemail Settings” menu, tap the “Advanced” button, and select the desired retention period.
- Enable transcription for voicemails: If your iPhone supports it, you can enable transcription for voicemails, which will convert the audio recording into text. To do this, go to the “Voicemail Settings” menu, tap the “Transcription” button, and toggle the “Enable Transcription” switch to the “On” position.
- Use Siri to manage voicemails: You can use Siri to check your voicemails, play specific messages, or delete them. To do this, say “Hey Siri” followed by a command like “Check my voicemail” or “Delete my last voicemail.”
- Use a third-party voicemail app: If you’re not satisfied with the built-in voicemail features, you can download a third-party voicemail app from the App Store. These apps often offer additional features, such as custom greetings, spam filtering, and advanced voicemail management options.
How To Turn Off Your Voicemail On iPhone
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the Voicemail tab.
- Tap the Settings icon.
- Tap the “Disable Voicemail” button.
- Confirm your choice by tapping the “Disable” button.
Your voicemail will now be turned off. You will no longer receive voicemail messages, and callers will hear a message that says your voicemail is not available.
People also ask
Turn Off Your Voicemail On iPhone without your carrier’s help?
Yes, you can turn off your voicemail on iPhone without your carrier’s help. To do this, follow the steps outlined above.
Can I turn off voicemail temporarily?
Yes, you can turn off voicemail temporarily by enabling Do Not Disturb mode. When Do Not Disturb is enabled, all calls will be sent directly to voicemail. To enable Do Not Disturb, open the Settings app and tap on Do Not Disturb. Then, tap on the “Turn On Do Not Disturb” button.
What happens if I turn off voicemail?
If you turn off voicemail, callers will hear a message that says your voicemail is not available. You will not receive voicemail messages, and you will not be able to retrieve any voicemail messages that you have already received.
