How to listen to voicemail on iPhone

If your battery charge is depleted, or your iPhone dies for other reasons, you can still access your voicemails if you have another mobile phone or a landline. Whenever you make changes to your iPhone voicemail messages, the changes will be updated on your iPhone when you switch it on. Having access to your iPhone voicemail messages when you device dies, is one of the wonderful features of iPhone voicemail message setup.

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone

You can now access your iPhone voicemail using very simple steps.

Step 1) Access the Voicemail tab. Go to your voicemail icon and click on it to get access to your list of voicemail messages. Alternatively, you can tap on the “Phone” icon on the home screen, and then tap on “Voicemail”.

Step 2) Listen to your iPhone voicemails. When voicemails are marked as “New”, you only need to tap on the message once in order to listen to it. For “Old” or “Archived” voicemails, you will have to tap twice to enable playback.

Step 3) Playback options. If, for any reason, you have to stop listening to your voicemail message, tap on it once to momentarily stop the playback. You can then tap on it again to continue listening to it from the point where you stopped. You can also tap on the “Speaker” icon so as to listen to the messages through the speakers on your iPhone. Tap on “Delete” if you want to remove the message from the list.

It is possible to check voicemail on iPhone even when your device is not turned on. This may be the case when the battery dies or when, for some other reasons, the phone will not work.

Step 1) Access your voicemail service using another phone. Get another phone and dial your phone number. Since the iPhone will be switched off, you will be sent straight to your voicemail service.

Step 2) Stop any outgoing voicemail messages from the new phone. So that you do not record a new voicemail message on your service, press the star (*) or hash (#) key. The choice will depend on your carrier so you need to know this in advance. If you press one and it does not stop the outgoing voicemail message, then disconnect the call and try the other.

Step 3) Access your voicemail account. If you have a password on your voicemail account, enter it at the prompt.

Step 4) Listen to your voicemail messages. Depending on your carrier, you should listen to the prompt, which will direct you as to which button you should press to listen to your voicemail messages. Listen to which key is used to skip to the next message, delete current message or save the message and proceed to the next.

When you lose your voicemail messages, you can easily recover them from iTunes or iCloud using iSkysoft iPhone Data Recovery.

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Leanne Hays is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life, and has written hundreds of in-depth how-to and troubleshooting articles. She's a former Associate Editor for iPhone Life magazine, and has written for the Iowa Source, as well as web content for education marketing. Leanne has an associate's degree in education, with a focus on curriculum development, as well as a bachelor's degree in science. She has over nine years of experience with SEO, social media management, and web development and writing. Despite years of web work, Leanne is by no means an early adapter; she's only owned a smartphone for five years, which makes her highly sympathetic to the learning curve of new iPhone owners. She enjoys making reader's lives easier and putting her education experience to work by walking them through the most practical ways to use Apple devices, step-by-step.

In off-work hours, Leanne is a mother of two, homesteader, audiobook fanatic, musician, and learning enthusiast.  

Your iPhone organizes voicemails automatically, making them a snap to browse and play. To retrieve and listen to voicemail messages, touch the Phone icon on the home screen, then tap the Voicemail symbol at the bottom of the screen. Press the “Play” button next to any message to hear it.

When you get a new iPhone, it’s a good idea to set up voicemail options as soon as you can, so it will be ready to retrieve voice messages. On the iPhone, touch the “Phone” icon, then tap the “Voicemail” symbol. Tap the box that says “Set Up Now.” Enter a voicemail password code, tap “Done,” then enter it again to verify the code and tap “Done” again. Select “Custom” to record a personal greeting, and tap “Done” to save the greeting.

When callers leave voicemails, the iPhone automatically organizes them in the order they were received, with recent ones sorting to the top of the list, and older ones moving to the bottom. The iPhone shows the caller name, the date and the length of the message. Caller name information comes automatically from your Contacts app. To browse through iPhone visual voicemail, swipe up and down to scroll through the list. Swipe left on any message to see a “Delete” button.

Tap any call voicemail message to bring up the playback controls. Tap the “Play” button to play a message. Slide the small moving dot back and forth to skip part of the message or hear it again. Tap the “Pause” button to pause playback at any time. Tap “Speaker” to hear the voicemail through the phone’s speaker. Tap “Delete” to remove the voicemail. Tap “Call Back” to automatically dial the caller’s number.

Voicemail stays in your iPhone indefinitely until you remove the messages, provided your wireless provider account has enough storage space. You can delete old voicemails by tapping “Edit,” tapping the check mark next to the messages you want to remove, and then tap “Done.” Note that though the messages you delete are gone from the main list, they are still in your account, letting you recover a message deleted by mistake. Though this is handy, deleted voicemails tie up space in your account, which might lead to your mailbox becoming full and accepting no new messages. To permanently wipe voicemails from your iPhone, scroll all the way to the bottom of the list, where you’ll find an entry marked “Deleted Messages.” Tap it to see the list of deleted messages. Tap “Clear all” to remove them, then verify the action. This frees up space for new voicemails.

Some iPhone users are more comfortable getting their voicemail without the extra bells and whistles. In this case, use the iPhone like any phone: tap the "Phone" icon, dial your own phone number and follow the instructions from your wireless service provider for accessing your voicemail. For example, you might press the pound key ("#") when your recorded greeting plays, then navigate the voicemail system with the number keys. Your service provider might also have a "speed dial" type shortcut, such as dialing "*86" instead of the whole phone number.

In the Phone app

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
, Visual Voicemail (available from select carriers) shows a list of your messages. You can choose which ones to play and delete without listening to all of them. A badge on the Voicemail icon indicates the number of unheard messages.

Voicemail transcription (beta; available only in certain countries or regions) shows your messages transcribed into text. Transcription is limited to voicemails in English received on your iPhone with iOS 10 or later. Transcription depends on the quality of the recording.

Note: Voicemail, Visual Voicemail, and Voicemail transcription are available from select carriers in select countries or regions.

The first time you tap Voicemail, you’re asked to create a voicemail password and record your voicemail greeting.

  1. Tap Voicemail, then tap Set Up Now.

  2. Create a voicemail password.

  3. Choose a greeting—Default or Custom; if you choose Custom, you can record a new greeting.

Or do the following:

  1. Tap Voicemail, then tap a message.

  2. Do any of the following:

    • Play the message: Tap

      How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
      .

      Messages are saved until you delete them or your carrier erases them.

    • Share the message: Tap

      How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
      .

    • Delete the message: Tap

      How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
      .

      Important: In some countries or regions, deleted messages may be permanently erased by your carrier. Your voice messages may also be deleted if you change your SIM card.

To recover a deleted message, tap Deleted Messages, tap the message, then tap Undelete.

  • On your iPhone: Tap Voicemail, then follow the instructions.

  • On another phone: Dial your own mobile number, press * or # (depending on your carrier) to bypass your greeting, then enter your voicemail password.

  • Change your greeting: Tap Voicemail, then tap Greeting.

  • Change your voicemail password: Go to Settings

    How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
     > Phone > Change Voicemail Password, then enter the new password.

    If you forgot your voicemail password, contact your wireless carrier.

  • Change the alert for new voicemail: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics or Settings > Sounds.


Page 2

In the Phone app

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
, Visual Voicemail (available from select carriers) shows a list of your messages. You can choose which ones to play and delete without listening to all of them. A badge on the Voicemail icon indicates the number of unheard messages.

Voicemail transcription (beta; available only in certain countries or regions) shows your messages transcribed into text. Transcription is limited to voicemails in English received on your iPhone with iOS 10 or later. Transcription depends on the quality of the recording.

Note: Voicemail, Visual Voicemail, and Voicemail transcription are available from select carriers in select countries or regions.

The first time you tap Voicemail, you’re asked to create a voicemail password and record your voicemail greeting.

  1. Tap Voicemail, then tap Set Up Now.

  2. Create a voicemail password.

  3. Choose a greeting—Default or Custom; if you choose Custom, you can record a new greeting.

Or do the following:

  1. Tap Voicemail, then tap a message.

  2. Do any of the following:

    • Play the message: Tap

      How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
      .

      Messages are saved until you delete them or your carrier erases them.

    • Share the message: Tap

      How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
      .

    • Delete the message: Tap

      How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
      .

      Important: In some countries or regions, deleted messages may be permanently erased by your carrier. Your voice messages may also be deleted if you change your SIM card.

To recover a deleted message, tap Deleted Messages, tap the message, then tap Undelete.

  • On your iPhone: Tap Voicemail, then follow the instructions.

  • On another phone: Dial your own mobile number, press * or # (depending on your carrier) to bypass your greeting, then enter your voicemail password.

  • Change your greeting: Tap Voicemail, then tap Greeting.

  • Change your voicemail password: Go to Settings

    How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
     > Phone > Change Voicemail Password, then enter the new password.

    If you forgot your voicemail password, contact your wireless carrier.

  • Change the alert for new voicemail: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics or Settings > Sounds.


Page 3

In the Phone app

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
, Visual Voicemail (available from select carriers) shows a list of your messages. You can choose which ones to play and delete without listening to all of them. A badge on the Voicemail icon indicates the number of unheard messages.

Voicemail transcription (beta; available only in certain countries or regions) shows your messages transcribed into text. Transcription is limited to voicemails in English received on your iPhone with iOS 10 or later. Transcription depends on the quality of the recording.

Note: Voicemail, Visual Voicemail, and Voicemail transcription are available from select carriers in select countries or regions.

The first time you tap Voicemail, you’re asked to create a voicemail password and record your voicemail greeting.

  1. Tap Voicemail, then tap Set Up Now.

  2. Create a voicemail password.

  3. Choose a greeting—Default or Custom; if you choose Custom, you can record a new greeting.

Ask Siri. Say something like: “Do I have any new voicemail?” or “Play the voicemail from Eliza.” Learn how to ask Siri.

Or do the following:

  1. Tap Voicemail, then tap a message.

  2. Do any of the following:

    • Play the message: Tap

      How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
      .

      Messages are saved until you delete them or your carrier erases them.

    • Share the message: Tap

      How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
      .

    • Delete the message: Tap

      How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
      .

      Important: In some countries or regions, deleted messages may be permanently erased by your carrier. Your voice messages may also be deleted if you change your SIM card.

To recover a deleted message, tap Deleted Messages, tap the message, then tap Undelete.

  • On your iPhone: Tap Voicemail, then follow the instructions.

  • On another phone: Dial your own mobile number, press * or # (depending on your carrier) to bypass your greeting, then enter your voicemail password.

  • Change your greeting: Tap Voicemail, then tap Greeting.

  • Change your voicemail password: Go to Settings

    How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
     > Phone > Change Voicemail Password, then enter the new password.

    If you forgot your voicemail password, contact your wireless carrier.

  • Change the alert for new voicemail: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics or Settings > Sounds.


Page 4

In the Phone app

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
, Visual Voicemail (available from select carriers) shows a list of your messages. You can choose which ones to play and delete without listening to all of them. A badge on the Voicemail icon indicates the number of unheard messages.

Voicemail transcription (beta; available only in certain countries or regions) shows your messages transcribed into text. Transcription is limited to voicemails in English received on your iPhone with iOS 10 or later. Transcription depends on the quality of the recording.

Note: Voicemail, Visual Voicemail, and Voicemail transcription are available from select carriers in select countries or regions.

The first time you tap Voicemail, you’re asked to create a voicemail password and record your voicemail greeting.

  1. Tap Voicemail, then tap Set Up Now.

  2. Create a voicemail password.

  3. Choose a greeting—Default or Custom; if you choose Custom, you can record a new greeting.

Ask Siri. Say something like: “Do I have any new voicemail?” or “Play the voicemail from Eliza.” Learn how to ask Siri.

Or do the following:

  1. Tap Voicemail, then tap a message.

  2. Do any of the following:

    • Play the message: Tap

      How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
      .

      Messages are saved until you delete them or your carrier erases them.

    • Share the message: Tap

      How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
      .

    • Delete the message: Tap

      How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
      .

      Important: In some countries or regions, deleted messages may be permanently erased by your carrier. Your voice messages may also be deleted if you change your SIM card.

To recover a deleted message, tap Deleted Messages, tap the message, then tap Undelete.

  • On your iPhone: Tap Voicemail, then follow the instructions.

  • On another phone: Dial your own mobile number, press * or # (depending on your carrier) to bypass your greeting, then enter your voicemail password.

  • Change your greeting: Tap Voicemail, then tap Greeting.

  • Change your voicemail password: Go to Settings

    How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
     > Phone > Change Voicemail Password, then enter the new password.

    If you forgot your voicemail password, contact your wireless carrier.

  • Change the alert for new voicemail: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics or Settings > Sounds.


Page 5

In the Phone app

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
, Visual Voicemail (available from select carriers) shows a list of your messages. You can choose which ones to play and delete without listening to all of them. A badge on the Voicemail icon indicates the number of unheard messages.

Voicemail transcription (beta; available only in certain regions) shows your messages transcribed into text. Transcription is limited to voicemails in English received on your iPhone with iOS 10 or later. Transcription depends on the quality of the recording.

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone

Note: Voicemail, Visual Voicemail, and Voicemail transcription are available from select carriers in select regions.

The first time you tap Voicemail, you’re asked to create a voicemail password and record your voicemail greeting.

  1. Tap Voicemail, then tap Set Up Now.

  2. Create a voicemail password.

  3. Choose a greeting—Default or Custom; if you choose Custom, you can record a new greeting.

Ask Siri. Say something like: “Do I have any new voicemail?” or “Play the voicemail from Eliza.” Learn how to ask Siri.

Or do the following:

  1. Tap Voicemail, then tap a message.

  2. Do any of the following:

    • Play the message: Tap

      How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
      .

      Messages are saved until you delete them or your carrier erases them.

    • Share the message: Tap

      How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
      .

    • Delete the message: Tap Delete.

      Note: In some regions, deleted messages may be permanently erased by your carrier. Your voice messages may also be deleted if you change your SIM card.

To recover a deleted message, tap Deleted Messages, tap the message, then tap Undelete.

  • On your iPhone: Tap Voicemail, then follow the instructions.

  • On another phone: Dial your own mobile number, press * or # (depending on your carrier) to bypass your greeting, then enter your voicemail password.

  • Change your greeting: Tap Voicemail, then tap Greeting.

  • Change your voicemail password: Go to Settings

    How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
     > Phone > Change Voicemail Password, then enter the new password.

    If you forgot your voicemail password, contact your wireless carrier.

  • Change the alert for new voicemail: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics or Settings > Sounds.


Page 6

HDR (high dynamic range) in Camera

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
helps you get great shots in high-contrast situations. iPhone takes several photos in rapid succession at different exposures and blends them together to bring more highlight and shadow detail to your photos.

By default, iPhone uses HDR (for the rear camera and front-facing camera) when it’s most effective. For best results, keep iPhone steady and avoid subject motion.

By default, iPhone automatically uses HDR when it’s most effective. To manually control HDR instead, do the following:

  • On iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR: Go to Settings

    How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
     > Camera, then turn off Smart HDR.

    To turn HDR back on from the Camera screen, tap HDR, then tap On.

  • On iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus: Go to Settings > Camera, then turn off Auto HDR.

    To turn HDR back on from the Camera screen, tap HDR, then tap On.

  • Other models: Tap HDR at the top of the Camera screen, then tap Off.

By default, the HDR version of a photo is saved in Photos, but you can save both the HDR and non-HDR versions.

Go to Settings

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
 > Camera, then turn on Keep Normal Photo.

Tip: In your albums, HDR versions of photos are marked with “HDR” in the corner.


Page 7

HDR (high dynamic range) in Camera

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
helps you get great shots in high-contrast situations. iPhone takes several photos in rapid succession at different exposures and blends them together to bring more highlight and shadow detail to your photos.

By default, iPhone uses HDR (for the rear camera and front-facing camera) when it’s most effective. For best results, keep iPhone steady and avoid subject motion.

By default, iPhone automatically uses HDR when it’s most effective. To manually control HDR instead, do the following:

  • On iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR: Go to Settings

    How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
     > Camera, then turn off Smart HDR.

    To turn HDR back on from the Camera screen, tap HDR, then tap On.

  • On iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus: Go to Settings > Camera, then turn off Auto HDR.

    To turn HDR back on from the Camera screen, tap HDR, then tap On.

  • Other models: Tap HDR at the top of the Camera screen, then tap Off.

By default, the HDR version of a photo is saved in Photos, but you can save both the HDR and non-HDR versions.

Go to Settings

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
 > Camera, then turn on Keep Normal Photo.

Tip: In your albums, HDR versions of photos are marked with “HDR” in the corner.


Page 8

HDR (high dynamic range) in Camera

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
helps you get great shots in high-contrast situations. iPhone takes several photos in rapid succession at different exposures and blends them together to bring more highlight and shadow detail to your photos.

By default, iPhone takes photos in HDR (for the rear camera and the front camera) when it’s most effective. iPhone 12 models and iPhone 13 models record video in HDR to capture true-to-life color and contrast.

By default, iPhone automatically uses HDR when it’s most effective. On some iPhone models, you can manually control HDR instead.

  • On iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 11 models, iPhone SE (2nd generation), and iPhone 12 models: Go to Settings

    How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
     > Camera, then turn off Smart HDR. Then from the camera screen, tap HDR to turn it off or on.

  • On iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X: Go to Settings 

    How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
    > Camera, then turn off Auto HDR.

    To turn HDR back on from the camera screen, tap HDR, then tap On.

  • On iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and earlier: Tap HDR at the top of the camera screen, then tap Off.

By default, the HDR version of a photo is saved in Photos. On iPhone X and earlier models, you can also save the non-HDR version.

Go to Settings

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
 > Camera, then turn on Keep Normal Photo.

On iPhone 12 models and iPhone 13 models, iPhone records video in Dolby Vision HDR for true-to-life color and contrast. To turn off HDR video recording, go to Settings

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
 > Camera > Record Video, then turn off HDR Video.

See the Apple Support article Play and record HDR video on iPhone or iPad.


Page 9

HDR (high dynamic range) in Camera

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
helps you get great shots in high-contrast situations. iPhone takes several photos in rapid succession at different exposures and blends them together to bring more highlight and shadow detail to your photos.

By default, iPhone takes photos in HDR (for the rear camera and the front camera) when it’s most effective. iPhone 12 models record video in HDR to capture true-to-life color and contrast.

By default, iPhone automatically uses HDR when it’s most effective. To manually control HDR instead, do the following:

  • On iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and later, go to Settings

    How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
     > Camera, then turn off Smart HDR. Then from the camera screen, tap HDR to turn it off or on.

  • On iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, go to Settings 

    How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
    > Camera, then turn off Auto HDR.

    To turn HDR back on from the camera screen, tap HDR, then tap On.

  • On iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and earlier, tap HDR at the top of the camera screen, then tap Off.

By default, the HDR version of a photo is saved in Photos. On iPhone X and earlier models, you can also save the non-HDR version.

Go to Settings

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
 > Camera, then turn on Keep Normal Photo.

On iPhone 12 models, iPhone records video in Dolby Vision HDR for true-to-life color and contrast. To turn off HDR video recording, go to Settings

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
 > Camera > Record Video, then turn off HDR Video.


Page 10

HDR (high dynamic range) in Camera

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
helps you get great shots in high-contrast situations. iPhone takes several photos in rapid succession at different exposures and blends them together to bring more highlight and shadow detail to your photos.

By default, iPhone uses HDR (for the rear camera and the front camera) when it’s most effective. For best results, keep iPhone steady and avoid subject motion.

By default, iPhone automatically uses HDR when it’s most effective. To manually control HDR instead, do the following:

  • On iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max: Go to Settings

    How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
     > Camera, turn off Smart HDR. Then from the camera screen, tap HDR to turn it off or on.

  • On iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus: Go to Settings > Camera, then turn off Auto HDR.

    To turn HDR back on from the camera screen, tap HDR, then tap On.

  • All other models: Tap HDR at the top of the camera screen, then tap Off.

By default, the HDR version of a photo is saved in Photos. You can also save the non-HDR version on all models except iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Go to Settings

How to listen to voicemail on iPhone
 > Camera, then turn on Keep Normal Photo.