How to cancel voicemail depends on your phone carrier and service type
Most people can turn off voicemail through their carrier's website, mobile app, or by calling customer service. The exact steps vary: landline customers often need to dial a code like *92 or contact their provider directly, while cell phone users typically find the setting in their phone's voicemail app or carrier portal. Some carriers charge a monthly fee for voicemail and will stop billing once you disable it; others include it free and simply deactivate the service.
Before you cancel, understand that disabling voicemail means callers will hear a message that you don't accept voicemails — they cannot leave a message at all. If you want callers to reach you but prefer not to listen to voicemails, you have other options like call screening or letting calls go to a text-based service instead.
Key Takeaways
- Cell phone users can disable voicemail through their carrier's app or website without calling customer service.
- Landline customers usually need to dial a deactivation code like *92 or *71 or contact their provider by phone.
- Disabling voicemail stops callers from leaving messages entirely — they will hear a rejection message instead.
- If you are paying a monthly voicemail fee, cancellation will stop that charge on your next billing cycle.
- Text-based voicemail services like Google Voice or carrier transcription services are alternatives if you want messages without traditional voicemail.
How to cancel voicemail on a cell phone
Open your carrier's mobile app or visit their website and look for voicemail settings under your account or phone settings. Most carriers — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and others — let you toggle voicemail off without speaking to anyone. The setting is usually labeled "Voicemail" or "Visual Voicemail" and appears in the same section where you manage call forwarding or do-not-disturb options.
If you cannot find the setting in the app, open your phone's native voicemail app (the one built into your phone, not your carrier's app) and look for settings or preferences. Some phones let you disable voicemail directly from there. If neither works, call your carrier's customer service number — it is on your bill or your carrier's website — and ask them to turn off voicemail on your account.
Changes usually take effect within a few minutes to a few hours. Test it by having someone call you and listen to what message they hear. If they still hear a voicemail greeting, wait a few more hours and test again.
How to cancel voicemail on a landline
Landline voicemail is usually managed through your phone company's website or by dialing a code from your phone. The most common deactivation codes are *92 or *71, but these vary by provider. Pick up your landline phone, dial the code, and listen for a confirmation message. If the code does not work, check your phone bill or your provider's website for the correct code for your area and service plan.
If you cannot find the code or it does not work, call your phone company's customer service line. Have your account number ready. They can disable voicemail immediately over the phone and confirm that the change has taken effect.
Some landline providers charge a separate fee for voicemail service — usually a few dollars per month. Canceling voicemail will remove that charge from your next bill. Ask the representative to confirm the fee will be removed when you call.
What happens when you cancel voicemail
Once voicemail is disabled, callers will hear a message saying you do not accept voicemails or that voicemail is not available. They cannot leave a message. The call will end, and they will have no way to reach you asynchronously — they cannot try again later through voicemail.
This is different from ignoring a call or sending it to voicemail. When you cancel voicemail, you are telling the phone system not to offer that option at all. Callers may be surprised if they expect to leave a message and cannot.
If you want to keep some record of who called, consider keeping voicemail on but setting it to transcribe messages to text, or switch to a service like Google Voice that converts voicemails to text messages and emails. These options let you see who called without listening to audio.
Alternatives to canceling voicemail entirely
If you dislike checking voicemail but want callers to be able to reach you, consider visual voicemail or transcription services instead of canceling. Visual voicemail — offered by most carriers — shows you a list of voicemails with transcripts so you can read them instead of listening. You can also see who called and when without opening each message.
Google Voice is a free alternative that converts voicemails to text and emails them to you. You can set it up to forward calls from your regular phone number to a Google Voice number, or use it as a separate number. It gives you a written record of messages without the need to listen to audio.
Call screening and do-not-disturb features let you silence notifications without disabling voicemail entirely. This way, callers can still leave messages, but you will not be interrupted by the notification sound.
Reactivating voicemail if you change your mind
If you cancel voicemail and later want it back, you can turn it on again through the same method you used to turn it off. In your carrier's app or website, toggle voicemail back on. On a landline, dial the reactivation code (often *92 or *71, but check with your provider) or call customer service.
Reactivation is usually immediate. Your voicemail greeting will return, and callers will be able to leave messages again. If you had a custom greeting saved before you canceled, it may or may not still be there depending on your carrier — ask customer service if you want to restore a specific greeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I still get charged for voicemail after I cancel?
If your carrier charges a separate monthly fee for voicemail, that charge will stop after you cancel. The removal may take one or two billing cycles to appear. If you are unsure whether you pay for voicemail, check your phone bill or ask your carrier — some include it free with your plan.
Can I cancel voicemail without calling customer service?
Yes, most cell phone users can cancel through their carrier's app or website. Landline customers may be able to use a code like *92, but if that does not work, you will need to call. It usually takes less than five minutes on the phone.
What if I cancel voicemail but still want to know when someone calls?
You can keep voicemail on but turn off notifications, or switch to visual voicemail or transcription services. These let you see who called and what they said without listening to audio or being interrupted by alerts.
Do I lose my voicemail messages if I cancel?
Most carriers delete saved voicemails when you cancel the service, though some may keep them for a short time. If you want to keep important messages, save or transcribe them before you cancel.
How long does it take for voicemail cancellation to take effect?
Changes usually take effect within minutes to a few hours. Test it by having someone call you and listen to what message they hear. If voicemail is still active after a few hours, contact your carrier.