You can turn off voicemail on iPhone through your carrier's settings, but the method depends on which carrier you use and whether you want to disable it entirely or just stop hearing notifications
iPhone does not have a built-in "off" switch for voicemail itself — voicemail is a service your carrier provides, not an app you control directly. What you can do is disable voicemail through your carrier's system, turn off voicemail notifications so you stop seeing alerts, or forward voicemail calls to a number that does not exist. The fastest route is calling your carrier's customer service line, because they can disable the service on your account in minutes. If you want to keep voicemail but just silence the notifications, you can do that through iPhone's Phone settings without contacting anyone.
Key Takeaways
- Disabling voicemail requires contacting your carrier — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or whoever provides your service — because voicemail lives on their network, not on your phone.
- You can turn off voicemail notifications in iPhone's Phone settings under Voicemail without disabling the service itself.
- Some carriers let you disable voicemail through their website or app; others require a phone call to customer service.
- If you disable voicemail, callers will hear a message that voicemail is not available instead of being able to leave a message.
Disable voicemail through your carrier
Call your carrier's customer service number — the one on your bill or on the back of your SIM card — and tell them you want to disable voicemail on your account. Have your phone number and account PIN ready. The representative will remove the voicemail service from your line. This usually takes effect within minutes, though some carriers say to allow up to 24 hours.
If you want to avoid a phone call, check whether your carrier offers this through their website or mobile app. Verizon customers can disable voicemail through the My Verizon app or website under Account Settings. AT&T customers can use the AT&T mobile app. T-Mobile customers can use the T-Mobile app or call 611 from their T-Mobile phone. The exact steps vary, so log into your account and look for a Voicemail or Services section.
Some carriers charge a small fee to disable voicemail, though most do not. Ask the representative whether there is a charge before they process the request.
Turn off voicemail notifications without disabling the service
If you want to keep voicemail but stop seeing notifications on your phone, go to Settings > Phone > Voicemail and toggle off the switch next to Voicemail Notifications. This stops the badge that appears on the Phone app icon and silences the notification sound, but voicemail itself remains active on your carrier's network. Callers can still leave messages; you just will not be alerted when they do.
You can also mute voicemail notifications by going to Settings > Notifications, scrolling to Phone, and turning off Allow Notifications. This silences all Phone app alerts, including calls and voicemail.
Forward voicemail calls to a non-working number
If your carrier does not allow you to disable voicemail through their system, you can forward all incoming calls to a number that does not exist or that you do not use. This prevents callers from reaching your voicemail box. Go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding and enter a number like 555-0100 (a number that will not connect). Callers will hear a message that the call cannot be completed.
This is a workaround, not a true disable, because the service is still technically active on your account. It also means people cannot reach you at all if they call — the call will not ring through to you first. Use this only if you have another way for people to contact you, like text or email.
What happens when voicemail is disabled
Once voicemail is disabled, callers who reach your voicemail box will hear a message saying voicemail is not available or that the mailbox is not set up. They will not be able to leave a message. Some carriers let callers press a key to try again or to reach a different number; others simply disconnect the call.
Disabling voicemail does not affect incoming calls themselves — calls will still ring through to you normally. Only the voicemail fallback is removed. If you want to stop receiving calls entirely, that is a different setting (Do Not Disturb or blocking).
Re-enable voicemail if you change your mind
Call your carrier's customer service again and ask them to turn voicemail back on. They can reactivate it immediately. You may need to set up your voicemail greeting again if you had one before, depending on your carrier.
If you turned off notifications instead of disabling the service, go back to Settings > Phone > Voicemail and toggle Voicemail Notifications back on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling voicemail stop my phone from ringing?
No. Disabling voicemail only removes the voicemail box that callers reach if you do not answer. Your phone will still ring normally when someone calls. If you do not answer, they will hear a message that voicemail is not available instead of being able to leave a message.
Can I disable voicemail for just one contact?
No. Voicemail is a carrier-level service that applies to your entire phone line. You cannot disable it for one person and keep it for others. You can block individual contacts so their calls do not ring through, but that is different from disabling voicemail.
What if my carrier's website does not have a voicemail option?
Call their customer service line. Not all carriers offer voicemail management through their app or website, so a phone call to a representative is the most reliable way. Have your account number ready.
Does disabling voicemail cost money?
Most carriers do not charge to disable voicemail, but some may. Ask the representative before they process the request. If there is a fee, you can decide whether to proceed.
Can I disable voicemail temporarily?
Yes. You can disable it and re-enable it whenever you want by contacting your carrier again. There is no penalty for turning it on and off, though each change may take a few minutes to process.