Verizon Voicemail: Your Comprehensive Guide to Staying Connected
Ever miss an important call and wonder if someone left a message? Or perhaps you're constantly seeing that little voicemail icon and want to clear it out? Checking your Verizon voicemail is a fundamental part of staying connected, whether it's for personal reasons or crucial business communication. This lengthy guide will walk you through every step, from the basics of accessing your messages to troubleshooting common issues and leveraging advanced features like Visual Voicemail.
Ready to take control of your voicemail? Let's dive in!
Step 1: Understanding Your Voicemail Options with Verizon
Before we get into the "how-to," it's helpful to know that Verizon offers a few ways to manage your voicemails. This isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, and your device type or preferred method might influence which approach you take.
1.1 The Classic Dial-In Method (The Universal Approach)
This is the most traditional and always reliable way to check your messages. It works on any phone, anywhere, as long as you have your voicemail password.
1.2 Visual Voicemail (The Modern Convenience)
For most smartphones (both Android and iPhone), Visual Voicemail is a game-changer. Instead of calling in and listening to messages sequentially, it provides a visual list of your voicemails, allowing you to pick and choose which ones to listen to, delete, or even transcribe.
1.3 My Verizon App (Account Management & Voicemail)
The My Verizon app is your central hub for managing your Verizon account, and it often provides direct access to voicemail settings and sometimes even message playback.
Step 2: Accessing Your Voicemail From Your Verizon Phone
This is likely the most common way you'll check your messages.
2.1 The Speed Dial Method (Quick and Easy)
This is the go-to for most Verizon users.
Open your Phone app (the dialer).
Touch and hold the number 1 on your keypad. This is typically set up as a speed dial for your voicemail.
Your phone will automatically dial your voicemail service.
If prompted, enter your voicemail password followed by the # key.
Follow the voice prompts to listen to, save, or delete your messages. Common prompts include:
Press 1 to replay the current message.
Press 7 to delete the current message.
Press 9 to save the current message.
Press # to skip to the next message.
2.2 The *86 Method (Another Reliable Shortcut)
This is an alternative dial code that connects you directly to your voicemail.
Open your Phone app (the dialer).
Dial *86 (*VM) on your keypad.
Press the Call button.
If prompted, enter your voicemail password followed by the # key.
Listen and manage your messages as per the voice prompts.
Step 3: Using Visual Voicemail (Smartphone Power Users Rejoice!)
Visual Voicemail transforms your voicemail experience, making it more akin to checking emails or texts.
3.1 For iPhone Users (Built-in Convenience)
Open the Phone app.
At the bottom of the screen, tap the Voicemail tab.
If this is your first time setting up Visual Voicemail, you might see a "Set Up Now" button or a "Greeting" option. Follow the on-screen prompts to set your password and greeting.
Once set up, you'll see a list of your voicemails, often with the caller's name or number, and the duration of the message.
Tap on a message to play it. You'll have options to:
Play the message.
Pause the message.
Call Back the sender.
Delete the message.
Share the message (e.g., via text or email).
Premium Visual Voicemail may even offer transcriptions of your messages, allowing you to read them instead of listening.
3.2 For Android Users (Often a Dedicated App)
Look for a dedicated "Visual Voicemail" app on your phone. This app is usually pre-installed by Verizon or your phone manufacturer.
Open the Visual Voicemail app.
If it's your first time, you may need to accept terms and conditions and complete a brief setup process.
You'll then see a list of your voicemails.
Tap on a message to play, delete, or call back.
Note: For Android devices, Visual Voicemail often requires a mobile data connection to sync messages. It may not work reliably on Wi-Fi only.
Step 4: Accessing Your Voicemail from Another Phone (When Your Phone Isn't Handy)
Sometimes you might need to check your messages when your Verizon phone is lost, out of battery, or you're simply using a different device.
Dial your own 10-digit Verizon mobile number from any phone (landline or another mobile).
As soon as you hear your voicemail greeting begin, press the # key to interrupt it.
You will then be prompted to enter your voicemail password followed by the # key.
Follow the voice prompts to navigate your mailbox and listen to your messages.
Step 5: Managing Your Voicemail Settings and Troubleshooting
Beyond just checking messages, you can customize and troubleshoot your Verizon voicemail.
5.1 Setting Up Your Voicemail for the First Time
If you've never used Verizon voicemail before, you'll need to set it up.
Dial *86 from your Verizon phone.
Immediately press the # key to interrupt the default greeting.
Follow the prompts to:
Choose your preferred language.
Create a 4-7 digit voicemail password. Avoid consecutive or repeating digits (e.g., 1111 or 1234).
Record your name/signature.
Record a personal greeting.
5.2 Resetting Your Voicemail Password
Forgetting your password is common! Here's how to reset it.
Via the My Verizon App:
Open the My Verizon app and sign in.
Navigate to the Account tab (usually at the bottom right).
Look for "Edit profile & settings" or "Account Settings."
Find "Manage voicemail password" under the "Security" section.
Follow the prompts to create a new password.
By Calling Verizon Customer Service:
Dial *611 from your Verizon phone (toll-free).
When prompted, say "Reset voicemail password."
You may need to verify your identity with account information.
Follow the prompts from the automated system or a representative to reset your password.
5.3 Troubleshooting Common Voicemail Issues
Don't panic if your voicemail isn't working as expected. Here are some quick fixes:
Voicemail Notifications Not Showing:
Check your phone's notification settings. Ensure the voicemail app (or Phone app's voicemail tab) has permissions to send notifications.
Restart your phone. This often resolves minor software glitches.
For Android: Try clearing the cache of the Voicemail app (Settings > Apps > Visual Voicemail / Phone app > Storage & cache > Clear cache).
Can't Receive New Messages (Voicemail Box Full):
Verizon voicemail boxes have a message limit (typically 20 for basic voicemail). If your box is full, callers can't leave new messages.
Delete old messages to free up space. You can do this through the Visual Voicemail app or by calling *86 and pressing 7 to delete.
Voicemail Not Working While Traveling Internationally:
When abroad, you typically need to dial your full 10-digit Verizon number in international format (e.g., +1 then your number).
Press the # key when your greeting starts, then enter your password.
Ensure you have an international roaming plan or TravelPass enabled.
Calls Going Straight to Voicemail:
Check if "Do Not Disturb" or "Airplane Mode" is enabled on your phone.
Verify that Call Forwarding is disabled (Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding on iPhone, or Phone app settings > Calls > Call Forwarding on Android).
Ensure you have network coverage in your area.
Step 6: Advanced Voicemail Features (Enhance Your Experience)
Verizon offers features that can make voicemail even more useful.
6.1 Voicemail to Text (Read Your Messages!)
This premium feature transcribes your voicemails into text messages, delivered directly to your phone. It's incredibly useful for discreetly checking messages in noisy environments or when you can't listen to audio.
How to Get It: This is typically an add-on service. You can often add it via the My Verizon app or by logging into your account on the Verizon website under "Add-ons." There's usually a monthly fee.
6.2 Customizing Greetings
You can record different greetings for various scenarios.
From your device: Call *86, enter your password, and follow the prompts for "Personal Options" or "Greeting."
Some Visual Voicemail apps may also offer options to manage greetings directly.
Frequently Asked Questions about Verizon Voicemail
How to set up Verizon voicemail for the first time?
To set up Verizon voicemail, dial *86 from your Verizon phone. When you hear the greeting, press # to interrupt it. Follow the prompts to choose your language, create a 4-7 digit password (avoiding repeating or consecutive digits), record your name, and then record your personal greeting.
How to check Verizon voicemail from another phone?
Dial your 10-digit Verizon mobile number from any phone. As soon as your voicemail greeting begins, press the # key to interrupt it. You will then be prompted to enter your voicemail password followed by #. Follow the voice prompts to retrieve your messages.
How to access Visual Voicemail on my iPhone with Verizon?
Open the Phone app on your iPhone and tap the "Voicemail" tab at the bottom right. If it's your first time, you'll be prompted to set it up. Once set up, you'll see a list of your voicemails that you can tap to play, delete, or call back.
How to reset my Verizon voicemail password?
You can reset your Verizon voicemail password through the My Verizon app by going to Account > Edit profile & settings > Manage voicemail password. Alternatively, you can dial *611 from your Verizon phone and say "Reset voicemail password" when prompted.
How to delete Verizon voicemail messages?
On iPhones with Visual Voicemail, open the Phone app, go to the Voicemail tab, swipe left on the message, and tap "Delete." On Android with Visual Voicemail, open the app, select the message, and look for a delete option. For the dial-in method (*86), press 7 while listening to a message to delete it.
How to stop calls from going straight to Verizon voicemail?
Check if "Do Not Disturb" or "Airplane Mode" is active on your phone. Also, ensure that Call Forwarding is disabled in your phone's settings (Phone app settings on Android, or Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding on iPhone). Confirm you have a strong network signal.
How to get voicemail to text on Verizon?
Voicemail to Text is a premium add-on service. You can typically subscribe to it through the My Verizon app or by logging into your Verizon account on their website and navigating to the "Add-ons" or "Services & Perks" section. There is usually a monthly fee for this service.
How to check Verizon voicemail when traveling internationally?
While abroad, dial your full 10-digit Verizon mobile number in international format (e.g., +1 followed by your 10-digit number). When your greeting starts, press the # key, then enter your voicemail password followed by #. Ensure you have an international roaming plan or TravelPass enabled.
How to recover deleted Verizon voicemail messages?
Generally, once a voicemail message is deleted from your Verizon mailbox, it cannot be recovered. Some Visual Voicemail apps might have a "deleted messages" folder that holds them for a short period, but this varies by device and app version. It's best to save important messages immediately.
How to change my Verizon voicemail greeting?
You can change your Verizon voicemail greeting by dialing *86 from your phone, entering your password, and following the voice prompts for "Personal Options" or "Greeting." Some Visual Voicemail apps may also offer a direct option to record and change your greeting within the app.