Feeling a little voicemail-greeting-fatigued? You've come to the right place! We've all been there – that perfectly crafted greeting that sounded great at first, but now you're ready for a change, or perhaps just want to go back to the classic default. Deleting your voicemail greeting on Verizon isn't as complicated as it might seem, and in this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through every step to reclaim your voicemail freedom. Let's dive in!
Understanding Verizon Voicemail Greetings
Before we jump into the "how-to," it's helpful to understand a bit about Verizon's voicemail system. Verizon typically offers two main types of voicemail:
Basic Voicemail: This is the standard voicemail service that comes with most plans. You access it by calling into your voicemail box (usually by dialing *86).
Visual Voicemail: Available on smartphones (often built into the phone app or a separate app), Visual Voicemail provides a visual list of your messages, allowing you to select and play them in any order, and often includes options to manage your greeting directly from the app interface.
The method you use to delete or change your greeting might vary slightly depending on which type of voicemail you have and the kind of phone you're using (iPhone vs. Android). But don't worry, we'll cover the most common scenarios.
Step 1: Identify Your Voicemail Type and Device
Hey there! Before we go any further, take a moment to think about this: Are you using a smartphone with a dedicated "Voicemail" tab in your phone app, or do you typically dial a number like 86 to access your messages? Do you have an iPhone or an Android device?
This crucial first step will help us determine the most efficient path for you.
If you have an iPhone: Your voicemail greeting management is often integrated directly into the Phone app.
If you have an Android phone: You might have a Visual Voicemail app, or you'll primarily rely on dialing *86.
If you have a basic flip phone or feature phone: You will almost certainly be using the *86 dial-in method.
Once you have this clear in your mind, proceed to the relevant step below!
Step 2: Deleting Your Voicemail Greeting via Your Phone's Voicemail App (Smartphones)
This method is often the easiest and most intuitive if you have a smartphone with Visual Voicemail capabilities.
For iPhone Users:
Open the Phone App: Tap the green "Phone" icon on your iPhone's home screen.
Navigate to Voicemail: At the bottom right of the screen, you'll see a "Voicemail" tab. Tap on it.
Access Greeting Settings: In the top-left corner of the Voicemail screen, you should see a "Greeting" button. Tap this.
Choose Default: You'll typically be presented with two options: "Default" and "Custom." Select "Default".
Save Your Change: Once you've selected "Default," make sure to tap "Save" in the top-right corner to apply the change.
Self-Correction Tip: If you don't see the "Greeting" option, or if the "Save" button is grayed out, it's possible your iPhone's Live Voicemail feature is enabled and interfering. Try the following:
Go to Settings > Phone > Live Voicemail and toggle Live Voicemail off.
Then, go back and try the steps above again. This often resolves the issue.
For Android Users (with Visual Voicemail App):
The exact steps can vary slightly depending on your Android phone's manufacturer (Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola, etc.) and the version of Android you're running, but the general principle is the same.
Open Your Voicemail App: This might be labeled "Voicemail," "Visual Voicemail," or simply be part of your default "Phone" or "Dialer" app. Look for an icon that resembles a cassette tape or an answering machine.
Access Settings/Greeting Options:
Look for a Menu icon (often three dots or three lines, typically in the top-right or top-left).
Tap on "Settings" or "Voicemail Settings."
Within settings, look for an option related to "Greeting," "Voicemail Greeting," or "Standard Greetings."
Select a Standard or Default Greeting: You should be given options like "Greeting with telephone number," "Greeting with recorded name," or simply "Default greeting." Choose the option that reverts to a standard system greeting.
Confirm/Save: There will usually be a "Save" or "OK" button to confirm your selection. Tap it.
Important Note: If you're not finding a clear option to delete your custom greeting, selecting a "Standard greeting" or "Greeting with telephone number" usually achieves the same result by replacing your custom recording with a system-generated one.
Step 3: Deleting Your Voicemail Greeting via Dialing into Voicemail (*86)
This method is universal and works for all Verizon phones, regardless of whether you have Visual Voicemail or a basic phone.
Dial Your Voicemail:
From your Verizon phone, dial *86 (*VM).
Press the Call/Send button.
If you're calling from another phone (or a landline), dial your 10-digit Verizon mobile number. When your voicemail greeting starts, immediately press the # (pound) key to interrupt it and access your mailbox.
Enter Your Password/PIN: If prompted, enter your 4-7 digit voicemail password (PIN) followed by the # (pound) key. If you've forgotten your password, see the FAQ section below on how to reset it.
Navigate to Personal Options: Listen carefully to the voice prompts. You'll typically hear options like:
"To listen to your messages, press 1."
"For personal options, press 4."
Press 4 to enter the Personal Options menu.
Access Greetings Menu: Within Personal Options, you'll hear more choices. Look for the option related to greetings. It's commonly:
"To change your greeting, press 3."
Press 3 to go to the Greetings menu.
Select a Standard/Default Greeting: Now, you should be presented with choices for your greeting. The exact phrasing might vary, but you're looking for an option that reverts to the system's default. Common options include:
"To record a personal greeting, press 1."
"To use a standard greeting with your name, press 2."
"To use a standard greeting with your phone number, press 3."
"To reset to the system default greeting, press X" (where X is a specific number).
Your goal here is to choose an option that doesn't involve a custom recording. Often, selecting "Standard greeting with your phone number" or "Standard greeting with your recorded name" will effectively "delete" your custom one by replacing it. Sometimes, there's an explicit option to "reset" or "return to default." Listen carefully for these options and select the one that suits your preference for a non-custom greeting.
Confirm Your Selection: After making your choice, the system will usually ask you to confirm by pressing # or a specific number. Follow these prompts.
Exit Voicemail: Once you've confirmed your greeting change, you can typically hang up, or press the * (star) key repeatedly to exit the voicemail system until the call ends.
Step 4: Verify Your Voicemail Greeting
The final, and perhaps most satisfying, step is to verify that your custom greeting has indeed been removed.
Call Your Own Number: From a different phone (or even your own phone, if you have another line), call your Verizon mobile number.
Listen to the Greeting: Instead of your old custom greeting, you should now hear the standard Verizon system greeting (e.g., "The Verizon Wireless customer you are calling is not available, please leave a message after the tone..."), or the basic greeting you selected with your phone number or recorded name.
If you still hear your old custom greeting, don't fret! Simply retrace your steps from either Step 2 or Step 3. Sometimes, it takes a couple of tries, or you might have missed a confirmation prompt.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common "How to" questions related to Verizon voicemail greetings:
How to change my Verizon voicemail greeting to a new custom one? To change to a new custom greeting, follow the steps in Step 2 (for smartphone apps) or Step 3 (for dialing *86), but instead of selecting "Default" or a standard greeting, choose the option to "Record a personal greeting" or "Custom greeting" and follow the prompts to record your new message.
How to reset my Verizon voicemail password? You can reset your voicemail password through the My Verizon app, by calling *611 from your Verizon phone, or by dialing 1-800-922-0204 from any phone and following the automated prompts.
How to access Verizon voicemail from another phone? Dial your 10-digit Verizon mobile number. When your greeting starts, immediately press the # (pound) key to interrupt it, then enter your voicemail password when prompted.
How to turn off Live Voicemail on iPhone (if it's interfering with greeting changes)? Go to Settings > Phone > Live Voicemail and toggle the switch to the off position.
How to check my Verizon voicemail messages? You can either open your Visual Voicemail app (if you have a smartphone), or dial *86 from your Verizon phone and follow the prompts.
How to save a Verizon voicemail message? When listening to a message via the *86 dial-in method, listen for prompts to "save" or "archive" the message. In Visual Voicemail apps, there's usually a "Save" or "Keep" option associated with each message.
How to delete individual voicemail messages on Verizon? When listening to a message via the *86 dial-in method, press 7 to delete it. In Visual Voicemail apps, you can usually swipe left on a message or tap an "X" or trash can icon to delete it.
How to find my Verizon voicemail access number? The primary access number is your own 10-digit Verizon mobile number. You can also dial *86 from your Verizon phone for quick access.
How to get voicemail messages transcribed on Verizon? Verizon offers "Voicemail to Text" as a feature, which may be included in some plans or available as an add-on for a fee. Check your My Verizon account or contact customer support to see if this feature is available to you.
How to contact Verizon customer support for voicemail issues? You can dial *611 from your Verizon phone, or call 1-800-922-0204 from any phone to reach Verizon customer service. You can also visit the Verizon support website for online chat and FAQs.
