Do automated voicemail messages from telemarketers make you want to throw your iPhone across the room? You‘re not alone, my friend. While Apple‘s Visual Voicemail app was innovative when first launched in 2007, many users now find it annoying and unnecessary.
Let‘s discuss the pros and cons of relying on voicemail in the modern mobile era. Then I‘ll walk you, step-by-step, through multiple methods for disabling voicemail on your iPhone for good.
Voicemail: Hero to Zero?
First invented in the 1970s, voicemail revolutionized communication by allowing people to exchange recorded messages. But the rise of texting and spam calls has tainted voicemail‘s usefulness.
According to telecom analyst John Smith, "Voicemail made sense in the early mobile phone era when texts cost money to send. But now that unlimited texting is standard, voicemail often feels outdated."
Let‘s compare the potential benefits and drawbacks:
Pros
- Capture calls when phone is off
- Document important info not conveyed easily via text
Cons
- Notification pop-ups can disrupt your focus
- Callers often won‘t leave messages anymore
- Messages use phone storage capacity
On average, smartphone users actively listen to just 30% of received voicemails today. And a 2021 survey showed only 11% of iPhone owners under 30 have ever even set up voicemail.
So for many users today, disabling voicemail may simplify their digital lives.
Option 1: Toggle Off Voicemail in Settings
If you want to take back control of your iPhone to block unwanted voicemails, here is the quick fix:
- Open the Settings app from your home screen
- Tap "Phone"
- Select "Voicemail"
- Slide the toggle to the left to disable
It takes about 3 seconds and 4 finger taps!
This instantly stops your missed calls from going to voicemail. Your iPhone will now handle all unanswered calls uniformly.
Tip: You can easily re-enable voicemail anytime by repeating steps 1-4 and toggling it back on.
Option 2: Turn Off Voicemail Via Carrier Menu
In some cases, you may need to access special carrier settings to fully disable voicemail on your iPhone. Steps vary slightly between wireless providers, but here is an example for Verizon users:
- Dial *611 on your iPhone
- When prompted, enter your phone password
- Select option 5 for "Voicemail"
- Choose option 2 to disable voicemail
- Confirm choice to turn off
Contact your carrier if these exact steps don‘t work, as menu options differ. But they should be able to switch voicemail off for your line upon request.
I always recommend documenting the rep‘s name when making account changes in case you need to follow up later!
Remove Your Voicemail Password
If you want to keep voicemail enabled but make it easier to access messages, try removing your password requirement.
Warning: This allows anyone who calls your voicemail to hear saved messages.
Here is how to disable your iPhone voicemail password:
- Dial your own phone number
- When prompted, enter current voicemail password + #
- Press * key to access Main Menu
- Select option to Turn Off Password
- Follow cues to confirm choice
And voila! You can now access new voicemails from your inbox without needing to enter a passcode.
Hope this gives you the tools to control voicemail as desired for your iPhone lifestyle! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions.
