How to Turn Off Voicemail on iPhone: Disable, Stop or Remove Voicemail Completely 

Want to turn off voicemail on your iPhone but cannot find a simple “Turn Off Voicemail” button?

There is a reason.

Your iPhone can deal with voicemail in two different ways:

Live Voicemail is an Apple feature that you can turn on or off from your iPhone settings.

Carrier voicemail is provided by your mobile network, such as Airtel, Jio, Vi, or another carrier.

So, turning off Live Voicemail does not always stop voicemail completely.

If you only want to stop Apple’s Live Voicemail, you can do it in a few taps. But if callers can still leave a message after that, your mobile carrier may be handling the voicemail.

This guide explains both cases in simple steps.

Can You Completely Turn Off Voicemail on iPhone?

Yes, you can turn off Live Voicemail from your iPhone.

But there is no single iPhone setting that guarantees all voicemail will be disabled.

Why?

Because carrier voicemail can work separately from Live Voicemail.

1. Live Voicemail Comes From Apple

Live Voicemail can show a real-time text version of what a caller is saying while they leave a message.

You control this feature from your iPhone settings.

2. Carrier Voicemail Comes From Your Network Provider

Your mobile network may also provide its own voicemail service.

Apple explains that if your iPhone is switched off or outside your carrier’s network range, a call may still go to carrier voicemail if that service is available.

Apple: Set up Voicemail on iPhone

This means:

Turning off Live Voicemail does not automatically turn off carrier voicemail.

How to Turn Off Live Voicemail on iPhone

If your goal is simply to stop Apple’s Live Voicemail feature, follow these steps.

1. Open Settings

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

2. Go to Apps

Scroll down and tap:

Apps

3. Open Phone

Select:

Phone

4. Find Live Voicemail

Scroll until you see:

Live Voicemail

5. Turn It Off

Switch Live Voicemail off.

That’s it.

Apple’s Live Voicemail feature is now disabled.

But do one more thing before assuming voicemail is completely gone.

Ask someone to call your number and do not answer.

If they can still leave a message, your carrier’s voicemail service may still be active.

How to Disable Carrier Voicemail on iPhone

This is where cancelling voicemail on iPhone becomes a little different.

You cannot manage every carrier’s voicemail from one universal iPhone setting.

The service is controlled by your network provider.

1. Turn Off Live Voicemail First

Go to:

Settings → Apps → Phone → Live Voicemail

and switch it off.

2. Test Your Number

Ask another person to call you.

Do not answer.

Wait to see what happens.

3. Check What the Caller Hears

If the call ends without giving them an option to record a message, voicemail may no longer be active.

But if they hear something like:

“Please leave your message after the tone”

your carrier may still be providing voicemail.

4. Contact Your Mobile Carrier

Ask your carrier:

“Is voicemail active on my mobile number, and can you deactivate it?”

Follow the instructions given by the carrier.

This is much safer than trying random codes from websites or social media.

How to Stop Voicemail on Vi

Vi has an official process for customers who want to deactivate voicemail.

1. Use the Vi App

Open the Vi app and sign in with your mobile number.

Go to:

Help & Support → Value Added Services

From there, you can manage your active value-added services.

2. Contact Vi Support

Vi also says customers can dial:

199

from a Vi number and ask customer support to deactivate voicemail.

These steps are listed in Vi’s own voicemail deactivation guide.

Vi: How to Deactivate Voicemail

What Should Airtel Users Do?

If you use Airtel and voicemail still works after turning off Live Voicemail, contact Airtel directly.

1. Call Airtel Support

Airtel currently lists:

121

for

 enquiries and service requests from an Airtel number.

2. Ask About Voicemail on Your Number

Tell the support team that you want to know whether a voicemail service is active.

If it is active, ask how it can be disabled for your account.

Airtel: Official Customer Support

Using Airtel’s official support is better than entering an unverified network code.

What Should Jio Users Do?

If you use Jio, contact JioCare for network-level service questions.

1. Contact JioCare

Jio lists:

199 from a Jio SIM

for support.

You can also use Jio’s support options if you need help checking network services on your number.

2. Ask Whether a Voicemail Service Is Active

Tell support that you want to check whether your number has a carrier-level voicemail service or another call-routing feature enabled.

Follow only the instructions given through Jio’s official support.

Jio: Official Help and Support

Why Are Calls Going Straight to Voicemail on iPhone?

Maybe you do not actually want to disable voicemail.

Your real problem may be this:

“My iPhone is not ringing. Calls are going directly to voicemail.”

If so, do not turn off everything immediately.

Check these settings first.

1. Check Focus Mode

Open Control Centre.

See whether any Focus mode is active, such as:

• Do Not Disturb
• Sleep
• Work

If one is active, turn it off and ask someone to call you again.

2. Check Unknown Caller Settings

Go to:

Settings → Apps → Phone

Look for:

Screen Unknown Callers

If you want unknown numbers to ring normally, make sure they are not being silenced.

3. Check Call Filtering

Still inside Phone settings, check Call Filtering.

Filtering can separate calls from unknown numbers.

4. Check Blocked Contacts

Review your blocked contacts.

You may have blocked an important number by mistake.

5. Check Your Network Connection

If your mobile network is weak or unavailable, incoming calls may not reach you normally.

Apple’s official troubleshooting guide recommends checking Focus, Screen Unknown Callers, call filtering, blocked contacts, and phone settings when calls do not ring and go straight to voicemail.

Apple: Fix Calls Going Straight to Voicemail

Why Do Unknown Calls Go Straight to Voicemail?

Does your iPhone ring when a saved contact calls, but not when an unknown number calls?

Your unknown caller settings may be the reason.

1. Open Phone Settings

Go to:

Settings → Apps → Phone

2. Find Screen Unknown Callers

Open:

Screen Unknown Callers

3. Check How Unknown Calls Are Handled

Apple provides different options.

Never

Unknown numbers can ring normally.

Ask Reason for Calling

The caller is asked why they are calling before your phone rings.

Silence

Calls from unknown numbers are silenced and sent to voicemail.

Apple also allows missed calls and voicemail messages from unknown numbers to be placed in a separate Unknown Callers list.

Apple: Manage Unknown Callers on iPhone

This setting is worth checking if you searched how to stop voicemail in iPhone because only unknown calls are going there.

The problem may not be voicemail itself.

Why Do Calls Go to Voicemail When You Are Already on Another Call?

Here is another common situation.

Your iPhone rings normally most of the time.

But when you are already talking to someone, another incoming call goes directly to voicemail.

Check Call Waiting.

1. Open Phone Settings

Go to:

Settings → Apps → Phone

2. Open Call Waiting

Tap:

Call Waiting

3. Turn Call Waiting On

If the option is available, turn it on.

Apple says that on supported GSM networks, if you are already on a call and Call Waiting is turned off, another incoming call goes directly to voicemail.

Apple: Set Up Call Waiting on iPhone

So if this is the only time calls go to voicemail, you may not need to disable voicemail at all.

Can You Send Calls Somewhere Else Instead of Voicemail?

Yes.

You can use Call Forwarding when you want incoming calls to go to another number.

For example:

A business owner may want unanswered calls to go to another team member.

That is different from voicemail.

1. Open Phone Settings

Go to:

Settings → Apps → Phone

2. Open Call Forwarding

Tap:

Call Forwarding

3. Turn It On

Enable Call Forwarding.

4. Add the Number

Tap Forward To.

Enter the number where calls should be sent.

Apple notes that regular call forwarding is available on supported GSM networks.

For conditional forwarding, such as forwarding calls only when your line is busy or unavailable, Apple recommends contacting your carrier for setup information.

Apple: Set Up Call Forwarding on iPhone

How to Remove Voicemail on iPhone Completely

If by how to remove voicemail on iPhone you mean:

“I don’t want callers to be able to leave me any voice message,”

use this simple process.

1. Turn Off Live Voicemail

Go to:

Settings → Apps → Phone → Live Voicemail

Switch it off.

2. Ask Someone to Call You

Do not answer their call.

3. See Whether They Can Still Leave a Message

If they cannot leave a voicemail, you may be done.

If they can still leave one, carrier voicemail is probably still active.

4. Contact Your Carrier

Ask your network provider to check and deactivate voicemail on your mobile number if the service can be disabled.

This is the safest approach because the iPhone and the carrier can handle voicemail separately.

Live Voicemail vs Carrier Voicemail: What Is the Difference?

Still confused?

Here is the easiest way to understand it.

1. Live Voicemail

Who provides it? Apple

Where do you control it? iPhone Settings

What does it do? It can show a live transcription while someone is leaving a voicemail.

Can you turn it off yourself? Yes.

2. Carrier Voicemail

Who provides it? Your mobile network

Where do you control it? This depends on the carrier.

What does it do? It handles voicemail at the network level.

Can you always disable it from iPhone Settings? No.

That is why someone may turn off Live Voicemail but still receive voicemail messages.

Should You Use Random Voicemail Deactivation Codes?

It is better not to.

You may find codes online that claim to instantly disable voicemail on iPhone.

But those codes can be carrier-specific.

Some may actually change call-forwarding settings rather than voicemail itself.

That could make your calls behave differently than you expected.

The safer rule is simple:

If your carrier officially gives you a code, use it.

If the code comes from an unknown website or social media post, do not assume it is correct for your number.

How to Turn Live Voicemail Back On

Changed your mind?

Turning Live Voicemail back on is easy.

1. Open Settings

Open:

Settings

2. Go to Phone

Tap:

Apps → Phone

3. Open Live Voicemail

Find:

Live Voicemail

4. Turn It On

Enable the setting.

If you previously asked your mobile carrier to deactivate its voicemail service, you may need to contact the carrier again to turn that service back on.

Conclusion

Turning off voicemail on iPhone becomes much easier once you understand one thing:

Live Voicemail and carrier voicemail are not the same.

If you only want to turn off Apple’s Live Voicemail, go to:

Settings → Apps → Phone → Live Voicemail → Off

If people can still leave you a message after that, your mobile carrier may be providing voicemail separately.

In that case, contact your carrier instead of trying random codes.

And if your real problem is that calls are going directly to voicemail without ringing, first check Focus, unknown caller settings, blocked contacts, and Call Waiting.

This helps you fix the real issue without changing settings you do not need to change.