iPhone Voicemail Full? Here’s The Real Fix!

Voicemail is full on your iPhone and you’re not sure why. The voicemail menu is empty in the Phone app, but your inbox is still full. In this article, I’ll explain why your iPhone voicemail is full and show you how to fix the problem!

Why Is My Voicemail Full?

Most of the time, your iPhone voicemail is full because the voicemails you deleted on your iPhone are still being stored somewhere else. Most of the time, those voicemails are still being stored with your carrier.

Call into your voicemail on your iPhone and play your voicemails. At the end of each voicemail, press the number designated for deleting voicemails. This will erase the messages saved by your carrier and free up space in your voicemail inbox.

If your voicemail is still full, follow the step-by-step guide below!

How To Delete Voicemail On Your iPhone

If you haven’t already, delete the voicemails currently stored on your iPhone. To do this, open Phone and tap Voicemail. Then, tap Edit in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Tap on the voicemails you’d like to delete.

edit voicemail inbox on iphone

Tap Delete in the lower right-hand corner of the screen when you’ve selected all the voicemails you’d like to erase.

delete voicemail on iphone

Clear All Deleted Messages

Even when you delete a voicemail on your iPhone, it’s not necessarily erased entirely. Your iPhone saves your recently deleted messages, just in case you’ve made a mistake and erased an important one. However, this means a lot of deleted messages can pile up and fill your voicemail inbox.

Open Phone and tap on the Voicemail icon in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. Scroll down and tap Deleted Messages. Tap Clear All in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Tap Clear All again to permanently erase your deleted messages.

clear all deleted voicemail messages

Clear All Blocked Voicemails

Voicemails from blocked numbers can take up space in your inbox too. Many iPhone users don’t realize that blocked numbers can still leave messages. These types of messages won’t show up in your list of voicemails, but they can still take up space without you knowing it!

To delete block messages, open Phone and tap Voicemail. Tap on Blocked Messages, then delete the ones you don’t want.

Contact Your Wireless Carrier

If your voicemail inbox is still full, it’s time to contact your wireless carrier for help. You may need to call in and reset your mailbox.

Here are the customer support numbers for the top 4 wireless carriers:

  • Verizon: 1-800-922-0204
  • AT&T: 1-800-331-0500
  • T-Mobile: 1-800-937-8997
  • Sprint: (888) 211-4727

Just let them know that your iPhone voicemail is full and they’ll help you fix the problem!

You’ve Got Voicemail!

You’ve fixed the problem and your voicemail inbox is clear. Make sure to share this article on social media to teach your friends and family what to do when their iPhone voicemail is full. Leave any other questions you have about your iPhone in the comments section below.

About Author

David Lynch is an expert on cell phones, cell phone plans, and other tech. After using a flip phone into his early 20s, he learned the ropes about iPhones and Androids from a former Apple employee. Today, his articles and videos are read and viewed by millions, and he has been cited by major publications including Reader's Digest, Wired, CMSWire, Consumers Advocate, and more.

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Nora
8 months ago

Hi, I followed the instructions under “Clear All Deleted Messages” and “Clear All Blocked Messages.” However, when I tap the lower right icon to see VMs, and then scroll down, it just goes to the end of the messages. There’s no “Deleted Messages” or “Blocked Messages” header in the list. Could it be someplace else? Thanks.

davidsf444
1 year ago

Thanks so much. I didn’t realize that I only needed to dial my own cell phone number on my cell phone, put in my PIN and then listen to and delete all the voicemails that were on my server’s system. In my case it was Xfinity Mobile and when the message plays you just hit the number ‘7’ to delete the message — they prompt you to do so. You don’t even have to listen to the entire message — when it starts and you know you want to delete it, just hit the ‘7’ right away and it will… Read more »

Crissa
1 year ago

I called my number from my phone, put in my 4 digit pin, and it said I had 30 voicemails. Cleared them from there. All were voicemails not on my phone but had been deleted. Hope this helps

Jeannie Saewert
1 year ago

Verizon ant even fix my voicemail

Shallu
1 year ago

Hi
My voicemail is already set. I am not able to see Greeting and Edit on the upper top. Now, My voicemail box is full, not receiving new messages. I am trying Google videos, Even I called to freedom mobile center for help and pressed *86. I want to clear it for some new urgent messages. Can you please help me?

Bob
2 years ago

My problem was simple. Delete queue had hundreds. When I deleted them voicemails worked.
Obviously the Delete queue takes up space and the space was full.
Good reason to cull those queues periodically.

Nora
8 months ago
Reply to  Bob

How do you access the Delete queue? There is no “Deleted Messages” list in my voicemail messages list, so I don’t know how to open that list.

Nancy Erickson
2 years ago

When people call it says voicemail full but phone does not show any voicemails

Catherine Ryon
1 year ago
Reply to  Nancy Erickson

How do you resolve that problem?

Traci
2 years ago

I have no voicemail on my phone but it says it’s still full how do i fix this

Linda
2 years ago

My husband’s iPhone is always — I mean always — going to Voicemail. We’ve cleared out all deleted messages and I tried calling his voicemail but all it gives you is your recent calls, not the ones they say are stored by you carrier. From what I’ve read, they say it has something to do with full voicemail boxes. I am at my wit’s end trying to find ways to clear them. I never seem to have any problems. I don’t know why he does. Can you help?

Erica Sklar
2 years ago

Thank you. Very helpful.

Cathi Larkin
2 years ago

Why are callers getting a message my voicemail is full when I have deleted all of it?

Doreen
2 years ago

My iPhone X has a full voicemail box when someone tries to leave a message but I can’t find any voicemails to delete. There is no Edit button on the top right corner of the screen. I’ve reset the phone and upgraded to iOS 15. What shall I do?

Doralee
2 years ago

Sorry, take out the “didn’t receive” part. My phone often types words that I don’t say or think even. LOL, it can get me in a lot of trouble. Thank you.

Lisa Uhalley
11 months ago
Reply to  Doralee

My phone types letters I did not type I get a capital CB OR VS when I’m typing lower case. How do I fix that

Doralee
2 years ago

How do I restore, as in Save? I didn’t receive a voicemail that’s on the deleted list?

Michael Smith
2 years ago

When someone called me they got a recording that said inbox is full. How do I fix the problem?

Editor
Colin Boyd
2 years ago
Reply to  Michael Smith

Hi Michael! To clear out space in your Voicemail inbox, open the Phone app and tap Voicemail. Then, tap Edit in the top-right corner. Then, tap the circle next to any voicemail you would like to delete. Once you’ve selected every voicemail you would like to get rid of, tap Delete in the bottom-right corner and that should free up some storage in your Voicemail. Hope this helps!

Deborah
2 years ago

Thank you so very much.
Now how do I delete blocked callers and all voicemails?

Editor
Colin Boyd
2 years ago
Reply to  Deborah

Hi Deborah, thanks for reading! To delete a voicemail, open the Phone app and tap Voicemail. In the top right of your screen, tap Edit. Then, tap the bubble that appears next to each of your messages to select it. If you would like to delete all of your voicemail messages, tap every bubble until they’re each filled with a blue check mark icon. Finally, tap Delete. If you would like to delete a blocked contact, go to the Contacts section of the phone app. Then, tap on the contact you would like to delete. If you would prefer just… Read more »

Courtney Crow
2 years ago
Reply to  Deborah

My phone has an edit button.

Deborah
2 years ago

My voicemail is empty but when someone calls it states my voice box is full.

David Kemp
2 years ago
Reply to  Deborah

My voicemail is empty but when someone calls it says my voicemail is full.

Gale
2 years ago

Thanks Bianca! I had “Blocked Caller” voicemails from years back. They’re all gone now. : )

Janice
3 years ago

My voicemail is empty but when someone calls it says it is full. I do not know my voicemail password.

Liam Shotwell
3 years ago
Reply to  Janice

You should reach out to your cell phone carrier to see if they can help you recover your voicemail password. I hope this helps! ?

Bill Krieger
1 year ago
Reply to  Liam Shotwell

Try getting a human being on these “Customer Service” lines – all you get is an electronic voice that has no idea how to fix the problem or how to allow me to talk to a human. Very annoying and now I need to drive to the local store. My carrier is T-Mobil

Sharon
3 years ago

Excellent, that fixed the problem.
thank you!

Scott
3 years ago

It’s amazing and frustrating that such a simple issue requires such a convoluted process. 1970s tape-based answering machines called and what their problem back. Is there really no way to get notified that your voicemail is full or close to full? Not even a way to see how full your voicemail is? It’s a problem that could easily be solved if Apple and/or wireless companies gave a hoot.

Liam Shotwell
3 years ago
Reply to  Scott

Can confirm that this issue has frustrated me from time to time. It’s up the mobile networks to sort that issue out, as Apple only is responsible with the hardware and software of the phones themselves. Fortunately this issue isn’t debilitating, but that’s probably the reason why they are dragging their feet to provide a solution ?

Linda
3 years ago

What about the issue of not getting warnings of how full your voicemail is? I don’t get warnings any more that tells me it’s 90% or more full. I don’t know it’s full until someone tells me.

Liam Shotwell
3 years ago
Reply to  Linda

This may depend on your carrier. Try reaching out to your carrier to see if they know what’s wrong

Nila
3 years ago

I was deleting my voicemails and my dad keep telling me that my mailbox was full. It was so frustrating. Thank you so much for your help. Problem solved!!

Alicia
3 years ago
Reply to  Nila

Can you tell me how you resolved the problem?

Val
1 year ago
Reply to  Alicia

Please tell me how to delete history. Apparently my in box is still full. I did go to phone + blocking and cleared but still says it’s full

Eddie
3 years ago

Muchas Gracias… You made my day. God Bless You