This guide will show you how to disable voicemail on your Android phone so that callers can no longer leave you messages. Voicemail services are typically controlled by mobile carriers, meaning you’ll likely need to contact their support team to fully disable the feature. Alternatively, you can use call forwarding or even fill up your voicemail box to prevent new messages.
How to prevent voicemail messages on your Android
Follow these steps to manage and disable voicemail on your Android device.
Method 1: Contacting your carrier
- Open your Android’s Phone app. This app usually has an icon resembling a phone receiver. Tap the phone icon on your Home screen to open the app.
- Open the dialer tab. If your Phone app doesn’t open directly to the dial pad, tap the dial pad icon (10 squares) to open it.
- Enter your carrier’s customer support number. Use the dial pad to type your carrier’s support code, which can be found on their website. Some common carrier support codes include:
- Tap the Call button. This is typically a green icon resembling a phone receiver.
- Follow any spoken instructions. Each carrier’s customer service menu is different. You will generally be asked to select a language and then given a list of options. You may be asked to say what you are calling about or press a button that corresponds to the option you are calling about on the dial pad. Select the option related to voicemail or your service plan. You may be asked for your voicemail PIN, an account password, and/or other credentials.
- Ask the support agent to disable your voicemail service. Once the customer service representative or automated service confirms that your voicemail has been disabled, you can hang up.
Method 2: Enable call forwarding
- Open the Phone app. This app typically has an icon resembling a phone receiver. Tap the phone icon on your Home screen to open the app. Enabling voicemail doesn’t disable your voicemail; it merely forwards the call to a different number. This is generally a short-term solution. Calling your carrier is the only reliable long-term way to turn off voicemail on your Android.
- Tap the Menu icon (⋮). This icon usually consists of three dots in the upper-right corner of the Phone app and displays the menu.
- TapSettings. It’s one of the options listed in the menu.
- Look for a call-forwarding option. The location of this option will vary depending on your phone model and carrier. It may be found under More Settings, Advanced, or Supplementary services. Not all phone carriers support Call Forwarding, so if you cannot find this option, it may not be supported by your carrier.
- Select the call-forwarding option. This will usually be labeled something like Call forwarding or Forwarding settings.
- Tap a Call-Forwarding option. There are generally four Call Forwarding settings, usually similar to the following:
- Always Forward: This option forwards all your calls to a different number.
- Forward when busy: This option forwards your calls when you are on another call.
- Forward when unanswered: This forwards your calls to a different number when the call goes unanswered. This is the best option to bypass your voicemail because calls will be forwarded to a different number instead of your voicemail.
- Forward when unreachable: This forwards calls when your phone is off or not able to receive service.
- Enter a phone number to forward the calls to. You can forward calls to any phone number of your choice. Use an inactive phone number if you know one.
- ClickTurn On. This enables call forwarding and sends your phone calls to the specified number.
Method 3: Filling up your mailbox
- Put your Android into airplane mode. Before you begin, you’ll want to turn on airplane mode (or turn the Android off) so calls are automatically routed to voicemail. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait for the phone to finish ringing before you can leave a message. To put your phone in airplane mode, swipe down from the top of your phone screen and tap the icon that resembles an airplane.
- Dial your own phone number from another phone line. You can use a landline, a friend’s phone, or an online service like Google Voice to place the call.
- Leave yourself a message. You don’t have to say much, but make sure you take a few seconds before hanging up.
- Hang up and repeat the process. Continue leaving yourself messages until you hear a message telling you the voice mailbox is full. The number of messages required to fill a mailbox varies by carrier. For example, if you have Verizon, you’ll need 20 messages to fill it. If you have Sprint, you’ll need 30 messages. Most carriers, including Sprint, delete new messages if you haven’t retrieved them in 30 days. This means you’ll have to repeat this process once a month to keep your voicemail box full.
What to do next?
After successfully disabling your voicemail, consider updating your contact information with important individuals to ensure they have an alternative way to reach you, such as a secondary phone number or email address. You might also explore messaging apps or other communication platforms that allow for asynchronous communication without the need for traditional voicemail.
If you opted for call forwarding, regularly check the forwarded number to ensure it remains inactive or serves its intended purpose. For those who filled their voicemail, be mindful of your carrier’s message retention policy and set a reminder to repeat the process if needed to keep the mailbox consistently full.
