The fastest way depends on whether you want to delete the voicemail itself or just silence the notification

If you have an unread voicemail notification sitting on your phone, you have two separate choices: delete the voicemail message so the notification goes away permanently, or mark it as read so the notification badge disappears but the message stays in your voicemail box. Most people want the first option — to get rid of both the message and the alert. The steps differ slightly between iPhone and Android, and between your phone's built-in voicemail app and third-party services like Google Voice.

The notification itself is your phone's way of telling you that you have an unread message waiting. Once you deal with the message — either by listening to it, deleting it, or marking it read — the notification should disappear on its own. If it does not, you may have a stuck notification that requires a different fix.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open the Phone app, tap Voicemail, swipe left on the message, and tap Delete to remove both the voicemail and its notification.
  • On Android with Google Voice, open the app, find the voicemail, tap the three dots, and select Delete to clear the message and notification.
  • Marking a voicemail as read removes the notification badge without deleting the message, which is useful if you want to keep it but silence the alert.
  • If a notification persists after you delete the voicemail, restart your phone or check your notification settings to see if voicemail alerts are turned on.

Removing a voicemail on iPhone

Open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right. You will see a list of all your voicemails, with the unread ones usually shown first. Find the voicemail you want to remove, swipe left across it with your finger, and a red Delete button will appear. Tap Delete and the message is gone — the notification badge should disappear when ready.

If you want to listen to the voicemail first before deleting it, tap on the message to play it. You can delete it from the playback screen as well by tapping the trash icon. If you do not want to delete the message but just want the notification to stop, tap the message once to mark it as read, and the unread badge will vanish while the voicemail stays in your box.

Removing a voicemail on Android with Google Voice

Open the Google Voice app and look for the Voicemail section — it is usually one of the tabs at the bottom of the screen. Find the voicemail notification you want to remove and tap on it to open the message. Once the message is open, tap the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner and select Delete. The voicemail and its notification will be removed.

If you use your carrier's built-in voicemail app instead of Google Voice, the steps are similar but the app layout may differ. Look for a voicemail list, find the message, and look for a delete or trash icon. Some carrier apps require you to long-press the message to bring up a delete option.

What to do if the notification will not go away

Sometimes a voicemail notification gets stuck and does not disappear even after you delete the message. The fastest fix is to restart your phone — this clears out temporary glitches that can cause notifications to linger. Power off your phone completely, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. Check whether the notification is gone.

If restarting does not work, check your notification settings to make sure voicemail notifications are actually turned on in your phone's settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and look for Phone or Voicemail. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Google Voice (or your carrier's voicemail app) > Notifications. If notifications are off, turn them on, then turn them back off — this sometimes resets a stuck notification. If notifications are already on, try turning them off and back on again.

The difference between deleting and marking as read

Deleting a voicemail removes the message entirely from your voicemail box and clears the notification. Marking a voicemail as read keeps the message in your box but removes the unread badge and notification alert. Use marking as read if you want to keep the voicemail for your records but do not want to see the notification anymore.

On iPhone, you can mark a voicemail as read by swiping left and tapping Mark as Read instead of Delete. On Google Voice, tap the message and then tap the three dots menu — you should see an option to mark as read or archive. Archiving a message removes it from your main inbox but keeps it in a separate archive folder, which is another way to silence the notification without permanently deleting the message.

Why you might want to keep a voicemail instead of deleting it

Some voicemails contain information you need to reference later — a callback number, a time for an appointment, or details about a delivery. Instead of deleting these, mark them as read or archive them so the notification goes away but you can still find the message when you need it. This is especially useful for voicemails from doctors' offices, service providers, or other important contacts.

If you find yourself keeping voicemails regularly, consider writing down the important details in a note or calendar event instead. That way you have the information without the voicemail cluttering your inbox or creating notifications.

Turning off voicemail notifications entirely

If you do not want to see voicemail notifications at all, you can disable them in your phone's settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Phone and toggle off the notification permission. On Android with Google Voice, go to Settings > Apps > Google Voice > Notifications and turn off notification alerts. Be aware that if you turn off notifications, you will not be alerted when someone leaves you a voicemail — you will only know about it if you check your voicemail box manually.

Some people turn off voicemail notifications because they check their phone frequently anyway and do not need the extra alert. Others keep notifications on because they might miss a voicemail otherwise. The choice depends on your own habits and how important it is to you to respond to voicemails quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a voicemail without listening to it?

Yes. On both iPhone and Android, you can delete a voicemail directly from the list without opening it or playing the message. On iPhone, swipe left and tap Delete. On Google Voice, tap the three dots and select Delete. The message will be removed without you hearing it.

What if I delete a voicemail by accident?

On most phones and voicemail services, deleted voicemails cannot be recovered. Some carriers keep deleted messages in a trash or recently deleted folder for a limited time — check your voicemail app to see if there is a trash section. If not, the message is permanently gone, so be careful when deleting.

Why do I have a voicemail notification but no voicemail in my list?

This usually means the notification is stuck and the message has already been deleted or moved. Try restarting your phone. If the notification still appears, go to your phone's notification settings and toggle voicemail notifications off and back on. You can also contact your carrier to confirm whether you actually have an unread voicemail on their system.

Does marking a voicemail as read delete it?

No. Marking as read only removes the unread badge and notification — the voicemail stays in your box. You can still find it later by scrolling through your voicemail list. Deleting is the only action that removes the message permanently.

Can I set voicemail notifications to silent instead of turning them off?

Yes. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Phone and change the notification style to Silent or choose a different sound. On Android, open Google Voice settings, tap Notifications, and select your preferred sound or vibration pattern. This way you will still get a notification but it will not make noise or vibrate.