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How to Set Up Voicemail on iPhone in 4 Steps, With Photos

hands holding a red iPhone XR with the homescreen displayed.

How to Set Up Voicemail on iPhone in 4 Steps, With Photos

Key Points

  • Setting up voicemail on your iPhone is important for maintaining connections, upholding your image, and communicating information to callers.
  • Your voicemail is the first impression missed callers have of you, so it’s crucial to have a welcoming and professional greeting.
  • Voicemails help callers choose their next step in trying to reach you by providing alternative contact information.
  • To set up voicemail on your iPhone, open the Phone app, tap the Voicemail icon, select the Greeting button, and choose a default or custom voicemail message.

You’ve set up your iPhone, logged into your Apple ID, and downloaded all your favorite apps. You’ve even set your lock screen. But did you take the time to set up voicemail on your iPhone? In all the excitement of playing with a new phone, it’s possible you saved this particular step for later. Fear not; we’re here to help you learn how to set up your voicemail on your iPhone in just a handful of simple steps. Follow along with the walkthrough below, and you’ll have a friendly greeting to offer your future callers in no time at all.

Why Set Up Voicemail on iPhone?

Woman using iPhone.
Your voicemail greets missed callers before they record their message.

©goffkein.pro/Shutterstock.com

Your voicemail is a fundamental feature on your iPhone. It might seem inconsequential, but your voicemail plays a pivotal role in maintaining connections, upholding your image, and communicating information to your contacts. Let’s take a closer look at why these three reasons are so important. We’ll then go over the steps required to set up your voicemail below.

Maintain Connections

Your voicemail is the first thing missed callers hear when you don’t pick up. Whether you’re a professional who relies on building clientele, an instructor who needs to relay an authoritative voice, or an interviewee awaiting an important call from a potential employer, your voicemail plays a major part in establishing and maintaining connections.

Uphold Image

Further, your voicemail helps uphold your image. If you miss a cold call from a potential client in your professional life, your voicemail is going to play a vital role in making a good first impression. Imagine you give someone your contact information and then miss their call. An unwelcoming or default voicemail could reflect a worse image than you’d probably prefer to convey.

Communicate Information

Voicemails also help communicate information to callers. Whether you offer an email they can reach you at, an alternative phone number they can try, or an address they can visit, your voicemail can help missed callers choose their next step in trying to reach you. Without a voicemail, you may turn people away by leaving them with no other way to get in touch.

How to Set Up Voicemail on iPhone

Now that you know how important it is to set up the voicemail on your iPhone, let’s break down the four simple steps to get it done. We should note that these tips are exclusive to iOS users — Android smartphone users will need to follow a different set of instructions to set up their voicemails. iPhone users can follow along with the steps and photos below to get set up.

Step One: Open Phone

Phone app on iPhone.
You’ll find your voicemail within the Phone app on your iPhone.

©History-Computer.com

First, open up the Phone app on your iPhone. Apple places this app in the bottom left corner of your device by default, but you can also find it by searching for it by name in the search bar.

Step Two: Hit Voicemail

Voicemail icon in Phone app.
Your voicemail is found on the far right tab in the Phone app.

©History-Computer.com

Once inside the Phone app, tap the Voicemail icon at the bottom on the far right side of the screen. This will take you to a collection of your saved voicemails as well as your voicemail settings.

Step Three: Tap Greeting

Greeting button highlighted on iPhone.
Your greeting can be edited in the top left corner of the Phone app.

©History-Computer.com

On the Voicemail tab, tap the Greeting button in the top left corner of the screen. This reveals a pop-up menu with settings pertaining to your voicemail and outgoing message.

Step Four: Set Up and Save

Voicemail greeting settings on iPhone.
You can use the default iPhone voicemail or record your own.

©History-Computer.com

On the Greeting menu, choose if you want a default voicemail or a custom one. If you choose custom, you can hit the Record button to record your outgoing message. Then, hit the Save button to make it official. That’s all there is to it. If you ever want to change your voicemail again, you can simply follow the same steps as above.

Summary Table

StepInstructions
Step One: Open PhoneOpen up the Phone app on your iPhone. Apple places this app in the bottom left corner of your device by default, but you can also find it by searching for it by name in the search bar.
Step Two: Hit VoicemailOnce inside the Phone app, tap the Voicemail icon at the bottom on the far right side of the screen. This will take you to a collection of your saved voicemails — as well as your voicemail settings.
Step Three: Tap GreetingOn the Voicemail tab, tap the Greeting button in the top left corner of the screen. This reveals a pop-up menu with settings pertaining to your voicemail and outgoing message.
Step Four: Set Up and SaveOn the Greeting menu, choose if you want a default voicemail or a custom one. If you choose custom, you can hit the Record button to record your outgoing message. Then, hit the Save button to make it official. That’s all there is to it. If you ever want to change your voicemail again, you can simply follow the same steps as above.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you set up voicemail on iPhone?

To set up your voicemail, open the Phone app, tap the Voicemail tab, hit Greeting, and follow the prompts to create a voicemail greeting and password.

How can I listen to my voicemail on iPhone?

To hear your voicemails, simply open the Phone app, go to the Voicemail tab, and tap on the message you want to listen to. New voicemails are marked with a blue dot.

How can I delete voicemail messages?

To delete voicemails on your iPhone, open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab. In the Voicemail tab, swipe left on the message you want to delete and then tap “Delete.”

How long can an iPhone voicemail be?

Voicemails on iPhone have a strict time limit of three minutes. Any longer, and your voicemail will be abruptly cut off.

Does iPhone transcribe voicemails?

Yes, the iPhone does transcribe voicemails. It’s not an instantaneous process, however. The transcript typically shows up in your voicemail’s details after listening through the voicemail once.

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