How To Disable Voicemail On Android: 7 Options

There are numerous reasons why you might want to disable your voicemail service, including the time, cost, or cat-and-mouse game that voicemails entail. There are various methods for disabling voicemail. For detailed instructions on how to disable your phone’s voicemail, please continue reading.

How To Disable Voicemail On Android

Use Your Phone (MMI) Codes To Deactivate Voicemail

The quickest and simplest way to completely disable voicemail so that other people cannot leave you messages is to use an MMI code. Using an MMI code, also known as a man-machine interface code, your phone can interact with your mobile service provider and modify settings that, among other things, affect how calls are handled on your phone.

One of these codes is ##004#, which tells your mobile service provider to disable your conditional call forwarding settings. This turns off a function that is necessary for your voicemail to function. As a result, your voicemail is also disabled when your conditional call forwarding settings are.

Even though they are required to, not all mobile service providers adhere to international MMI code standards. Thus, this approach might not be effective depending on your service provider.

Try dialing ##004# from your phone app as shown in the screenshot below, and then give yourself a test call using another phone to see if your voicemail has turned off successfully.

Some phone providers, like Optus in Australia for example, don’t allow ##004# as a method to turn off your voicemail, but they do provide alternatives.

In the case of Optus, you can dial 1509 and call the number. Follow the prompts and select the ‘voicemail’ option and follow this by choosing the ‘deactivate’ option.

f you’re using a Postpaid mobile service you can also use the Optus SMS menu by texting the number ‘8’ to 9999 and following the remaining prompts.

‍The websites of other well-known carriers should have the service codes.

Turn Voicemail Into Text

Although voicemail isn’t going away anytime soon, you can eliminate the voice component by using visual voicemail, which transcribes your messages. Mobile carriers have paid options available, but Google Voice provides it for nothing.

You can use Google Voice by forwarding your calls to a free Google Voice number. Google transcribes your voicemail and sends it to you via text or email.

Disable Your Voicemail Through Your Phone Settings

Unfortunately, only Android-based devices can be used with this technique. Users of iPhones should try alternative methods.

Your phone model and service provider will determine the specific voicemail options to which you will have access. In some circumstances, it might not be possible for you to turn off your voicemail. Attempt the other strategies in that case as well.

To see if your phone is capable of turning off voicemail through its settings, look in the voicemail settings and search for a “deactivate” or ‘turn off” option. If you choose the right option, disabling it will disable voicemail. Keep in mind that using this method backward will always enable your voicemail services.

Through the call settings on your phone, you might be able to disable “call forwarding” as well. This can be found by accessing the settings in your phone’s calling app, then choosing “supplementary services” then choosing “disable” for forwarding when busy, unanswered, or unreachable. 

Use A Smart Voicemail App

Many people dread having to listen to their voicemail messages. Consider switching to a visual voicemail app to get the advantages of voicemail without the hassle.

Checking your voicemails becomes more similar to checking your text messages with a visual voicemail app. To make your life easier, visual voicemail apps work with your service provider.

With a visual voicemail app, your messages are translated and presented in an email-like format so you can quickly read and prioritize them without having to painstakingly listen to each individual audio message.

You don’t even have to dial a number to learn who called, how long the call lasted, or what was said in the message. Just open the app, select the voicemails you want to listen to, and scroll through them.

Contact Your Phone Provider Directly

While some phones let you manually turn off your voicemail, most voicemail services are managed by your service provider. Therefore, to turn off your voicemail, you might need to get in touch with the customer service department of your mobile provider.

You can speak with a representative who can assist you by calling the customer service number for your service provider. On their website, your specific carrier’s contact details will be listed.

Check your phone’s home page or billing details if you are unsure who your service provider is. Although calling service hotlines is free, you should think about blocking out some time in your schedule.

Depending on the time of day, call volume can be high, and you might have to wait a long time on hold before speaking to anyone.

As an alternative, you can log on to your service provider’s website and register your profile there. The voicemail feature can typically be changed in the account settings tab after you create an account. Contacting the service provider directly will save you time and hassle in doing this.

Fill Your Mailbox

Having a full mailbox is one effective way to put voicemail on the back burner. A greeting informs the caller that the mailbox is full and they won’t be able to leave a message when you reject or miss a call.

Here are some ideas for stuffing your mailbox:

• Never remove voicemails and let the box fill up.
• Play music through the speaker after making a phone call and listening for the beep. If voicemails have a cutoff time, you might have to record a few messages before you can receive more, but once you do, you can’t.
• If no one is checking the mailbox, change your greeting to direct callers to send a text or email instead of leaving a message.

Use Carrier Codes To Remove Voicemail

Voicemail may be disabled with the assistance of your carrier. You can also call the helpline directly to speak with a representative or call customer service using a carrier code. Dial 611 from your smartphone if you use it In the US, choose Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile.

While you’re on the phone, you ought to be able to speak to someone who can turn off your voicemail.

Why Is My Voicemail Not Working On My Android Phone

There are a few possible causes for your Android phone’s voicemail not functioning. One possibility is that you haven’t yet configured your voicemail system.

It’s also possible that you do, but the service isn’t turned on. To check if the service is activated, open your phone’s dialer and enter ##4636##. This will display the Device Information menu.