Where to find and change your outgoing voicemail message

Your outgoing message is the greeting callers hear when they reach your voicemail. On iPhone, you change it through the Phone app's Voicemail tab, not through Settings. Open the Phone app, tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right, then tap "Greeting" in the top left corner. From there you can record a new message or use the default greeting.

The process takes less than a minute. You do not need to restart your phone or sign into anything extra. Once you record and save your new greeting, it replaces the old one when ready for all incoming calls.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Phone app, go to the Voicemail tab, and tap Greeting to record or change your outgoing message.
  • You can record a custom greeting, use a default greeting, or delete your greeting entirely to use the system default.
  • Your new greeting takes effect right away and applies to all callers who reach your voicemail.
  • If you do not see a Greeting button, your carrier may not support custom greetings, or voicemail may not be set up on your account.
  • You can re-record your greeting as many times as you want before saving it.

Recording a custom greeting step by step

Tap the Greeting button and choose "Custom" from the options that appear. Your phone will show a red Record button. Tap it and speak your message clearly into the microphone. Keep it brief—most people record greetings between 10 and 30 seconds long. Speak at a normal pace and volume, as if you were talking to someone in the same room.

When you finish speaking, tap Stop. Your phone will play back what you recorded so you can hear it the way callers will. If you like it, tap Save. If you want to try again, tap Re-record and repeat the process. You can record as many times as you need before you save.

Using the default greeting instead

If you want to remove your custom greeting and go back to the standard message, tap Greeting and choose "Default." The default greeting is a straightforward system message that says your phone number and asks the caller to leave a message. This option takes effect when ready.

Some people prefer the default because it is shorter and more professional. Others use it temporarily while they are traveling or unavailable. You can switch back to a custom greeting whenever you want.

What to do if you cannot find the Greeting button

If you open the Voicemail tab and do not see a Greeting option, voicemail may not be set up on your account. Contact your carrier—AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or another provider—to confirm that voicemail is active. Some carriers require you to set up voicemail through their website or app before you can record a greeting on your phone.

If voicemail is active but you still do not see the Greeting button, try closing the Phone app completely and opening it again. If that does not work, restart your iPhone. Occasionally a software glitch prevents the button from appearing until you refresh the app or restart the device.

Common mistakes when recording your greeting

The most common mistake is speaking too quickly or too quietly. Callers may not understand your message if you rush through it or if background noise is loud. Record in a quiet room and speak at the same pace you would use in a normal conversation. Play back your recording before saving to make sure it is clear.

Another mistake is making the greeting too long. If your message is longer than 60 seconds, some callers may hang up before you finish. Keep it to the essentials: your name or phone number, a brief statement that you are unavailable, and an invitation to leave a message. You do not need to explain why you are unavailable or when you will call back.

Changing your greeting when you are traveling or out of office

If you are away and want callers to know, record a temporary greeting that mentions your absence. For example: "Hi, this is Marcus. I am out of the office until Friday and will return calls when I get back. Please leave a message." When you return, record a new greeting welcoming callers back to your normal availability.

Some people record a greeting that gives an alternative contact method, such as an email address or a colleague's phone number. This is helpful if you want callers to reach someone else while you are away. Make sure the alternative contact information is correct before you save the greeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a song or music as my outgoing message?

No. iPhone voicemail greetings must be recorded through the Phone app's microphone. You cannot upload a pre-recorded audio file or music. You can play music in the background while you record your greeting if you want, but the greeting itself must be your voice speaking into the phone.

Will my greeting play if I do not answer the phone?

Yes. Your greeting plays whenever a caller reaches your voicemail, whether you did not answer, rejected the call, or your phone was turned off. The greeting is the first thing callers hear before they can leave a message.

How long can my greeting be?

Most carriers allow greetings up to 60 seconds long, though some limit them to 30 seconds. iPhone does not enforce a strict limit during recording, but if your greeting is longer than your carrier allows, it may be cut off when callers hear it. Keep it under 30 seconds to be safe.

What if I delete my custom greeting by accident?

Go back to the Greeting button and record a new one. There is no undo function, but recording a replacement takes less than a minute. If you want to go back to the default greeting while you record a new custom one, tap Default first, then record your new message.

Do I need an internet connection to record a greeting?

No. Recording and saving a greeting uses only your phone's local storage and your carrier's voicemail system. You do not need Wi-Fi or cellular data to record, though your phone must have a signal to save the greeting to your voicemail account.