Access Voicemail on Your Samsung Phone

To check voicemail on a Samsung phone, open the Phone app, tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom of the screen, and select the voicemail message you want to hear. On most Samsung devices, the Voicemail tab appears alongside Favorites, Recents, and Contacts. If you do not see a Voicemail tab, your carrier may require you to dial your voicemail number instead — usually *86 or 1-800 followed by your phone number.

The exact steps depend on whether your carrier is Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or another provider, because each one manages voicemail slightly differently. Samsung phones work with all major carriers, but the voicemail interface you see is controlled by your carrier's system, not by Samsung itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Phone app, tap the Voicemail tab, and select a message to listen to it — this works on most Samsung phones with major carriers.
  • If you do not see a Voicemail tab, dial your carrier's voicemail number (usually *86) to reach your voicemail from the keypad.
  • You can delete, save, or share voicemail messages directly from the Voicemail tab after you listen to them.
  • If voicemail is not working, restart your phone, check that you have a data or cellular connection, and contact your carrier to confirm voicemail is turned on for your account.

Find the Voicemail Tab in the Phone App

On Samsung phones running Android 10 or newer, the Phone app has a tab bar at the bottom with four options: Favorites, Recents, Contacts, and Voicemail. Tap the Voicemail tab — it usually shows an envelope or speaker icon. Your voicemail messages appear as a list with the caller's name or number, the time the message arrived, and how long the message is.

On some older Samsung models or if your carrier has customized the Phone app, the Voicemail tab may not appear. In that case, you can still reach voicemail by dialing your carrier's access number. Press the keypad icon in the Phone app and dial *86 (works on most carriers), or contact your carrier to find out the correct number.

Listen to, Delete, or Save a Voicemail Message

Tap any message in the Voicemail tab to play it. The message will play through your phone's speaker or earpiece, depending on how you are holding the phone. While a message is playing, you can pause, rewind, or fast-forward using the controls on the screen.

After you listen, you have three options. Swipe left on the message to delete it, or tap the three-dot menu icon next to the message to see more options — usually Save, Delete, or Share. Saved messages stay in your voicemail inbox indefinitely, while deleted messages are removed after 30 days on most carriers' systems.

Dial Your Voicemail Number Manually

If the Voicemail tab is missing or not working, you can reach voicemail by dialing. Open the Phone app, tap the keypad icon, and dial one of these numbers depending on your carrier:

  • Verizon: *86
  • AT&T: *98
  • T-Mobile: *86
  • Other carriers: Ask your carrier or check your account online

When you dial the number, your carrier's voicemail system will answer and ask you to enter your PIN (usually the last four digits of your phone number, unless you set a custom PIN). After you enter your PIN, you can listen to messages, delete them, or record a new greeting.

Turn On Voicemail if It Is Not Working

If you are not receiving voicemail notifications or cannot see messages in the Voicemail tab, start by restarting your phone. Power it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. This fixes most connection issues that prevent voicemail from syncing.

Next, check that you have an active cellular or data connection — voicemail requires at least one of these to work. If your phone shows no signal bars or airplane mode is on, turn airplane mode off and wait for the signal to return.

If voicemail still is not working after a restart and you have a good connection, contact your carrier's customer service. Voicemail must be turned on in your account, and your carrier can confirm whether it is active and reset it if needed. You can usually reach them by calling their customer service number from another phone or logging into your account online.

Set Up a Voicemail Greeting

To record a custom greeting that callers hear when they reach your voicemail, dial your voicemail number (such as *86) and follow the prompts. Most carriers let you record a greeting the first time you set up voicemail, but you can change it anytime by calling the voicemail number again and selecting the option to record a new greeting.

Your greeting should be brief — 10 to 15 seconds is typical — and should include your name and a request for the caller to leave a message. Some people also mention when they will return the call. After you record, the system will ask you to listen to it and confirm that you want to save it.

Troubleshoot Missing or Unread Voicemail Notifications

If you are not getting notifications when voicemail arrives, check your notification settings in the Phone app. Open Settings, go to Apps, find Phone, tap Notifications, and make sure notifications are turned on. You can also choose whether to receive a notification sound, vibration, or both.

Some Samsung phones have a Do Not Disturb mode that silences notifications even when the app allows them. Check your Quick Settings panel (swipe down twice from the top) and make sure Do Not Disturb is off, or set it to allow calls and messages from your contacts.

If notifications are on and Do Not Disturb is off but you still are not getting alerts, restart your phone and check your carrier's website to confirm voicemail is active on your account. Carriers sometimes disable voicemail temporarily if there is a billing issue or account change.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I have a new voicemail?

A notification appears on your lock screen or in your notification panel when a new voicemail arrives. The Voicemail tab in the Phone app also shows a red badge with the number of unread messages. If notifications are turned off, you will only see the badge when you open the Phone app.

Can I listen to voicemail without using cellular data?

No. Voicemail requires either a cellular connection or Wi-Fi to read and play messages. If you are in airplane mode or have no signal, you cannot access voicemail until you regain a connection.

What happens to voicemail messages after I delete them?

Deleted messages stay in a trash or deleted folder for 30 days on most carriers before being permanently removed. Some carriers let you recover deleted messages during this window — check your carrier's voicemail system by dialing your voicemail number to see if a recovery option is available.

Why is the Voicemail tab not showing in my Phone app?

Some carriers or older Samsung models do not display a Voicemail tab. You can still reach voicemail by dialing *86 or your carrier's voicemail number from the keypad. If you want the tab to appear, contact your carrier to confirm voicemail is turned on and ask if they support the visual voicemail feature on your phone model.

Can I check voicemail from another phone?

Yes. Dial your own phone number from another phone, and when your voicemail greeting plays, press the asterisk (*) or pound (#) key to interrupt it and enter your PIN. This lets you access your voicemail from any phone with a dial tone.