How to Clear Deleted Voicemails on iPhone & Save Storage

Conner Carey profile image
By Conner Carey
April 23, 2025

Do voicemails take up storage on your iPhone? Yes, so if you're looking to clear up storage, delete old voicemails! If you clear all voicemail but notice no change in your storage space, it's because there's a hidden folder for deleted voicemails on your iPhone. Here's how to clear voicemail on your iPhone.

Why You'll Love This Tip:

  • Clear up storage space that's being taken up by voicemails.
  • Get rid of junk messages you don't need anymore.

How to Delete Voicemail on iPhone

System Requirements

This tip was performed on an iPhone 16 running iOS 18.3.1. Find out how to update to the latest version of iOS.

How do I empty voicemail? To truly clear voicemail, you need to clear Deleted Messages. Deleted Messages are deleted voicemails on iPhone that can be listened to, un-deleted, and permanently deleted with a Clear All. Now, here’s how to delete voicemails on iPhone permanently:

  1. Open the Phone app, and tap Voicemail. iphone phone keypad with voicemail tab circled in red
  2. Tap Deleted Messages at the bottom of your list of voicemails. tap deleted messages to see all deleted voicemail on iphone
  3. You can delete an individual message by swiping left on it. swipe left across deleted voicemail you want to delete
  4. Then, tap Clear to clear it. tap clear to delete deleted voicemail
  5. Alternatively, you can delete all your voicemails by tapping Clear All. Tap Clear All
  6. Tap Clear All again to confirm. tap clear all to delete deleted messages

That’s all there is to it! If someone sends you a voicemail you delete, know that it isn’t gone until it’s been completely cleared. This is reassuring if you accidentally deleted a priceless, hilarious voicemail from a friend. Depending on your cellular provider, the Deleted Messages folder might not automatically Clear All voicemails. If your carrier doesn't automatically clear your voicemails, you'll have to do it manually.

For more iPhone shortcuts and secrets, be sure to sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter.

Top image credit: PaeGAG / Shutterstock.com

Conner profile pic
written by

Conner Carey

Conner Carey's writing can be found at conpoet.com. She is currently writing a book, creating lots of content, and writing poetry via @conpoet on Instagram. She lives in an RV full-time with her mom, Jan and dog, Jodi as they slow-travel around the country. 

Learn about Conner

Related Articles