Save Voicemails
How to save voicemails forever
A voicemail in your carrier's mailbox isn't kept forever. It's only safe once it's a file you control, kept in two places. Here's how on iPhone, Android and a computer, and what each US carrier publishes.
By Sri Muniandy · Every step links to its source · Last verified 6 Nov 2026
The quick answer
Pick where the voicemail is now.
Steps for your carrier
Two questions. You'll see how long messages are kept and exactly how to save them.
1 · Which carrier?
2 · Which phone?
Pick a carrier and a phone to see the steps.
What each carrier publishes
From each carrier's own help pages. Where a carrier doesn't publish something, we say so rather than guess.
| Carrier | How long messages are kept | If the line is cancelled | How to save | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&TVisual Voicemail | Up to 40 messages, kept for 30 days. Each message up to 4 minutes. | AT&T doesn't publish this. | AT&T doesn't publish how to export messages. On iPhone, use Share in the Phone app. | Source: AT&T Visual Voicemail (opens in a new tab) Last verified 6 Nov 2026 |
| AT&TBasic Voicemail | Up to 20 messages, kept for 14 days. Each message up to 2 minutes. | AT&T doesn't publish this. | AT&T doesn't publish how to export messages. Play each one on speaker and record it on another device. | Source: AT&T Basic Voicemail (opens in a new tab) Last verified 6 Nov 2026 |
| AT&TEnhanced Voicemail ($1.99 a month) | Up to 40 messages, kept for 30 days. Each message up to 4 minutes. | AT&T doesn't publish this. | AT&T doesn't publish how to export messages. Play each one on speaker and record it on another device. | Source: AT&T Enhanced Voicemail ($1.99 a month) (opens in a new tab) Last verified 6 Nov 2026 |
| VerizonBasic Voicemail | Up to 20 messages, up to 3 minutes each. Verizon doesn't publish how long they're kept. | Verizon doesn't publish this. | Press 9 to save a message. Erased messages are permanently deleted. For copies, Verizon refers families to CBW Productions, a paid third-party service; the messages must still be in the mailbox. | Source: Verizon Basic Voicemail (opens in a new tab) Last verified 6 Nov 2026 |
| VerizonBasic Visual and Premium Visual Voicemail (Premium $2.99 a line a month, Android) | Verizon doesn't publish this. | Verizon doesn't publish this. | Save messages to the phone or send them to email. On iPhone, use Share in the Phone app. | Source: Verizon Basic Visual and Premium Visual Voicemail (Premium $2.99 a line a month, Android) (opens in a new tab) Last verified 6 Nov 2026 |
| VerizonA line after a death | Verizon doesn't publish this. | The line can be transferred to another Verizon account or disconnected, on 800-922-0204. Requests are reviewed in about 3 business days. | Verizon says: “Before disconnecting a line, you can save any voicemails from that line.” | Source: Verizon A line after a death (opens in a new tab) Last verified 6 Nov 2026 |
| T-MobileVoicemail | Unsaved messages are deleted after 14 to 30 days, depending on the type of message. | T-Mobile doesn't publish this. | Press 9 to save a message. Deleted messages can't be recovered. | Source: T-Mobile Voicemail (opens in a new tab) Last verified 6 Nov 2026 |
| T-MobileVisual Voicemail app (Android) | Same mailbox as above: unsaved messages are deleted after 14 to 30 days. | T-Mobile doesn't publish this. | Press and hold a message, then choose Save message to, or Forward to email. Never clear the app's cache or data. | Source: T-Mobile Visual Voicemail app (Android) (opens in a new tab) Last verified 6 Nov 2026 |
| Google FiVoicemail | Kept until they're deleted, or the Google Account is. | The export still works after Fi service is cancelled. | Download them as MP3 files with Google Takeout, on a computer. | Source: Google Fi Voicemail (opens in a new tab) Last verified 6 Nov 2026 |
| Google VoiceVoicemail | Google doesn't publish this. | Google doesn't publish this. | Google Takeout exports voicemails and voicemail transcripts. | Source: Google Voice Voicemail (opens in a new tab) Last verified 6 Nov 2026 |
| Any carrieriPhone with Visual Voicemail | Kept until deleted, or until the carrier erases them if they aren't stored in iCloud. | Apple says messages may also be deleted if the SIM card is changed. | Phone app: Calls (or Voicemail), tap the message, tap Share, then Save to Files or AirDrop. Recently deleted ones are under Deleted Messages. | Source: Any carrier iPhone with Visual Voicemail (opens in a new tab) Last verified 6 Nov 2026 |
Saving a loved one's voicemails
Don't cancel or transfer their phone line yet.
US carriers don't publish what happens to voicemail when a line closes, so save the messages first. Leave the SIM card in their phone too: Apple says voice messages may be deleted if it's changed. The line can wait.
There's no rush beyond that. Use the steps above for their carrier and phone, one message at a time, and ask someone to sit with you if that helps. If you can't unlock their phone, you can usually still reach their messages by calling their number and entering the voicemail password.
When you're ready to close the line, Verizon lets families transfer it to another account or disconnect it on 800-922-0204, and says requests are reviewed in about 3 business days. Its page says: “Before disconnecting a line, you can save any voicemails from that line.” Source: Verizon: Deceased account handling (opens in a new tab) · Last verified 6 Nov 2026
Name each file with the date and who is speaking, and keep it in two places. For the rest of what someone leaves behind online, see our guide to planning a digital legacy.
For the people still here, a recording you make on purpose holds more than a voicemail ever could.
Questions
How do I save a voicemail forever?
Turn it into a file you control, because a carrier's mailbox is not permanent. On iPhone, open the message in the Phone app, tap Share and choose Save to Files. On Android, use Save, Share or Forward on the message in your voicemail app. If there's no option, play it on speaker and record it on another device. Then keep the file in two places, such as a cloud drive and a computer.
How long do carriers keep voicemail?
It depends on the carrier and plan. AT&T keeps messages for 30 days, or 14 days on Basic Voicemail. T-Mobile deletes unsaved messages after 14 to 30 days, depending on the type. Verizon doesn't publish how long it keeps messages. Google Fi keeps them until they're deleted or the Google Account is.
How do I save voicemail on iPhone?
Open the Phone app. Tap Calls and then the message in Recents, or on the older layout tap Voicemail and then the message. Tap the Share button and choose Save to Files or AirDrop. This needs Visual Voicemail; if the Phone app only offers to call voicemail, play the message on speaker and record it on another device.
How do I save iPhone voicemail to a computer?
Open the message in the Phone app and tap Share. AirDrop it to a Mac, or choose Save to Files, put it in iCloud Drive, and open iCloud Drive on the computer to download it.
How do I save a voicemail on Android?
Open the voicemail in the Phone app or your carrier's visual voicemail app and look for Save, Share, Download or Forward. On T-Mobile's Visual Voicemail app, press and hold the message, then choose Save message to, or Forward to email. Verizon says the steps vary by phone model. If there's no option, play it on speaker and record it on another device.
What happens to voicemail when the line is cancelled?
AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile don't publish what happens to voicemail when a line is cancelled. Verizon's page for families says you can save voicemails before disconnecting a line. Google Fi says its Google Takeout export still works after Fi service is cancelled. Save the messages first, then close the line.
Can deleted voicemail be recovered?
Usually not from the carrier. Verizon says an erased message is permanently deleted, and T-Mobile says deleted messages can't be recovered. On an iPhone, check Deleted Messages in the Phone app: Apple says you can recover a message from there, although in some places the carrier may already have erased it.
General information from each company's help pages, checked on 6 Nov 2026. Steps can change with phone software updates.