Are you experiencing a problem where your iPhone voicemail says it’s full even though you’ve already cleared all your messages?
Don’t worry, it’s a common issue and can be fixed easily. In this guide, I’ll go through the step-by-step instructions to clear a full mailbox on your iPhone.
To fix the “Voicemail is Full” error on your iPhone, first make sure all voicemails are permanently deleted by tapping on the Voicemail icon in the Phone app, selecting Deleted Messages, and then tapping Clear All.
Then, delete any blocked voicemails by tapping on the Blocked Messages category in your voicemail inbox.
If that doesn’t work, try deleting your voicemails in Airplane Mode by turning on Airplane Mode in the Control Center.
If the issue persists, contact your mobile carrier and follow their specific instructions to delete voicemails stored on their server.
10 Ways How to Fix Voicemail is Full on iPhone Error
Table of Contents
Fix 1 – Delete Voicemails Permanently on iPhone
Most of the time, people let their deleted voicemails sit in their voicemail inbox, taking up space on their iPhone. To permanently delete your voicemails, follow these steps:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap on the Voicemail icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Next, select “Deleted Messages.”
- Tap “Clear All” in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
- Finally, tap “Clear All” again to permanently clear deleted voicemails.
Fix 2 – Turn on Airplane Mode and Delete your Old Voicemails
Turning on airplane mode on your iPhone disables all wireless connections, including cellular data and Wi-Fi, which can help force a sync between your iPhone and your carrier’s voicemail server, allowing you to delete voicemails that weren’t previously deleted due to syncing issues.
By turning off airplane mode, your iPhone re-establishes its connection to the carrier’s voicemail server, which should resolve the “Voicemail is Full” error message on your iPhone.
Fix 3 – Check Messages and Change Voicemail Password
One effective method to fix the voicemail full error on an iPhone is to check messages and change the voicemail password.
- To do this, first, go to Settings and select Phone.
- Then, choose the option “Change Voicemail Password” and enter your new PIN twice.
- After this, return to the Home screen and dial your voicemail.
- When prompted for your voicemail PIN, simply hang up without entering anything.
- Check to see if the problem still persists.
Some users may need to enter their new password to access their voicemail. The service will then notify you that your voicemail is full.
Hang up, wait for thirty seconds, and then dial again. Experiment with both options to find the best solution. This approach can help to clear up any voicemail full errors on your iPhone.
Fix 4 – Delete Voicemails from Mobile Carrier
Even if you’ve deleted all your voicemails from the Phone app, your iPhone may still say voicemail is full.
This means that the voicemails are stored directly on your cell phone carrier server, and your iPhone only downloads and stores them for your convenience.
Your cell phone carrier provides limited storage capacity for your voicemails, so you need to delete them from there.
The steps will be different depending on your cell phone carrier. Here are the instructions for the four major US carriers:
- Verizon – To retrieve and delete your voicemails, dial *86 on your phone. If you’re calling from another number, call your phone number and press # to cut through the greetings. Follow the prompts to access and delete your messages.
- AT&T – Press and hold 1 to access your voicemail. When prompted, enter your password. If you are using a different phone, dial the 10-digit mobile phone number. When you reach the voicemail system greeting, press the Star key (*), and then enter your password to log into your voicemail account. Listen to your messages; then erase them.
- T-Mobile – Call your own number or long-press 1 or dial 123 on your dialer to access your voicemail. Alternatively, call 1-805-637-7249, enter your 10-digit number. When you hear the voicemail greeting message, press the star key (*) and enter your password. Then, use the appropriate keypad number to delete your voicemails.
- Sprint – Call your phone number or long-press 1, wait until the call goes to voicemail. When the greeting message starts playing, press the star key (*), then enter your passcode. From there, you can listen and delete your voicemails.
Fix 5 – Check for a Carrier Settings Update
Checking for a Carrier Settings Update can help fix the Voicemail is Full on iPhone error because carrier settings updates often include bug fixes and improvements that can resolve common issues, including voicemail problems.
These updates may also improve network connectivity and communication between your iPhone and your carrier’s network, which can impact the way your voicemail functions.
To check for a carrier settings update, go to Settings > General > About. If an update is available, you’ll see a prompt to download and install it. Once installed, restart your iPhone and check to see if the voicemail full error has been resolved.
Fix 6 – Reset Network Settings
Resetting Network Settings can help fix the Voicemail is Full on iPhone Error as it clears the current network settings on your device, including cellular, Wi-Fi, and VPN configurations, and restores them to the default settings.
This process can also fix any network-related issues that may be causing the error.
Steps to Reset Network Settings in iOS 15, iOS 16 and Later Versions
- Step 1 Go to “Settings.”
- Step 2 Go to “General,” then “Transfer or Reset iPhone.”
- Step 3 Finally, select “Reset” > “Reset Network Settings.” Enter your iPhone Lock passcode and try again after a restart. Other crucial settings, media, messages, and other data will not be erased throughout this process.
For iOS 14 & Earlier
- Step 1 Launch the Settings app.
- Step 2 Select General.
- Step 3 Locate and launch Reset.
- Step 4 Reset Network Settings should be selected.
- Step 5 Enter your iPhone’s passcode and press the Reset button.
Fix 7 – Force Restart iPhone
The article begins with a basic force restarting iPhone. Often, the problem is caused by a software glitch, which can be resolved by restarting the iPhone. Check out the steps based on your iPhone model.
iPhone 8 and later
- Step 1 Press and release the Volume Up button quickly.
- Step 2 Press and release the Volume Down button quickly.
- Step 3 When the Apple logo appears, press and hold the Side button for a few seconds before releasing it.
For the iPhone 7/7 Plus
- Hold down the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time until the Apple logo appears.
For iPhone 6S and previous models
- Press and hold the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
Fix 8 – Update Software on your iPhone
Updating iOS can help fix the Voicemail is Full on iPhone error by addressing any bugs or issues related to the voicemail service.
These updates can improve the overall performance and stability of the device, including the voicemail feature.
Additionally, the update may include new features and improvements that could help prevent the error from occurring in the future.
- Step 1 Select the Settings app.
- Step 2 Select the General.
- Step 3 Scroll to the bottom and click Software Update.
- Step 4 If a software update is available, download and install it.
Fix 9 – Disable Call Forwarding
Disabling call forwarding can help fix Voicemail is Full on iPhone Error by ensuring that all incoming calls are directed to voicemail, instead of being forwarded to another phone number or service.
This can prevent voicemail messages from being redirected or lost, and help ensure that they are properly stored on the device.
- To disable call forwarding on an iPhone, users can go to the Settings app, select Phone, then Call Forwarding, and turn the toggle switch off.
This will prevent any incoming calls from being forwarded and ensure that they are directed to the voicemail service.
Fix 10 – Contact Your Carrier
Voicemail is a service provided by a carrier. If the problem persists, contact your carrier’s support line and request that your voicemail be reset. We’re confident they’ll discover a solution to your problem.
Here are the customer service websites for the major cellphone providers:
Why Is My Voicemail Full?
There are several reasons why you may be facing the Voicemail Full error on your iPhone. One common cause is that your voicemail box has reached its capacity limit.
This means that you have used up all the storage space allotted for your voicemail messages, and therefore new messages cannot be recorded.
Another possible reason is that there could be a glitch in your carrier’s network, which can cause the error message to appear even if your voicemail box is not full.
Additionally, outdated carrier settings, software bugs, and outdated iOS versions can also lead to this error message.
In some cases, the error may also be caused by a problem with the network settings on your iPhone, or by call forwarding settings that are preventing your voicemails from being recorded properly.
By following some of the troubleshooting steps mentioned earlier, you may be able to pinpoint the specific reason why you are facing the Voicemail Full error on your iPhone and take the necessary steps to resolve the issue.
Why does iPhone say the Voicemail is Full but actually there is no voicemail?
This voicemail issue could be caused by a delay in voicemail sync. And, owing to network delays or Internet/server issues, what you see on your device (local) may not be synchronized correctly or promptly to the Voicemail Box on the Network provider side.
Or the iPhone failed to recognize the actual voicemail storage capacity.
iPhone says Voicemail is Full but it is not, How to Fix: FAQ’s
How to delete voicemails permanently on iPhone to fix the “Voicemail is Full” error?
To delete voicemails permanently on iPhone and fix the “Voicemail is Full” error, open the Phone app, tap on the Voicemail icon, select “Deleted Messages,” and then tap “Clear All” in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Finally, tap “Clear All” again to permanently delete deleted voicemails.
How to delete blocked voicemails to fix the “Voicemail is Full” error on iPhone?
To delete blocked voicemails and fix the “Voicemail is Full” error on iPhone, go to the Voicemail inbox, tap on “Blocked Messages,” and then swipe left on each voicemail message to delete it.
How to delete voicemails in Airplane Mode to fix the “Voicemail is Full” error on iPhone?
To delete voicemails in Airplane Mode and fix the “Voicemail is Full” error on iPhone, turn on Airplane Mode in the Control Center, go to the Voicemail inbox, and delete voicemails as usual. After deleting voicemails, turn off Airplane Mode to re-establish a connection with the carrier’s voicemail server.
What should I do if the “Voicemail is Full” error persists even after deleting voicemails on iPhone?
If the “Voicemail is Full” error persists even after deleting voicemails on iPhone, contact your mobile carrier and follow their specific instructions to delete voicemails stored on their server.
How to check for a carrier settings update to fix the “Voicemail is Full” error on iPhone?
To check for a carrier settings update to fix the “Voicemail is Full” error on iPhone, go to Settings > General > About. If an update is available, you’ll see a prompt to download and install it. Once installed, restart your iPhone and check to see if the voicemail full error has been resolved.
How to reset network settings to fix the “Voicemail is Full” error on iPhone?
To reset network settings to fix the “Voicemail is Full” error on iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This process clears the current network settings on your device, including cellular, Wi-Fi, and VPN configurations, and restores them to the default settings.
iPhone says Voicemail is Full but it is not – Conclusion
That’s all. All of the fixes listed above are essential and should work for you if done in order. Different cellphone users have different solutions, however, these are the basic voicemail troubleshooting steps.
Although you can get help from your carrier’s help desk and support via phone call, chat, and mail. Help Executive will examine the status of your account and assist you in resolving voicemail issues at the account level.
Which of these strategies was effective for you? Did you come up with any other solutions to this problem? Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
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