iPhone Voicemail: How to Check It From Another Phone

To check your iPhone voicemail from another phone, dial your own wireless number, and when your voicemail greeting begins, press the asterisk (*) key to interrupt it, then enter your voicemail password when prompted. This works from any touch-tone phone, including landlines and other mobiles, and lets you listen to messages, save or delete them, and change your greeting remotely.

Why You Might Need Remote Voicemail Access

There are several everyday situations where you need to reach your voicemail but don’t have your iPhone in hand:

You left your phone at home or in the car and need to check for an important message.
Your iPhone’s battery is dead, but you have access to a colleague’s desk phone.
You’re traveling abroad and your iPhone has no cellular service, but you can make a call from a hotel phone or a friend’s device.
Your iPhone is being repaired or replaced, and you need to retrieve messages from your old number.

Knowing how to access voicemail remotely is a simple but valuable skill that can save you from missing time-sensitive calls.

How iPhone Voicemail Works

iPhone voicemail is handled by your carrier, not by Apple. When someone calls and you don’t answer, the call is forwarded to your carrier’s voicemail system, which records the message and stores it on their servers. The Visual Voicemail feature on your iPhone simply downloads a list of those messages and lets you play them in any order. When you call your own number from another phone, you’re reaching that same carrier voicemail system, not your iPhone itself.

Because the system is carrier-based, the exact steps and prompts can vary slightly by provider, but the core process is the same across all major U.S. carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) and most international ones. You are always dialing your own number, interrupting the greeting with *, and then entering your password.

Step-by-Step: Checking Voicemail From Another Phone

Follow these steps to retrieve your messages from any phone:

Call your own wireless number from the phone you’re using. Use the full 10-digit number (or the full international format if you’re abroad).
Wait for your voicemail greeting to start playing. You’ll hear your recorded greeting, or if you haven’t set one, the carrier’s default greeting.
Press the asterisk (*) key on the keypad. This interrupts the greeting and signals the system that you are a caller trying to access the mailbox, not a caller leaving a message.
Enter your voicemail password when prompted. This is the same password you use to access voicemail from your iPhone’s Phone app. If you’ve never set a password, you may need to set one first (see the FAQ below).
Follow the voice prompts to listen to messages, save or delete them, or change your greeting. Common commands are:

Press 1 to hear new messages.
Press 7 to delete the current message.
Press 9 to save the current message.
Press 0 for help or to access mailbox options.

If you press * and nothing happens, you may be on a phone system that doesn’t support in-call keypad tones (some VoIP lines do not). In that case, try a different phone or use the carrier’s remote access number instead.

What If the Asterisk Trick Doesn’t Work?

Sometimes the * method fails, especially if you’re calling from a phone that doesn’t send touch-tones properly. Here are some alternatives:

Use your carrier’s remote voicemail access number. Most carriers have a dedicated number you can call to access your voicemail directly, bypassing your own number. For example, Verizon uses *86 from your own phone, but from another phone you can call your own number and press * (or call the carrier’s access number). Check your carrier’s website for the specific number.
Try pressing * multiple times. On some systems, you need to press * once, wait a second, then press it again.
Call from a different phone. If you’re using a VoIP or office phone that doesn’t transmit DTMF tones, try a standard landline or a cell phone.
Use your carrier’s mobile app. Many carriers have apps (like “Visual Voicemail” or “Call Filter”) that let you check voicemail over Wi-Fi or cellular data without calling your number. This can be a backup if the phone method fails.

How to Set or Reset Your Voicemail Password

If you’ve never set a voicemail password, or you forgot it, you can usually reset it from your iPhone:

Open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right.
If you see a “Set Up Now” button, tap it and follow the prompts to create a password and record a greeting.
If you already have voicemail set up, tap “Change Voicemail Password” (you may need to scroll down). You’ll be asked for your current password, then you can set a new one.
If you’ve forgotten your password, you may need to contact your carrier to reset it. They’ll verify your identity and reset it for you.

Keep your password in a safe place – you’ll need it for remote access. Avoid using simple numbers like 0000 or your birth year.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Here are some issues you might run into when trying to check voicemail from another phone, and what to do:

You hear “That mailbox is full” or “This number is not available.” This usually means your voicemail is deactivated or you’re calling from a number that’s not authorized. Try calling from your own phone first to re-activate it.
You enter your password but it’s rejected. Make sure you’re entering the correct password. If you have multiple lines on your account, you may have a different password for each line. Try resetting it via your iPhone.
You can’t hear any prompts. Check that the phone you’re using isn’t on mute and that the volume is turned up. Also, make sure you’re not in a poor signal area.
The * key doesn’t work. As mentioned, some VoIP or office phones don’t send DTMF tones. Use a different phone or call the carrier’s access number.
You’re traveling internationally. When you’re abroad, calling your own number may incur international roaming charges. Check with your carrier about international voicemail access numbers or use Wi-Fi calling if available.

Security and Privacy Considerations

Checking voicemail from another phone means you’re entering your password on a device you don’t control. Be aware of the following:

Watch for shoulder surfers. Someone could watch you enter your password. Shield the keypad with your hand.
Don’t use public phones for sensitive messages. If you’re using a hotel phone or a shared desk phone, be cautious. The phone may store the number you dialed, and someone could redial it and try to guess your password.
Log out or clear the call history. On a shared phone, delete the call from the recent calls log if possible.
Use a strong password. Avoid using the same password as your bank or email. Change it periodically.
Be aware of remote access risks. If you lose your phone, someone could access your voicemail if they know your password. Contact your carrier immediately to suspend your voicemail if your phone is lost or stolen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my iPhone voicemail from a landline?

Yes, you can check your iPhone voicemail from any landline phone. Just dial your own wireless number, wait for the greeting, press *, and enter your password. The process is identical to using another mobile phone.

What is the default voicemail password for iPhone?

There is no universal default password. When you first set up voicemail on your iPhone, you are prompted to create a password. If you never set one up, you’ll need to do so before you can access your voicemail remotely. If you’ve forgotten your password, contact your carrier to reset it.

Can I check my voicemail from another phone without a password?

No, you cannot. The voicemail system requires a password to access the mailbox from another phone. This is a security measure to prevent unauthorized access. If you don’t have a password, you’ll need to set one up from your iPhone first.

Does it cost extra to check voicemail from another phone?

It depends on your carrier and your plan. Calling your own number from another phone may use minutes from the phone you’re calling from, and if you’re calling from a landline, it may be a toll call. If you’re traveling internationally, roaming charges may apply. Check with your carrier for specific rates.

Why does pressing * not work when I call my voicemail?

If pressing * doesn’t work, the phone you’re using may not be sending touch-tone (DTMF) signals. This is common with some VoIP or office phone systems. Try using a different phone, or call your carrier’s remote voicemail access number instead of your own number.

Can I check my voicemail from another phone if my iPhone is dead?

Yes, you can. Your voicemail is stored on your carrier’s network, not on your iPhone. As long as your wireless number is active, you can call it from any other phone and access your messages using the steps above.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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