How do I stop an old voicemail from keep playing on a new iPhone?
Answer
In the Phone app, delete the stuck message and empty Deleted Messages, restart the iPhone, and temporarily turn off Live Voicemail if the old greeting or message keeps resurfacing. If it still returns, ask the carrier to reset visual voicemail on the line.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- Permanently deleting voicemails cannot be undone. Save any message you still need before emptying Deleted Messages.
Follow these steps
Delete the message and empty Deleted Messages
Open the Phone app, tap Voicemail, delete the stuck message, then open Deleted Messages at the bottom and permanently clear it.
You should see: The old message no longer appears in Inbox or Deleted Messages.
Restart the iPhone
Restart the iPhone and open Voicemail again to see whether the message returns.
You should see: Voicemail opens without auto-playing the old February (or other dated) message.
Toggle Live Voicemail
Go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Live Voicemail and turn Live Voicemail off. Test voicemail, then turn it back on if you still want the feature.
You should see: The stuck prompt or playback loop stops after the toggle.
Ask the carrier to reset visual voicemail
If the message still returns, contact AT&T or your carrier support (not only the retail floor) and ask them to reset visual voicemail provisioning on the line, then restart the iPhone afterward.
You should see: The carrier refresh clears the orphaned message from the new phone.
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Extra tips
What to look for: Phone app > Voicemail list; Deleted Messages; Settings > Apps > Phone > Live Voicemail; a message dated from the old phone that auto-plays.
Before you change anything: Note the message date and whether it is in Inbox or Deleted Messages. Do not factory reset the new iPhone for a single stuck voicemail. Have the carrier account PIN ready if a visual-voicemail reset is needed.