Introduction: I Deleted an Important Voicemail—Here’s How I Got It Back
I was clearing out my voicemail box, tapping away like usual, when I accidentally deleted a message from my insurance agent. My heart dropped—I needed that voicemail for a claim number. I panicked at first, thinking it was gone for good. But after digging around and trying a few methods, I got it back.
If you’re in the same situation, don’t worry. Let me walk you through how to recover deleted voicemail on iPhone, using real steps that worked for me. You don’t need to be tech-savvy, and most of the solutions take just a minute.
First, Check the “Deleted Messages” Folder
This Is the Quickest Recovery Option
If you just deleted the voicemail, there’s a good chance it’s still sitting in your Deleted Messages folder (yes, iPhones have one for voicemails too—who knew?).
Steps:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap on the Voicemail tab in the bottom right.
- Scroll down and tap Deleted Messages.
- Find the voicemail you want.
- Tap it, then tap the Undelete option.
My Experience:
This worked for me within 10 minutes of deleting the voicemail. It felt like finding a $20 bill in an old jacket pocket—instant relief.
If you don’t see anything in the Deleted Messages folder, you’re not alone—several iPhone users have reported this issue on Apple’s official forum, where various fixes are discussed.”
Too Late? Try Restarting Your iPhone
Why This Might Work
Sometimes, voicemails don’t sync or display properly due to a small iOS glitch. Restarting forces the system to refresh voicemail data.
Quick Restart Steps:
- Press and hold the side button + volume down until the slide to power off screen appears.
- Slide to turn off.
- Wait 10 seconds, then hold the side button again to turn it back on.
What Happened in My Case:
I did this after thinking the voicemail was gone forever. When I restarted, Deleted Messages showed up again—voicemail recovered.
Restore from iCloud or iTunes Backup (Only If Needed)
Use This Method for Older or Permanently Deleted Voicemails
If you deleted a voicemail a while ago or emptied your “Deleted Messages,” your only hope may be restoring from a previous backup—but there’s a catch: You’ll need a full device restore, and this replaces everything on your phone with an older backup.
Warning:
This is a last resort. Make sure the backup you’re restoring from is recent and contains the voicemail.
iCloud Restore:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Set up your iPhone and choose Restore from iCloud Backup.
iTunes (Finder for macOS Catalina+):
- Connect iPhone to computer.
- Open iTunes (or Finder on Mac).
- Select your iPhone, then choose Restore Backup.
Read More: Why Does My iPhone Keep Turning Off
My Tip:
Only do this if the voicemail is super important and you’re sure you backed up your phone after receiving but before deleting the voicemail.
Use a Trusted iOS Data Recovery Tool
When Apple’s Options Don’t Work
There are a few reputable tools designed to recover lost iPhone data—voicemails included. Just be cautious and only use trusted software.
Tools That Users Report Working Well:
- Dr.Fone – Data Recovery (iOS)
- iMobie PhoneRescue
- iMyFone D-Back
These tools allow you to scan your iPhone or your backup files for deleted voicemails and restore them selectively.
Note:
Most of these offer free scans but require a paid license to actually recover and export the voicemail. Read reviews before purchasing.
Contact Your Carrier for Server-Stored Voicemails
Some Carriers Can Recover Deleted Messages from Their Servers
If none of the above worked, your mobile carrier might be able to help—especially if the voicemail was only recently deleted.
Here’s what to do:
- Call your carrier’s customer service.
- Ask if they store voicemail data on their servers.
- Provide the date and time of the deleted voicemail.
Example:
I use AT&T, and they keep voicemails on their servers for up to 14 days even after deletion. With a quick call and identity verification, they were able to re-send the voicemail to my inbox.
Not all carriers offer this, but it’s worth checking:
- Verizon
- T-Mobile
- AT&T
- Sprint (now merged with T-Mobile)
Prevent Future Voicemail Loss – What I Do Now
After this stressful experience, I started doing a few simple things to make sure I never lose an important voicemail again.
Save Important Voicemails
- Tap the voicemail, then hit the share icon.
- Email it to yourself or upload it to iCloud Drive.
Back Up Weekly
Set a reminder to back up your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes every week, especially if you get important voicemails for work or personal matters.
Use Visual Voicemail Notifications Wisely
iOS lets you preview voicemails. Before deleting, listen fully and double-check the contact or transcript if available.
Conclusion: Yes, You Can Recover Deleted Voicemails—Here’s the Recap
Losing a voicemail doesn’t always mean it’s gone forever. Whether you deleted it by accident or your phone glitched, chances are you can still get it back—especially if you act fast.
Here’s a quick recap of what works:
- Check “Deleted Messages” first—it’s often still there.
- Restart your iPhone to refresh visual voicemail data.
- Use iCloud/iTunes backup for older voicemails (as a last resort).
- Try recovery software if nothing else helps.
- Call your carrier—they might still have it.
I personally recovered mine using the deleted messages folder and a simple restart. It took five minutes—but saved me hours of headaches. Hopefully, one of these steps will do the same for you.
“Just like voicemails, sometimes even messages on apps like Snapchat can disappear or seem deleted—here’s how to tell if someone blocked you on Snapchat.”
