What do you do when your voicemail is full on Android?

Understanding Voicemail Storage on Android

On Android phones, voicemail messages are not actually stored on the device itself. Instead, they are stored remotely on servers operated by your mobile carrier such as Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc (source).

When you access your voicemail box by dialing into it or opening the voicemail app on your Android, you are retrieving the messages from your carrier’s servers. The audio files are then downloaded and played back on your device. So the voicemail storage exists in the cloud, not locally on your phone.

This means that even if you delete your voicemails on your Android device, the messages may still be retained by your carrier. You would need to clear them from the carrier’s voicemail system to fully delete the messages. Your phone simply retrieves and plays back the files when you access voicemail.

Identifying a Full Voicemail

There are a couple ways to identify that your Android voicemail box is full:

You may notice a different notification icon or missed call notification. Android phones typically display a voicemail icon like an envelope when you have a new message. If your mailbox is full, this icon may change to indicate that the new message was not received.

You can also listen to your voicemail greeting. When the mailbox is full, Android will play a different pre-recorded greeting letting callers know the mailbox is currently unable to accept new messages. Instead of your personal greeting, you may hear something like “The voicemail box belonging to this number is currently full.”

Clearing Old Messages

One way to free up space in a full voicemail is to delete old messages that are no longer needed. Here are the steps to clear out old voicemails on Android:

1. Open the Phone app and tap Voicemail to access your inbox.

2. Listen to any saved voicemail messages and determine if they are still useful or needed. Any old messages that are no longer relevant or useful can be deleted.

3. Tap and hold on an old voicemail message you want to delete. This will highlight it.

4. Tap the trash can icon to delete the highlighted message.

5. Repeat steps 2-4, listening to saved messages, determining if they can be deleted, and deleting old, unneeded voicemails.

Keep clearing out old messages like this until you have freed up enough space in your voicemail inbox so it is no longer full. Be sure to save any recent or still useful voicemails.

Clearing out old, unneeded voicemail messages is an easy way to free up space when your Android voicemail becomes completely full. Just be sure not to delete messages you still need to access. With some cleanup of old voicemails, you can create space for new incoming messages.

Turning Off Voicemail

If you don’t need voicemail for a period of time, you can temporarily disable it on your Android phone. This prevents any new messages from being left in your voicemail inbox. To turn off voicemail:

1. Open the Phone app on your Android device.

2. Tap the three dot menu icon in the top right corner.

3. Select Settings.

4. Tap Voicemail.

5. Toggle the Voicemail switch off.

This will disable your voicemail. Repeat these steps to turn it back on when needed. Keep in mind any messages already in your inbox will remain.

You can also call your wireless carrier’s customer support line to request they disable voicemail on your account. Give them your name, wireless number and account PIN. Ask the representative to remove the voicemail feature. This change may take 24 hours to take effect.

Expanding Voicemail Storage

If your voicemail box fills up frequently, one option is to pay your carrier for additional storage space. Most major carriers offer some way to expand your voicemail capacity for a monthly fee.

For example, Verizon offers packages that increase storage from the standard 20 minutes up to 60 or 90 minutes for $2-5 per month (source). AT&T provides options to upgrade from 20 minutes to 60 or 90 minutes of voicemail storage for $5-10 monthly (source).

T-Mobile and Sprint also allow paying extra per month to expand voicemail capacity. On T-Mobile, you can get 60 minutes for $5/month or 90 minutes for $10/month more than the base plan (source).

The best way to find out your carrier’s voicemail expansion options is to contact their customer support. Let them know you frequently fill up your voicemail box and need more storage. They can check available upgrades and pricing to extend your capacity.

Using a Voicemail Transcription App

One way to manage a full voicemail inbox is by using an app that can transcribe voicemails into text. This allows you to quickly read messages instead of having to listen to each one. Some popular voicemail transcription apps for Android include:

YouMail – This app provides free voicemail transcription for the first 10 messages each month. YouMail can also screen robocalls and customize your voicemail greeting.

Voxist – Voxist offers free transcription for the first 10 monthly voicemails. Additional features include custom greetings, voicemail organizing, and sharing options.

The key benefit of using a transcription service is being able to quickly read your voicemail messages instead of having to listen to each recording. This saves time and makes it easier to prioritize important messages when your voicemail is full.

Using Google Voice

Forwarding calls to your Google Voice number and enabling voicemail transcription can help manage a full voicemail box on Android. Google Voice will transcribe voicemails and email the text to you so you can read messages without calling in.

To set up Google Voice on Android:

• Download the Google Voice app from the Play Store.
• Sign in with your Google account.
• Under settings, enable voicemail transcription and forward calls to your Google Voice number.
• Check emails for voicemail transcriptions.

With Google Voice, you don’t need to worry about a full voicemail box. Transcriptions let you read messages and decide if you need to listen to the full voicemail audio. For more details, visit Google Voice’s voicemail setup guide.

Asking Callers to Text

One option when your voicemail box is full is to change your voicemail greeting to ask callers to send a text message instead of leaving a voicemail. You can record a new greeting that says something like “Hi, you’ve reached [your name]. I’m sorry I missed your call. My voicemail box is full so please send me a text at [your number] and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”

The key things to include in this new greeting are:

• Asking callers to send a text instead of leaving a voicemail
• Providing your cell phone number or a number where you can receive text messages

This way callers will know to text you rather than trying to leave a voicemail that won’t go through. Just be sure to update your greeting as soon as you’ve cleared out some messages and have voicemail capacity again. You can find instructions for changing your greeting on both Android and iPhone.

Getting a New Phone Number

If your voicemail box is constantly full and nothing else has worked, getting a new phone number may be your last resort. This involves signing up for a new number with your current carrier or switching to a new carrier altogether.

Most major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint make it relatively easy to change your number directly through your account. There are often fees involved ($15-25), but you’ll get a fresh new voicemail box that can store messages again.

According to Verizon’s community forums, changing your number provides a new voicemail box that can once again store messages. Just keep in mind you’ll have to notify all your contacts of your new number.

As a last ditch option, switching carriers and getting a new phone number may be worth it if you absolutely need a fully functioning voicemail. Just be prepared to pay any account termination fees if you switch from your existing carrier.

Voicemail Alternatives

There are a few alternatives to traditional voicemail that you can use if your Android voicemail box becomes full or you want to try something new:

Visual voicemail apps like YouMail give you a visual interface for accessing and managing your voicemails. You can see a list of messages and listen to, delete, or save specific ones. Visual voicemail apps may allow you to receive voicemail transcriptions as well.

Answering services provide a live person to answer your calls and take messages when you are unavailable. Services like virtual receptionists can screen calls, take detailed messages, and forward important calls to you. This personal touch can provide a better experience for callers.

Consider alternatives to traditional voicemail if you are looking for enhanced features and flexibility in managing your missed calls and messages.