How to Retrieve Deleted Voicemail on iPhone: A Comprehensive Guide

Talha Hanjra August 11, 2023 0 Comments

In today’s fast-paced world, voicemail has become an essential means of communication, allowing us to receive and leave messages even when we can’t take calls. However, the accidental deletion of important voicemails can be frustrating. If you’re wondering how to retrieve deleted voicemail on your iPhone, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through step-by-step methods to recover those precious voicemails and ensure you never lose important messages again.

Table of Contents

Understanding Voicemail Deletion

Before diving into the solutions, it’s crucial to understand how voicemail deletion works. When you delete a voicemail, your device does not immediately remove it. Instead, your device moves it to a “Deleted Messages” folder, where it stays for a limited period before your device permanently erases it.

1: Retrieving from the “Deleted Messages” Folder

Access the Deleted Messages Folder: Open the Phone app and navigate to the “Voicemail” tab. Scroll down and tap on “Deleted Messages.”
Select Voicemails: Review the list of deleted voicemails and select the ones you want to recover.
Recover Voicemails: Tap “Undelete” or “Recover” to restore the selected voicemails to your regular voicemail inbox.

2: Using iCloud Backup

Check iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, there’s a chance your deleted voicemails are stored there.
Restore from iCloud Backup: Go to “Settings” > [Your Name] > “iCloud” > “Manage Storage” > “Backups.” Select your device and check if there’s a backup containing the deleted voicemails.
Restore Backup: If you find a suitable backup, erase your device (Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings) and during setup, choose “Restore from iCloud Backup.” This will bring back the deleted voicemails.

3: Using a Third-Party Tool

Choose a Reliable Tool: There are various third-party data recovery tools available, such as Dr.Fone, iMobie PhoneRescue, and Tenorshare UltData. Download and install a reputable tool.
Connect Your iPhone: Launch the tool and connect your iPhone to your computer.
Scan and Recover: Follow the on-screen instructions to scan your device for deleted voicemails. Once the scan is complete, preview and select the voicemails you wish to recover, then click “Restore.”

4: Contact Your Carrier

Call Your Carrier: Sometimes, carriers store voicemails on their servers. Reach out to your carrier’s customer support and inquire if they can retrieve deleted voicemails.

5: Utilizing iTunes Backup

Connect to iTunes: If you regularly back up your iPhone using iTunes on your computer, you might have a backup that includes your deleted voicemails.
Restore from iTunes Backup: Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes. Select your device and click on “Restore Backup.” Choose the relevant backup that contains the deleted voicemails.

Caution: Restoring from an iTunes backup will replace your current data with the data from the backup. Make sure to back up your device before proceeding.

6: Check Visual Voicemail

Use Visual Voicemail: If your carrier supports Visual Voicemail, deleted voicemails might be recoverable from there.
Access Visual Voicemail: Open the Phone app, tap on “Voicemail,” and then tap on “Visual Voicemail.” Check if the deleted voicemails are stored there.

Recover from Visual Voicemail: If the deleted voicemails are available, you can often restore them directly from the Visual Voicemail interface.

7: Check Email Attachments

Check Emails: Sometimes, voicemails are forwarded to your email as attachments. Search your email inbox for voicemails you might have received and saved as attachments.
Download Attachments: If you find voicemail attachments in your emails, you can download and save them to your device.

Play Attachments: Once downloaded, you can play the voicemail attachments using your preferred media player.

8: Preventive Measures

Regular Backups: To avoid the hassle of retrieving deleted voicemails, make it a habit to regularly back up your iPhone using both iCloud and iTunes.
Archive Important Voicemails: If a voicemail is crucial, consider saving it to a note or a secure app. This way, even if it’s deleted from your voicemail, you’ll have a copy.

Contact Carrier: Reach out to your carrier to inquire about their policy on voicemail retention. Understanding how long they store deleted voicemails can help you act promptly.

Also Read: What is SoundCheck on iPhone? A Comprehensive Guide

FAQ’s

How long do deleted voicemails stay on iPhone?

The iPhone moves deleted voicemails to the “Deleted Messages” folder and keeps them there for about 30 days before permanently deleting them. After the retention period expires, the voicemail cannot be recovered as it gets purged.

Keep in mind that software updates and changes to iOS settings can affect this behavior, so it’s always a good idea to refer to the most up-to-date information in your device’s user manual or on the Apple website.

To recover a deleted voicemail on your iPhone, you can follow these steps:

Check the Voicemail “Deleted Messages” Folder: Sometimes, deleted voicemails are moved to a “Deleted Messages” folder within the Voicemail section of the Phone app. Here’s how to check:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap on the “Voicemail” tab at the bottom.
- Scroll down and look for a section named “Deleted Messages” or “Recently Deleted.” Your deleted voicemails might be stored here temporarily.

Recover from the “Deleted Messages” Folder: If you find your deleted voicemail in the “Deleted Messages” folder, you can recover it:
- Tap on the deleted voicemail you want to recover.
- Tap the “Undelete” or “Recover” option, usually located next to the voicemail.
- The voicemail should be restored to your regular voicemail list.
If Not Found in “Deleted Messages”: If you don’t find the deleted voicemail in the “Deleted Messages” folder, it might have been permanently removed. However, you can try reaching out to your mobile carrier to see if they have any options to recover voicemails.

If these steps do not work or if you have a specific situation, it’s recommended to refer to the official Apple support resources or contact Apple Support directly for more tailored assistance.

How do I activate voicemail on my iPhone?

To activate voicemail on your iPhone, follow these steps:

Check Carrier Support: Before setting up voicemail on your iPhone, make sure your mobile carrier supports visual voicemail and has activated it on your account. Some carriers might require specific configurations or features to be enabled for voicemail to work properly.
Set Up Voicemail: Once you’ve confirmed carrier support, you can set up voicemail on your iPhone:
- Open the Phone app from your home screen.
- At the bottom, tap the “Voicemail” tab.
- You might see a “Set Up Now” option if voicemail isn’t configured yet. If not, you can also tap “Greeting” to set up a personalized voicemail greeting.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to create a voicemail password, record a greeting, and complete the setup.
Accessing Voicemail: After setting up voicemail, you can access your voicemails through the Phone app:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the “Voicemail” tab at the bottom.
- You’ll see a list of your voicemails. Tap on a voicemail to listen to it.
Visual Voicemail (Optional): iPhones also offer a feature called Visual Voicemail, which displays your voicemails in a list format and allows you to play, delete, or save them directly from the app. If your carrier supports Visual Voicemail, it should automatically be enabled after setting up voicemail. You can access it through the “Voicemail” tab in the Phone app.

Change Voicemail Greeting (Optional): If you want to change your voicemail greeting later on:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the “Voicemail” tab.
- Tap “Greeting” at the top left corner to change your greeting.

Also Read: Phone Not Receiving Texts from Android: Troubleshooting and Solutions

Conclusion

Losing voicemails can be a frustrating experience, but with the variety of methods available, you stand a good chance of recovering those important messages.

Whether you opt for restoring from backups, using third-party tools, checking Visual Voicemail, or exploring email attachments, each method offers its own advantages.

Remember, however, that prevention is key—regular backups and proactive measures can save you the trouble of searching for lost voicemails in the future.

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