We’ve all been there: you’re expecting an important call, only to have the caller hit a brick wall – your voicemail claims it’s full, even though you haven’t saved a single message.
It’s frustrating, and it can even cause you to miss out on crucial information.
I recently ran into this head-scratcher myself.
My voicemail was empty, yet my friends and family kept getting that dreaded “voicemail full” message.
It was time to dig deeper and find a solution.
Short Answer: If your iPhone voicemail says it’s full but it’s actually empty, the culprit is likely the ‘hidden automated voicemail box’. You’ll need to dial into your voicemail, enter your PIN, and then clear out any lurking messages.
1. Purge the Automated Voicemail Box
I’d been diligently clearing my voicemail through my phone settings, but the “full” error persisted.
It turns out there were a bunch of unread messages hiding in the automated voicemail box.
Here’s how to access and clear them:
- Dial into your voicemail: Call *86.
- Enter your password: If you’ve forgotten it, you’ll need to contact your carrier to reset it.
- Listen and delete: The saved voicemails will start playing automatically. Once you’ve heard them, press 7 to delete all messages.
- Confirm: Press 7 again, then press 1 to confirm the deletion.
2. Empty the Deleted Voicemails Trash
If the problem’s still hanging around, it’s time to check the ‘Deleted Messages’ folder in your Voicemail app.
Deleted voicemails don’t vanish immediately; they’re sent to a kind of trash bin.
Here’s how to clear it out:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap “Voicemail”.
- Find the “Deleted Messages” folder.
- Select “Clear All” to permanently delete those messages.
3. Clear Out Blocked Voicemails
Another potential storage hog is the blocked voicemail box. Here’s how to clear it:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap “Voicemail”.
- Find the “Blocked Messages” folder.
- Select “Clear All” to permanently delete those messages.
4. When in Doubt, Call Your Carrier
If you’ve tried everything and the issue remains, it’s time to get your carrier involved.
They have the tools to reset your voicemail settings and troubleshoot any deeper issues.
Here are some handy contact numbers and support pages:
- T-Mobile: https://www.t-mobile.com/support
- Verizon: https://www.verizon.com/support/
- AT&T: https://www.att.com/support/
- Sprint: https://www.sprint.com/en/support/contact-us.html
The ‘Voicemail Full’ Mystery: A Common iPhone Quirk
In my quest to solve this puzzle, I discovered that the “voicemail full when it’s not” issue is surprisingly widespread among iPhone users.
For most, clearing the automated inbox does the trick. But it’s always a good idea to clear out those deleted and blocked messages as well, just to be safe.
Also, check with your carrier about your voicemail storage limits. The maximum number of messages and their duration can vary.
If all else fails, don’t hesitate to call your carrier and have them reset your voicemail settings. It’s often the fastest way to get back to receiving messages without a hitch.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why does my iPhone keep saying my voicemail is full?This could be due to messages lingering in folders like ‘Deleted Messages’ or ‘Blocked Messages’. These take up space and can trigger the “full” error even if your main inbox is empty.
- How do I empty my iPhone mailbox?Go to the Phone app > Voicemail > tap “Edit” in the upper right corner > select the voicemails you want to delete > tap “Delete”.
- How much storage does an iPhone voicemail have?The maximum number of voicemail messages and their duration depends on your carrier. Contact them for specifics.