Voicemails are an essential part of staying connected, especially in this age of busy schedules. However, after the iOS 26 update, many iPhone users face the frustrating issue of the voicemail feature missing on their devices or their voicemails not showing up on their iPhone. This problem is not uncommon because it happens on iOS 18 as well. If you're struggling with voicemails not appearing on your iPhone running iOS 26/18, this guide is here to help. We'll walk you through the common causes and offer feasible solutions to fix the voicemail not showing up on iPhone issue.

• Part 1. Why Is My Voicemail Not Working on My iPhone?
• Part 2. How to Set up Voicemail on iPhone Step-by-Step
• Part 3. How to Fix iPhone Voicemail Not Working/Showing up
  • Fix 1. Check Relevant Network Settings
  • Fix 2. Check Visual Voicemail Settings
  • Fix 3. Adjust iOS Features for Voicemail
  • Fix 4. Fix SIM and Device-Level Issues
• Part 4. FAQs about Voicemail on iPhone
• Part 5. Conclusion

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Part 1. Why Is My Voicemail Not Working on My iPhone?

When you encounter the issue that iPhone voicemail is not working or appearing on your iPhone, it may be related to the carrier, network, iPhone settings, or even the device itself. The following are the most common types of reasons and specific fixes:

Reason 1. Carrier Provisioning Issues

Voicemail is completely dependent on carrier support, and if you don’t activate the Voicemail service on your iPhone, or if there are restrictions on the phone number, it will not be able to receive or display voicemails.

Reason 2. Network or Cellular Data issues

Visual Voicemail requires a stable data connection. If the network is poor, the signal is weak, or there is a disconnection, the voice message may not load.

Reason 3. iPhone Settings or Software Conflicts

Some system settings, such as airplane mode, VPN, network settings, and iOS system conflicts, can interfere with the normal functioning of voicemail.

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Part 2. How to Set up Voicemail on iPhone Step-by-Step

If you want to receive and load voicemail on your iPhone normally, you need to make sure that you have activated the Voicemail service successfully. Here is how to set up voicemail on iPhone step by step.

Unified Layout:

Step 1. Open the Phone app and tap Calls.

Step 2. Tap the upper-right icon to enter Voicemail.

Step 3. Tap Set Up to set a voicemail password and then set your outgoing message.

Classic Layout:

Step 1. Open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail at the bottom.

Step 2. Enter a voicemail password to set up voicemail.

Step 3. Set your greeting message to finish the setup.

If you want to check if someone has left a voice message for you, you can also check it in the Voicemail page. All your voicemails will be listed and kept on this page. You can tap and listen to it.

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Part 3. How to Fix iPhone Voicemail Not Working/Showing up

Some iPhone users have reported that their iPhone voicemail is not showing or loading in the Phone app, or voicemail disappears randomly in iOS 26. Based on the cases and causes, we collect three types of fixing methods. You can switch to the specific section to resolve the issue where iPhone voicemail isn't showing up.

Fix 1. Check Relevant Network Settings

Voicemail relies on the carrier network to keep running. If you are unable to see voicemail messages on your iPhone, you can follow the relevant methods to adjust or reset your network settings.

01Restart Your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone can often fix minor glitches or software issues that might be preventing your voicemails from appearing.

For iPhone X and newer models:

Step 1. Hold one volume button and the power button for a while until the iPhone screen changes.

Step 2. Drag the slide to the end to switch off the iPhone.

Step 3. Hold the power button to reboot the iPhone.

For models before iPhone X:

Step 1. Hold the power button until the iPhone screen changes.

Step 2. Drag the slide to the right to shut off the iPhone.

Step 3. Long-press the power button to restart the iPhone.

02Toggle Off Airplane Mode

Switching off the Airplane Mode helps to refresh the network condition. If you want to receive new voicemail, you need to turn it off. Just open Settings and toggle the Airplane Mode off.

03Turn Cellular Data Off and Back On

Refreshing the cellular data condition can help establish a connection with the carrier and reload the voicemail on the iPhone.

Step 1. Hold one volume button and the power button for a while until the iPhone screen changes.

Step 2. Drag the slide to the end to switch off the iPhone.

04Disable VPN Service

A VPN can intercept your carrier's voicemail server requests, preventing your voice messages from loading. Disable the VPN service to ensure normal use of Voicemail on the iPhone.

Step 1. Go to Settings > VPN.

Step 2. Disable the VPN Status button.

05Reset Network Settings

If there are network errors on your iPhone, whether Wi-Fi, cellular, or VPN, you can perform a network reset to eliminate these issues.

Step 1. Access Settings, then go to General and press Transfer or Reset iPhone.

Step 2. Tap Reset, then choose Reset Network Settings.

Step 3. Enter your screen lock passcode and tap Reset Network Settings to confirm the action.

Fix 2. Check Visual Voicemail Settings

iPhone Voicemail allows users to check the left voice message on the Phone app. If your iPhone voicemail is not showing up, you can check the voicemail settings to fix the issue.

01Reset Voicemail Password

When there is an error with Voicemail on your iPhone, you can try resetting the voicemail password to reconfigure the connection.

Step 1. Go to iPhone Settings > Apps > Phone > App > Phone.

Step 2. Swipe down to the bottom and tap Change Voicemail Password to reset your Voicemail.

02Update Carrier Settings

You can also check if the carrier settings are waiting to be updated. If your voicemail isn't showing up, updating carrier settings can often resolve voicemail problems quickly and effectively.

Step 1. Run the Settings app, then go to General and select About.

Step 2. Check if there is an available update listed on the next screen.

Step 3. Tap Update to begin the installation of the new settings.

03Install the Latest iOS

A system update can optimize your iPhone performance and fix underlying voicemail bugs. If voicemail don't show up, it may be time to upgrade your iPhone system.

Step 1. Enter Settings, then navigate to General > Software Update.

Step 2. If an available update is shown, press Download and Install to begin.

Step 3. Once the download is done, input your passcode and hit Install Now.

Fix 3. Adjust iOS Features for Voicemail

Some iPhone settings, like Live voicemail, iCloud, will affect whether you can receive an instant voicemail message. You can adjust these settings to avoid iPhone voicemail issues.

01Disallow Call Forwarding

When Call Forwarding is enabled, the call does not go to voicemail, and the user naturally does not receive any voicemail.

Step 1. Head for iPhone Settings > Apps > Phone.

Step 2. Scroll down to find Call Forwarding.

Step 3. Turn off Call Forwarding for your phone number.

02Check Live Voicemail

If your iPhone supports Live Voicemail service, you can also enable this feature to receive voicemail, avoiding visual voicemail not appearing on your iPhone.

Step 1. Navigate to iPhone Settings > Apps > Phone.

Step 2. Find Live Voicemail and turn it off.

03Enable iCloud Sync

If you are using the same Apple ID on your different iPhone devices, you need to enable iCloud for the Phone app to sync the voicemail data.

Step 1. Open Settings and tap your Apple ID.

Step 2. Tap iCloud > Saved to iCloud and make sure that you have allowed Phone & FaceTime to sync to iCloud.

Fix 4. Fix SIM and Device-Level Issues

If there is a detection error or system glitches with your iPhone, the voicemail may not load or work normally. You can try the following methods to fix.

01Reinsert the SIM

If you are using a SIM card as a voice line, just use a card picker to remove and reinsert the SIM card to reload the phone data on your iPhone. If you are using an eSIM card as a voice line, you can try removing and re-adding it in your iPhone settings to refresh the data.

02Check Carrier Account Status

If your phone number arrears and is limited by the carrier, you are unable to use voicemail normally. You can dial the carrier to check your phone number status. If possible, you can ask the carrier to activate Voicemail for you.

03Repair iOS System

In some cases, software glitches or corrupt files in iOS may be the main reason voicemails aren't showing up. MagFone iOS System Recovery, a specialized iOS repair tool, can help address these deeper issues without requiring a full restore or factory reset. It is designed to fix over 150 iOS system errors on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch while preserving your data. If you've already tried other troubleshooting methods, MagFone iOS System Recovery can efficiently fix this issue and restore the voicemail feature without any data loss.

Step 1Access MagFone iOS System Recovery

Install and access MagFone iOS System Recovery on your computer, and then connect your iPhone to the computer. After the software detects your device, you can hit iOS System Repair from the main interface. Then select Start and pick the Standard Repair option to save your data.

Step 2 Make Device into Recovery Mode Manually

Check if your iPhone is powered off. Then follow the onscreen guide to enter your device into recovery mode. If your device does not enter recovery mode, MagFone will guide you on how to enter DFU mode for a more advanced troubleshooting method.

Step 3 Download a Proper Firmware Package

Once your device is recognized by MagFone, the software will display the device details on the screen. Verify that the information is correct and click Download to get a proper firmware package designed for your device model.

Step 4 Fix the Voicemail Not Showing Issues

Wait until the firmware package is downloaded, and click Repair. MagFone will fix the voicemail system-related issues without deleting data. Your device will automatically reboot once the process is complete, with voicemail working as expected.

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Part 4. FAQs about Voicemail on iPhone

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Part 5. Conclusion

Voicemails are a crucial feature of your iPhone, and the iPhone not showing voicemail can be a frustrating experience. Fortunately, with a variety of solutions available, you can resolve this issue without much hassle. Whether it is a voicemail not showing up or not working issue, there's always a way to restore your voicemail functionality. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can get the voicemail back on track and let them start showing up again.