Alex Ruben
How To Disable Voicemail Transcription on Your iPhone
Voicemail transcription is kind of a nice feature, especially if you want to quickly scan your voicemails or avoid listening to them. But honestly, it can also be kind of annoying or unnecessary, especially if it’s not consistent or if your carrier doesn’t support it quite right. So, if you want to turn off this transcription to keep things simple, it’s not super complicated — just a few toggles. Just a heads-up, not all iPhone models or carriers support voicemail transcription, so if you don’t see the options, that might be the reason. Also, make sure your iOS is up to date; sometimes these features get buggy or missing after older updates.
How to Turn Off Voicemail Transcription on an iPhone
Check your iOS version and carrier support first
Before diving into settings, confirm your iOS is current because Apple tends to tweak voicemail options with updates. Head over to Settings > General > Software Update. If there’s an update available, install it. Also, keep in mind some carriers might not support voicemail transcription at all, so if the option isn’t showing up, that’s likely why.
Open the Phone app and go to voicemail settings
On your iPhone, open the Phone app. Usually, you’ll find the voicemail options under the Voicemail tab at the bottom, or sometimes within Settings > Phone. But here’s a trick — try going into Settings > Phone first. Sometimes the transcription toggle is buried in there, especially if you don’t see a direct option in voicemail itself.
Locate and toggle off the ‘Voice Mail Transcription’ feature
This might be labelled as Visual Voicemail or Voicemail Transcription. On some setups, you’ll see a toggle like Enable Live Voicemail or Transcription. Turn that switch off. It’s kind of weird, but on some phones it’s a setting right there. If you don’t see it, it might be because your carrier doesn’t support transcription, or it’s managed via your carrier’s settings in the Settings app or their app.
Extra Tips & Common Troubleshooting Steps
If the option isn’t there, or it still doesn’t quite work after toggling off, here’s what else can help:
- Make sure your carrier supports visual voicemail with transcription — sometimes you need to set up or activate features directly through your carrier’s app or customer support.
- Try restarting your iPhone after changing settings. Not sure why it works, but a reboot can sometimes clean up weird glitches.
- If voicemail transcriptions keep popping up or showing errors, double-check whether you’ve disabled all related options, including carrier settings. You can check for a carrier update under Settings > General > About. If an update is available, install it.
Overall, turning off voicemail transcription is mostly about toggling a setting or two — if supported. It’s kind of annoying how inconsistent this feature can be depending on your carrier and region. If messing with the settings doesn’t help, your best bet might be to contact your carrier directly or check their app for more options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn voicemail transcription back on later?
Yep, just flip the toggle back on if you decide you want it again. Usually, the setting is reversible, so no big deal.
Will disabling transcription stop voicemail from working?
Nope — you’ll still get voicemails normally. It just means you won’t see the text transcriptions anymore.
Why don’t I see the transcription option on my iPhone?
Because some carriers or regions don’t support it, or maybe your iOS is outdated. Sometimes, it’s hidden in carrier settings or only available if your carrier supports visual voicemail with transcription.