Where Blocked Callers' Voicemail Goes
You blocked the number — so why is there still a voicemail from them? Blocking stops the ring, not the voicemail: blocked callers hear your normal greeting and their message lands in a hidden Blocked Messages folder. Here is where it lives, how to check it, and why Apple designed it this way.
TL;DR / Quick Fix
Quick fix: blocked callers can still leave voicemail — it lands in a separate Blocked Messages folder, not your main inbox. Open Phone > Voicemail and scroll to Blocked Messages to check it. The caller hears a normal greeting, so blocking stays discreet. Delete the folder's contents periodically.
Follow these steps
- Understand the design. Blocked callers hear your standard voicemail greeting — Apple deliberately avoids telling them they are blocked. The message files under Blocked Messages.
- Find the Blocked Messages folder. Open Phone > Voicemail and scroll past your regular messages. Blocked Messages sits at the bottom, easy to miss.
- Check it occasionally. Harassment evidence, or the rare legitimate caller you blocked by mistake, lands here. A monthly peek is enough.
- Delete what you do not need. Open the folder, select messages, and delete. Like regular voicemail, deletions may need a second confirmation.
- Know carriers differ slightly. Most carriers support the separate folder; a few older systems mix blocked messages into the main inbox with no label.
- Unblock to restore normal flow. Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, swipe to unblock. Future calls ring and voicemails return to the main inbox.
What NOT to do
- Do not assume blocking deletes the person. They can still leave voicemail — blocking is about your peace, not their access.
- Do not taunt a harasser about the block. The discreet greeting is a feature — announcing the block escalates things.
- Do not let the folder pile up for a year. Storage is trivial, but reviewing stale harassment messages monthly is healthier deleted.
- Do not confuse this with silenced unknown callers. Silenced callers land in normal voicemail; blocked callers get the hidden folder.
Frequently asked questions
Can blocked numbers leave voicemails?
Yes — blocking stops the ring, not the voicemail. Their messages collect in the Blocked Messages folder at the bottom of the Voicemail tab.
Does the blocked caller know they're blocked?
No. They hear your normal greeting and can leave a message, which is exactly the discreet behavior Apple intended.
How do I stop even the voicemail?
You cannot fully prevent it on iPhone — but carrier-level blocking and spam auto-blocking on Android stop more at the network.