# How to delete your voicemail messages in 5 steps (UK)

> Delete Vodafone voicemail in 5 steps in 2026. Press 7 while listening on Ireland's 171 service, or use Visual Voicemail on iPhone for quick management without dialling in.

**Published:** 2026-05-10
**Updated:** 2026-05-10
**Category:** HOW_TO_TELCO
**Author:** Rafael Tuñón
**Canonical URL:** https://rechargevodafone.co.uk/how-to-delete-voicemail-messages-uk/

## Key takeaways

- On Vodafone Ireland, press 7 while listening to a voicemail message after dialling 171 to delete it.
- Vodafone UK customers with iPhones can use Visual Voicemail to delete messages by texting STATE to 100121 to set it up.
- Visual Voicemail on Vodafone UK allows you to manage and delete voicemails directly on your phone without calling in, using mobile data at no extra cost within the UK.
- If you forget your Vodafone UK voicemail PIN needed to access messages, you can contact Vodafone via online chat to have it reset.

## Key statistics

- **171**, Vodafone Ireland voicemail dial-in number (Source: Vodafone Ireland)
- **7**, Key to press while listening to a voicemail message to delete it on Vodafone Ireland (Source: Vodafone Ireland)
- **100121**, Number to text 'STATE' to in order to install Visual Voicemail on Vodafone UK (Source: Vodafone UK)

## Article

Vodafone UK customers can delete voicemail messages by [dialling 121 and pressing specific keys](https://onenet.vodafone.com/latest/uk/en/content/topics/cf/feature-management-portal/all/voicemail), or by using [Visual Voicemail on iPhone](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/visual-voicemail) to remove messages directly from the screen. Both methods are free to use on the UK network, though Visual Voicemail uses mobile data.

## How do you delete a voicemail by dialling in?

This standard method works on any Vodafone phone, iPhone or Android. According to [Vodafone's voicemail documentation](https://onenet.vodafone.com/latest/uk/en/content/topics/cf/feature-management-portal/all/voicemail), the process is:

1. **Dial 121** from your Vodafone mobile to access your voicemail.
2. **Listen to your messages** by dialling 2 once connected.
3. **Press 2 again** after listening to a voicemail message to delete it.
4. **Repeat for other messages**, then hang up when done.

Vodafone's system may require your PIN when accessing voicemail, particularly if calling from another phone. The network uses different key commands than some other UK carriers, so it's worth noting that [pressing 2 deletes messages](https://onenet.vodafone.com/latest/uk/en/content/topics/cf/feature-management-portal/all/voicemail) on Vodafone's system.

## What is Visual Voicemail and how does it work on Vodafone?

[Visual Voicemail is a Vodafone UK service](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/visual-voicemail) that lets iPhone users manage voicemails without dialling in. As Vodafone describes it: "Visual Voicemail is a quick and easy way to manage your voicemails on your iPhone, without dialling in to your voicemail service."

Instead of listening through messages in order, you see a list on screen and tap to play or delete whichever one you want. [The service works using your data at no extra cost](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/visual-voicemail) within the UK, but using it abroad will incur data charges or daily roaming fees.

[Visual Voicemail is only available on iPhone 5s and higher running iOS 12 or higher](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/visual-voicemail).

## How do you set up Visual Voicemail on Vodafone?

According to [Vodafone's setup instructions](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/visual-voicemail), you need to update your device to the latest iOS settings, disconnect from WiFi and text STATE to 100121. The service requires you to use your phone and internet data during setup.

Once configured, [you can access Visual Voicemail through the Phone app](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/visual-voicemail) by selecting the voicemail tab. During first-time setup, you'll be prompted to create a voicemail password and choose between a custom or default greeting.

## How do you delete a voicemail using Visual Voicemail?

[Vodafone's Visual Voicemail interface](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/visual-voicemail) allows you to:

1. Open the **Phone app** on your iPhone.
2. Choose the **voicemail** tab.
3. Select the message you want to remove from the list.
4. Tap **Delete** to remove the message.

This method is faster than dialling 121 if you have several messages to clear, since [you can view messages on your phone and listen in any order](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/visual-voicemail) rather than working through them sequentially.

## What should you do if your Vodafone mailbox is full?

A full mailbox prevents new callers from leaving messages. The fix is to delete old messages using either method above. [Dialling 121, pressing 2 to listen, then pressing 2 again to delete](https://onenet.vodafone.com/latest/uk/en/content/topics/cf/feature-management-portal/all/voicemail) each message is the quickest way to clear a backlog if you don't have Visual Voicemail set up. Once space is freed, your mailbox will accept new messages automatically.

If you need to turn off voicemail entirely, [dial 1210 to disable all call forwarding](https://www.justanswer.co.uk/electronics/nv7sm-samsung-galaxy-vodafone-network-phone.html), which stops calls diverting to voicemail.

## Quotations

> Visual Voicemail is a quick and easy way to manage your voicemails on your iPhone, without dialling in to your voicemail service.
>, Vodafone UK (official website) (https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/visual-voicemail)

## Frequently asked questions

### how do I delete voicemail on Vodafone

Dial 171 from your Vodafone phone, enter your PIN when prompted, listen to the message you want to delete, then press 7 while it's playing or immediately after it finishes. If you have an iPhone, you can use Visual Voicemail instead to delete messages directly from your phone's screen without dialling in.

### what key do I press to delete voicemail Vodafone

Press 7 while listening to the voicemail message after dialling 171 and entering your PIN. This will delete the message immediately.

### how to set up Visual Voicemail Vodafone UK

Visual Voicemail is only available on iPhones with Vodafone UK. To set it up, disconnect from WiFi and text the word 'STATE' to 100121. The service uses mobile data at no extra cost within the UK, though roaming charges apply if you use it abroad.

### I forgot my Vodafone voicemail PIN how do I reset it

Contact Vodafone via online chat on their website to reset your PIN. You don't need to call-they can reset it for you through the chat service.

### can I delete Vodafone voicemail without dialling 171

Yes, if you have an iPhone you can use Vodafone's Visual Voicemail service to delete messages directly from your phone's screen without dialling in. This requires setting up the service first by texting 'STATE' to 100121.

## Sources

1. [Get support for your queries about calls, texts and voicemail | Vodafone](https://n.vodafone.ie/support/mobile/calls-texts-and-voicemail.html) (n.vodafone.ie)
2. [Visual Voicemail | Vodafone UK](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/visual-voicemail) (www.vodafone.co.uk)