How to save important voicemails

There’s one voicemail I’ll never delete.
It’s from my mom. She’s been gone for almost four years, but every so often, I play it back. It’s nothing dramatic, just her voice asking if I could buy her a gallon of milk on my way home. (In her Brooklyn accent, “Kim, make sure it’s 2%, not the fatty whole milk please.”)
If you’ve got a message like that saved, maybe from a spouse, parent, partner, child or friend, you know exactly what I mean. It’s like a little time capsule in your pocket.
But here’s the part no one tells you: Your phone might delete it. Automatically. Especially if it’s a visual voicemail or stored through your carrier, it can vanish when you switch phones or if your inbox gets full.
So let’s talk about saving it the right way forever.
💾 How to save a voicemail
Whether it’s from someone you lost or just a message that makes your heart smile, here’s how to keep it safe:
On iPhone
- Open your Phone app > Voicemail tab. Tap the message you want to save
- Tap the Share icon (little square with arrow)
- Choose AirDrop, Mail, Notes or Voice Memos to back it up
On Android
- Use your Phone or Voicemail app (it varies by carrier)
- Tap and hold the message > Select Share or Save
- Send it to Google Drive, Gmail or download it as an audio file
Pro tip: Rename the file with the person’s name and date, so you’ll always know what it is.
🛠️ Apps that help
Want to back it up with extra security? Try:
- Rev Call Recorder (iOS & Android): Records and saves voicemails as audio files
- iMazing (Mac/PC): Great for exporting voicemails from iPhones
Voices fade from memory. But these recordings? They last.
They’re a hug you can replay. A laugh you can hear again. Don’t wait until it’s gone. Take five minutes and save it now. You’ll be so glad you did.