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.

Tags: Android, Google, home, play, security