Key Takeaways

• Live Voicemail is a game-changer feature in iOS 17 that provides real-time voicemail transcriptions as the caller is speaking.
• It operates using your iPhone's Neural Engine, meaning all transcription processing occurs on your device for enhanced privacy.
• Live Voicemail works like a traditional answering machine, but with the added benefit of reading voicemail in real-time and the option to pick up the call while the caller is speaking.

Apple's iOS 17 has arrived, bringing with it a bunch of new features for the iPhone. One standout is Live Voicemail, a game-changer that allows you to read real-time transcripts of voicemails as the caller is leaving them. This transforms the way users engage with voicemails. Instead of waiting for a caller to finish leaving a message and then listening to it, Live Voicemail delivers the contents of a voicemail even as the caller is in the process of recording it. A subtle change, but one that is incredibly useful.

Here is a comprehensive walkthrough on the intricacies of Live Voicemail in iOS 17, including how to set it up.

What is Live Voicemail on iPhone?

Live Voicemail is a new iOS 17 feature that provides real-time voicemail transcriptions as the caller speaks. It allows you to see the transcription on the screen so you can decide whether to pick up the call or ultimately "let it go to voicemail". Apple said Live Voicemail was designed with your privacy in mind. It operates using your iPhone's Neural Engine, ensuring that all transcription processing occurs on your device. This approach means your data stays on your iPhone and isn't sent to external servers.

How to enable Live Voicemail on iPhone

If you're eager to try Live Voicemail, there are a few things you need to know. First, this feature is currently available only for English-speaking users in the US and Canada who have iOS 17 installed on their iPhones. To check your iOS version, go to Settings > General > Software Update. If you need an update, you'll be prompted to do so here.

To enable or disable Live Voicemail, follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on "Phone."
3. Look for "Live Voicemail" and toggle it on or off.

How does Live Voicemail work on iPhone?

Live Voicemail functions much like a traditional answering machine but with a modern twist - it's all in text. You can read what the caller says in real-time when you receive a voicemail. As you follow along with the transcript, you have the option to pick up the call before it ends, connecting you directly with the caller.

1. When a caller leaves a voicemail, you will see a live transcription appear on your screen.
2. Read the transcription as the caller is speaking to assess if it's something urgent quickly.
3. If you want to address the call, pick up to talk while the caller is leaving the message.
4. Or you can let the call go to voicemail and listen to their full message later, like usual.

Where to find Live Voicemail transcriptions

After a call, you can still access voicemail transcriptions captured by Live Voicemail. These transcriptions are available in the Voicemail tab of the Phone app. You can keep them forever if you want.

Which iPhones support Live Voicemail?

Live Voicemail is supported on the latest iPhone models - including the new iPhone 15 series. If your phone supports iOS 17, then it supports the Live Voicemail feature.

When did Apple launch Live Voicemail?

Live Voicemail is now available with iOS 17, so your iPhone needs to run that software update to use the feature. In fact, Live Voicemail is just one of the exciting features that Apple bundled with iOS 17. The iPhone software update also brings a StandBy mode, custom iMessage stickers, contact posters, and offline maps.

Is Live Voicemail available everywhere?

Live Voicemail is available in English in the US and Canada, excluding Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

How is Visual Voicemail different from Live Voicemail?

Pocket-lint has an entire guide on Visual Voicemail, including how to set it up and use it on your iPhone. Visual Voicemail and Live Voicemail both enhance the voicemail experience on iPhones, but they differ in functionality. Visual Voicemail presents your voicemail messages in a visual list format, allowing selective listening and management. Live Voicemail, on the other hand, is real-time transcriptions as callers leave you a voicemail.