iOS 17 will see various useful communication features, and Live Voicemail is one that you should especially look at if you don’t like listening to the audio version. After upgrading your device’s software, you’ll be able to see voice messages that others send to you in text form.
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You will be able to both listen to Live Voicemail in iOS 17 and send messages of this kind to others. How does it work, though, and how can you actually use it? Let’s find out.
What Is Live Voicemail?
Live Voicemail is a feature that will transcribe voicemail messages you receive from others. It’s a particularly helpful feature if you’re busy and need to determine whether you should answer a call, or if a message is more than enough. You can also decide if you simply want to ignore the call.
You will see the Live Voicemail transcription appear on your screen. It looks somewhat similar to the Lyrics function you’ll see on Spotify.
On the main screen in Live Voicemail, you’ll see the option to either accept the call or leave a message.

How to View Live Voicemail in iOS 17
To view Live Voicemail in iOS 17, you don’t need to do anything. When someone calls you, they can leave a voicemail on your device – and your iPhone will automatically transcribe the message on your screen. You then have the option to pick your next steps.
Note that Live Voicemail works at the same time as the person is sending the message.
How to Record Live Voicemail in iOS 17
Apple only announced how you can view Live Voicemail on your device at WWDC 2023. It’s not yet clear if you’ll need to click on a specific button for Live Voicemail or send it as you would normally, but it’ll likely be one of those two options.
To receive Live Voicemail, the call recipient will need to have iOS 17 downloaded on their smartphone.
Live Voicemail Will Make Deciding Whether to Return Missed Calls Easier
Many of the best iOS 17 updates relate to making communication easier, and perhaps the most effective option is being able to send Live Voicemail to others. When you receive these, you’ll find it much easier to determine whether you should pick up the call or leave a message. And if you don’t want to answer it at all, you have that option.
Calls detected as spam will automatically not be able to use Live Voicemail. You don’t need to do anything other than update your software to iOS 17 to use the feature, as the text will simply read on your screen.
Danny is a freelance writer who has been using Apple products for over a decade. He’s written for some of the largest technology publications on the web and previously worked as an in-house writer before carving his own route. Danny grew up in the UK, but now writes about tech from his Scandinavian base.
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