# Limit Voicemail Message Length

Setting boundaries on how long a voicemail can be helps keep your mailbox free of empty or overly long recordings. By defining a maximum and a minimum recording time, you cap messages that run too long and drop ones that are too short to be useful.

## Set the recording limits

1. Sign in to the Cloud Voice portal and open **Call Features > Voicemail > Voicemail Settings > Message Options**.
2. From the **Max Message Time(s)** drop-down list, choose the longest recording you want to allow, in seconds. Any message that reaches this limit is cut off automatically.
3. From the **Min Message Time(s)** drop-down list, choose the shortest recording that counts as a valid message, in seconds. Recordings shorter than this value are discarded automatically.

   :::caution
   Keep the minimum low (a few seconds is usually enough). If you set it too high, short but legitimate messages such as "Please call me back" are thrown away, and the caller is not told the recording was dropped, so they believe they left a message.
   :::
4. Click **Save**, then **Apply**.

   :::note
   The new limits do not take effect until you click **Apply**. Clicking **Save** alone stores the change but does not put it live.
   :::

:::tip
Consider mentioning the time limit in your voicemail greeting so callers know to keep their messages short and finish before the maximum duration is reached.
:::