Saving mobile voicemail messages to a PC is possible using Skype. It does require having a little Skype credit on your account.

Things you will need:

• Remote access to your mobile account’s voicemail. Remote access comes standard with mobile accounts. What differs is whether you push the # or * button to interrupt your outgoing message, which prompts the software to access your voicemail. Verizon uses the # button.

• Skype account and Skype credit, which you can purchase through your Skype account on Skype.com. I bought $10 several years ago, and I’ve used only $5 in all that time. Don’t buy a lot of credit.

• PC.

• Audacity sound recording software (download free at https://www.audacityteam.org/download/windows/ and install by following the directions).

Change PC Sound Settings

Adjust the settings on your PC so your recording sound input is set to “Stereo Mix” using the following instructions (for Windows 10).

Click the Windows button and the “Settings” gear icon.

Click “System.”

Click “Sound” in the left menu.

Click “Sound Control Panel” in the right menu under “Related Settings.”

Click the “Recording” tab in the Sound Control Panel.

Note the current settings by taking a screen grab and saving it to your desktop.

Click “Stereo Mix” in the “Recording” tab.

“Stereo Mix” often is disabled by default.

Click “Properties.”

Click the dropdown by “Device Usage” and choose “Use this Device (Enable)” if it is set to disabled.

Click “OK” to close the “Properties” window.

Ensure “Stereo Mix” is still selected in the “Recording” tab and click “Set Default.” Click “OK.”

Close the “Sound Control Panel” and “Sound” page.

Test Skype with Audacity

Launch Audacity.

Launch Skype on your PC and log in.

Click “Skype Test Call” and then the phone icon to start the test call.

Click the red record button on Audacity during the Skype test call and ensure that you are seeing waveforms in the audio track indicating that you are recording.

Click the stop button in Audacity and stop the Skype Test Call.

Close the current Audacity project without saving. A new project should open automatically.

Record and Save Your Voicemail through Skype

Click the dial pad in Skype to get ready to record the real voicemail.

Use only the Skype dial pad for the following steps. Do not touch your phone.

Dial your phone number and wait for the rings to end and your outgoing message to begin.

Click the # or * button, depending on your phone carrier, after your outgoing message starts.

Enter your voicemail password when prompted.

Click the “Record” button in Audacity while you’re waiting for the first message to play.

Follow the voicemail instructions for advancing through your messages using the Skype dial pad.

End the call when you’ve finished recording all the voicemail you want to record.

Click the “Stop” button in Audacity to finish recording.

Save your Audacity project before you do anything else.

Edit unwanted sections in the Audacity project by dragging over unwanted audio in the audio track and clicking “Delete” on your keyboard.

Save your edited Audacity project with a new name in case you made an editing mistake.

Export your audio as an MP3 file or using another format by clicking the “Export” option in the “File” menu at the top of the Audacity window and selecting the format. Save the MP3 file in a place where you can find it. Audacity stores projects in the “Audacity” folder in the “Documents” folder.

Revert your PC’s settings in the sound “Recording” tab to their previous settings (refer to previous instructions to find the tab and your screen grab to remember the settings) so the sound works as expected going forward.