r/Googlevoice

I am based and working out of Canada, but I set up my business when I lived in Spain. As such, my whole workspace, including my domains, emails, files, *everything* is on my workspace which is registered in Spain. Not an issue for billing as I have changed my address on invoice, but I wonder if this is an issue for setting up Google Workspace. 

I want a US or Canadian Google Workspace number.

Is this possible to set up?

Alternatively I have to shut the whole workspace down but that is terrifying and seems like a LOT of work...No idea how I'd migrate my entire workspace to a new one without it taking up tons of time and energy. I simply don't have capacity.

On iOS and this new update is god awful. Like it offends my eyes

When I tried to make a phone call using the native phone calling app and when the call tries to route via Google Voice, nothing happens. The screen just stays on "calling via voice" and nothing after that

I'm pretty sure I haven't seen this answered yet:

I've been with GV since 2010, 99% for the ability to SMS from everywhere as long as I have an internet connection, and the rest being able to get VM transcriptions. But I've since found out that with RCS I can get all that from my carrier number, plus with GV being less and less accepted I'd like to port out my GV into my existing T-Mo account, i.e.:

Move my current 213-xxx-yyyy (GV) to replace my current 213-aaa-bbbb T-Mo number (w/o having to start a new line of service), then hopefully move my existing 213-aaa-bbbb T-Mo number onto my existing GV account.

Is this possible? I'm willing to give up my aaa-bbbb T-Mo number (as there's a couple of things that have it, but my SMS is 99.9% GV).

Updated 6/4/2026:

Google Voice now has two standalone offerings that don’t require a Google Workspace domain – Google Voice Starter and Google Voice Standard are now available for purchase by single-user Gmail accounts. Previously, these subscriptions were only available to Google Workspace customers as add-on subscriptions. 

No features are being removed from the free consumer version of Google Voice. You can simply continue to use it if you wish.

These subscriptions are intended for US-resident users with single-user Gmail accounts who want premium Voice features but don’t need or want everything else that comes with Google Workspace. The features are essentially the same as those available in the Google Voice Starter or Standard add-on subscriptions for Workspace, at the same monthly prices, plus varying federal, state and local regulatory fees and taxes. For example, this may appeal to sole proprietor businesses, or independent consultants, or anyone who wants the extra features and benefits.  

Disclaimer: whereas some Google Voice team members have helped fact-check this FAQ, r/googlevoice is an unofficial discussion group, not controlled by Google. More details are available in the official Google Voice Help Center:

For more information, see:

Learn about the new Google Voice Starter plans

Compare Google Voice subscription types

Google Voice Starter Additional Terms of Service

Voice Acceptable Use Policy

Sign up for Voice

Here are some highlights:

1. Google Voice Standalone Standard includes all the features of Starter, plus support for Auto Attendants (learn more).
2. New: A Google Workspace registered domain name is not required.  Standalone service is only for US-resident @gmail.com account holders.
3. New:  Direct customer support from Google is included. You’re still welcome to post on the official Google Voice help community or on Reddit r/googlevoice, but Google’s direct support is the primary place to go for help. Contact Google Workspace Support. 
4. New:  There is no requirement to link a personal phone number.  Since you’ll be paying for the service, there’s no need to use the “claim ticket” tracking method for granting numbers. As always, you can link US-based mobile or land line/VoIP numbers.
5. New: Google Voice Standalone includes call transfer and three-way calling, in addition to the existing hold function, on the in-call interface on the mobile app screen or the desktop website. An in-call button to control call recording is also added. Inbound and outbound call recording are both supported; you are still responsible for compliance with relevant recording laws.
6. New:  Poly Edge E deskphone and ATA 400 support is included.  See our Reddit FAQ on desk phones and ATAs for the eligible Poly products:  Using VoIP devices with Google Voice.  If you already have old, legacy OBiTALK devices on your consumer account, those should still be able to be used on your Google Voice Starter account, although, as before, you cannot add OBiTALK devices not already on your consumer account.  There is no cloud-based UI for any of the old OBi VoIP hardware.
7. New:  E911 service is included, and you will be required to submit a US service address (a physical street address, not a PO Box).
8. New: Since it uses the same phone number provisioning and porting system as Workspace, it can directly port in most land line or mobile numbers, or transfer them in from consumer Google Voice. There’s no charge for porting in or out, aside from the monthly service charges.
9. Google Voice Standalone uses portions of the Google Workspace Administrator Console to perform some number-assignment and related tasks, including porting and location (service address).  Porting-out PINs are available in the Administrator Console.
10. If you cancel your Google Voice Standalone subscription, it will automatically downgrade to consumer Google Voice.  However, you must take manual action to restore your Google Voice number, within 90 days.  See:  Cancel your Voice subscription
11. Existing consumer (personal) Google Voice users will be able to migrate their service to Google Voice Standalone.  Users still on legacy (grandfathered) G-Suite/Workspace accounts will not be able to migrate, as the new service is only available to consumer @gmail.com users. Users with Google Workspace Individual must cancel and downgrade from that service.
12. When existing consumer accounts have two Google Voice numbers, the secondary number will be unassigned during the conversion process but will be available in your number pool and can be ported out to another account.
13. The service is limited to one Google Voice number per @gmail.com user account.  You can change your number at any time. The Standard tier includes a separate number you can use for its auto-attendant feature.
14. There is no inbound or outbound Caller ID Name (CNAM) support, which is also the case with the other Google Voice offerings. Outbound calls only display your telephone number to the called party.
15. Ring groups are not supported in the standalone version of Google Voice Standard. This is because it is a single user subscription. Users that are interested in creating and managing ring groups with multiple users can do so on the Workspace add-on version of Google Voice Standard.
16. Since you’ll be paying invoices monthly, you do not need to worry about your Google Voice number being reclaimed for lack of use.  As long as you pay your bills, you keep the number.
17. Google Voice Standalone has the same Acceptable Use Policy with regard to SMS/MMS text messaging as the existing consumer and Workspace tiers; bulk messaging is not supported, and messages may be blocked if prohibited activity is detected. Prohibited uses include violations of the AUP, including, but not limited to, sales, marketing or customer service messages, automated message sending or automated replies, even if recipients have signed up for notifications.  See this link for more information on prohibited content.
18. There is no update on RCS messaging availability as part of these changes; RCS messaging is not available.
19. These settings, available in consumer Google Voice, are removed:

• Outgoing calls:  Web – Always use my phone to place calls, aka “click-to-call” – not available
• Incoming call options – press 4 to record calls, because this is implemented as a button in the in-call interface
• Payments:  auto-recharge – international calling (from your US Google Voice number to non-US or non-Canadian numbers) is billed with your monthly invoices; no need to pre-pay calling credits
• Voicemail transcripts – transcripts are always enabled
• Call into Voice to listen to voicemail – not available; use the web or mobile UIs or emailed transcript

Articles in the Google Voice Help Center (the official source of information and answers) have been updated to reflect these changes. Please check out the Help Center for lots of how-to information: Google Voice Help Center

To get started: Sign up for Voice

If you see the green "Upgrade" button on your Settings page, you can also tap that to enroll.  If your attempt to enroll encounters an error, check these potential issues:

• Since this service is only available to users located in the USA, confirm that Google knows your location is correctly listed.  This page should show a US state.  If incorrect, submit the form to change it:  https://policies.google.com/country-association-form
• Accounts currently using Google Workspace Individual must cancel that subscription and downgrade to a consumer Google account.  If those features are important to you, you may want to upgrade to a full Workspace domain plan, and add the optional Google Voice for Workspace subscription.
• Google Workspace has a setting to enable you to try out their experimental or "Labs" features.  Make sure you are not enrolled:  To leave Labs, see the bottom section of this article:  https://support.google.com/meet/answer/13447104
• The upgrade procedure might get confused and fail if your browser is signed into multiple Gmail accounts.  Close your browser, and then open an "Incognito" or "Private" browsing window.
• Some landline phone numbers cannot be upgraded to Google Voice Standalone. These were primarily consumer Google Voice numbers added many years ago, and they don't support the text messaging infrastructure of this new service.

I’ve had this problem before in the past and I fixed it in the settings, but I can’t remember the solution for it. When I call an international number, it calls some other number. I’m calling China, but someone from Mexico is picking up. There’s a mix-up with the numbers—as if the number I’m trying to call isn’t being connected. Nothing is wrong with the Chinese number because I’m able to call it using my normal cell phone company . Can anyone help?

We're a non-profit organization running a community hall for a small town of 2000. We would like to set up one GV number for the public to enquire about reserving the hall. Use case might be to have it go immediately to voicemail, and several of us monitor for messages left. Perhaps the monitoring is done by having a transcript of the voicemail emailed or sent as SMS text to multiple people. Whoever notices it first somehow makes an outgoing call showing the GV caller ID to respond to the request. Is GV an appropriate choice for this? What would be the procedure for responding to the call, this must show the GV number on caller ID, but the phone should otherwise be usable on it's default caller ID number. Perhaps best if we sign into GV in a browser and make the call from the computer? If signing in is required (when responding from either a cell phone or a browser) what happens if multiple people try to sign in simultaneously? Before responding to the call they would first inform the other potential responders (perhaps SMS text or email) that they have this request covered.

Would be even better if one of us could choose to somehow pick up the incoming call before it goes to voicemail.

Here's one of the responses (further comments are also interesting) to a similar question as of 2019. Assuming it mostly works, I see no reason the consumer version of GV would not be sufficient here. If we need to bump up to a paid version, that is a possibility. https://support.google.com/voice/thread/10535947/can-i-link-multiple-phones-to-one-google-voice-number?hl=en

"Yes, in theory, you can link up to six different 10-digit, 48-state US telephone numbers as forwarding numbers. This is the consumer version of Google Voice.  It does not have any customer support, and it does have occasional problems, which could adversely impact your business.  Aside from that, every person on that rotation would need to know the Google account's password and thus, have full access to its Gmail, calendar, documents contacts, etc. Messes and mayhem could result."

I have a Google voice number for over a (maybe two) decade(s). I have cash on it for international calls.

I had spells of not using it, and got these messages after about a year of inactivity.

Now, I'm using it with text and calls and voicemail quite regularly. I only have not used it in about a month, and I got this message? Can anybody enlighten me what's going on there?

Thanks

I had SO many spam calls coming from numbers in the 200’s (example: 317-201-4567; 317-202-4567; 317-203-4567) that I had to change my number recently.

I accidentally picked up one of their calls on my new number and fear I’ve just started the process over again on my now paid account.

Is there any way to stop what has begun? If I continue ignoring the bombardment of incoming calls, will it eventually die off?

morning, gang.

I’ve had by GV# for around 12 years. The cell number it’s linked to hasn’t changed, nor has the GV#.

Within the past several months, I’ve had multiple clients (using GV#) report that they’ve reached someone else who is clearly not me nor related to my business. Today that person called (I’ve not called them back yet) asking me to rectify the problem, which I’d be happy to do if I … had any idea wtf was going on.

(people calling my actual cell phone number, not GV, have also reached this person somehow.)

any thoughts / correction / fixes? It’s frustrating for me and certainly for the other person, and for clients.

Have been a GVoice user for nearly 20 years on the same number (area code 218). Normally spam blocking works reasonably well but as of today I have over 15 Neighbor Spoofing calls, all the same message about my Google Business Profile not being verified. I've always had "Filter Spam" enabled and still do. I've just been declining every time a call comes in but getting annoying.

Wondering if the spammers developed new strategies or they are just brute forcing their way in. Is it better to decline straight away or screen these calls?