Set caller and privacy preferences

Manage your call interactions more efficiently. You can:

• Forward calls from specific contacts to your linked phone numbers or directly to voicemail.
• Play custom voicemail greetings to certain contacts. 
• Choose to screen calls from specific contacts.

Before you start

On a mobile device, you can view rules. To create, edit, or delete rules, on a computer, go to voice.google.com.

Computer

Create a rule

1. On a computer, go to Google Voice.
2. At the top right, click Settings .
3. On the left, click Calls.
4. Under “Custom call forwarding,” click Create a rule.
5. Enter the contact(s) you want to create a rule for. In the search bar, search for contacts or contact labels.
6. Customize the rule. You can forward calls to one or more of your linked numbers or directly to voicemail, play a custom voicemail greeting, and screen calls.
7. Click Save.

Tip: You can manage contacts and contact labels at contacts.google.com. If you change someone’s phone number in Google Contacts, update your rules for the new number.

Customize a rule

You can add features to rules for individuals or group contacts.

Forward calls to linked numbers

You can forward calls to your linked phone numbers.

1. Create a rule, or edit an existing one.
2. Under “Take the following action,” click Forward calls.
3. Under “Forward to these numbers,” choose the linked number you want to use to receive calls from the contact or contact group.
4. At the bottom, click Save.

Tip: Devices turned on under "My devices" in your account level settings will ring.

Forward calls to voicemail

You can forward calls from specific contacts directly to voicemail.

1. Create a rule, or edit an existing one.
2. Under “Take the following action,” click Send to voicemail.
3. At the bottom, click Save.

Play a custom voicemail greeting

You can play custom voicemail greetings to certain contacts. 

1. Create a rule, or edit an existing one.
2. Under “If the call isn’t answered, play this voicemail greeting,” make a voicemail greeting selection.
3. At the bottom, click Save.

Screen calls

1. Create a rule, or edit an existing one.
2. Under “Screen the call,” choose a call screen option:
   • To let Google Voice decide whether to screen the call, click No preference.
   • To hear the name of the caller before you answer, click Always screen.
   • To turn off call screen, click Never screen.
3. At the bottom, click Save.

Edit a rule

1. On a computer, go to Google Voice.
2. At the top right, click Settings .
3. On the left, click Calls. 
4. Under “Custom call forwarding,” click Manage rules.
5. Next to the rule, click Edit rule .
6. To add or delete rules for contacts or contact groups, next to the name, click Change.
7. At the bottom, click Save.

Delete a rule

1. On a computer, go to Google Voice.
2. In the top right, click Settings .
3. On the left, click Calls.
4. Under “Custom call forwarding,” click Manage rules.
5. Next to the rule, click More actions Delete  Delete.

Android

View rules

Important: To create, edit, or delete rules, on a computer, visit voice.google.com.

You can view rules from your mobile device.

1. Open the Google Voice app .
2. At the top left, tap Menu  Settings.
3. Under "Custom call forwarding," tap Manage rules.

iPhone & iPad

View rules

Important: To create, edit, or delete rules, on a computer, visit voice.google.com.

You can view rules from your mobile device.

1. Open the Google Voice app .
2. At the top left, tap Menu  Settings.
3. Under "Custom call forwarding," tap Manage rules.

Learn about rules

Rules are applied to a contact or contact group in the order listed on the “Manage rules” page. If a contact has multiple rules, only the first rule in the list applies.

To rearrange the rules in a certain order:

1. On a computer, go to Google Voice.
2. At the top right, click Settings .
3. On the left, click Calls. 
4. Under “Custom call forwarding,” click Manage rules.
5. Next to the rule, click More actions .
6. Select an option:
   • Move up in the list.
   • Move down in the list.

Related resources

• Set up your phone to make & receive Google Voice calls
• Add, move, or import contacts
• View, group & share contacts