Send & get text messages

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For Voice for Google Workspace accounts managed by your work or school, text messaging is available only in the US.

With your Google Voice number, you can send text messages at no charge to U.S. and Canadian numbers (excluding U.S. territories American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands). Texts sent using Google Voice use Wi-Fi, or mobile data from your phone's service plan if you're not connected to Wi-Fi. If you're outside the U.S. and aren't using Wi-Fi, your mobile phone company might charge you extra roaming fees to send a text.

Use Google Voice for interactive messaging only

Due to carrier limitations and to protect against spam, Google Voice messaging is intended only for interactive conversations. It's not intended for bulk messaging, which can result in messages being reported as spam and blocked. If you have blocked messages, refer to the "Why can't I send text messages?" section below.

If you're a teacher and need to send bulk announcements or notifications, we recommend using email, your school's website, social media sites, or other apps for teacher communication.

Send a text message

You can use the Google Voice website to send text messages to one or more phone numbers.

If you send a text longer than 160 characters to a non-Google Voice number, it's sent as multiple messages.

Tip: You can't send texts to five- or six-digit “short code” numbers.

1. On your computer, go to voice.google.com.
2. Open the tab for Messages .
3. At the top, click Send a message.
4. Enter a contact’s name or phone number.
   • To create a group text message, add up to 7 names or phone numbers. Group messages can have up to 8 participants, including the person who sends the message.
5. At the bottom, enter your message, and click Send .

To include an image with your message, click Select image . If your image is bigger than 2 MB, it will be sent as a smaller file. But GIFs over 2 MB won't send.

Why can't I send text messages?

If you send many text messages in a short period, or recipients mark your messages as spam, Voice may temporarily restrict you from sending more messages. If you exceed your quota, your messages are blocked. You’ll get an error message: “Message not delivered. You’ve sent too many messages.”

Text messages that may be blocked

Due to carrier limitations and to protect against spam, Google Voice messaging is intended only for 1:1, personal conversations. It is not intended for bulk messaging, which can result in messages being flagged as spam and blocked. Text messaging behaviors that may be blocked include, but are not limited to:

• Sending the same text message to multiple recipients, especially when those messages do not receive replies
• Sending URL links
• Sending large numbers of text messages in a short period of time

If your message is blocked due to spam or abuse, you’ll get an error message: “Message not delivered. See Acceptable Use Policy.”

To learn more, see the Voice Acceptable Use Policy. 

What happens when messages are blocked

There are two stages:

1. Your Google Voice account may be temporarily blocked from calling or sending messages. If this happens, please wait 24 hours and try again.
2. If you repeat the same behavior, or if the initial behavior requires immediate intervention, your account will be suspended. If you received a suspension notice via email or your Google Voice web page, then your access to Google Voice is now suspended.  Click Contact us in the suspension notice to appeal. 

Can't text without a Google Voice number

If you don't have a Google Voice number, Voice doesn't support text messaging. You can upgrade your Google Voice account at no charge.

Can't text from recently ported numbers

If you recently paid to move your Voice number, your texts might not work until 3 business days after your transfer finishes. You can check the status of your number porting.

Get a text message

You can get text messages from anywhere in the world. Some websites, such as banks or subscription services, won’t send text messages to Google Voice numbers. In those instances, you may need to use your mobile carrier number.

1. On your computer, go to voice.google.com.
2. Open the tab for Messages . Messages you haven't read yet are in bold.

If you don't get a text you're expecting, check if it got marked as spam. At the top left, click Menu Spam.

Reply to a text message

1. On your computer, go to voice.google.com.
2. Open the tab for Messages .
3. Click the text message you want to reply to.
4. At the bottom, enter your message, and click Send .

Tip: If you have more than one Voice number, you can only send texts from your main number. If you get a text to your second number, your reply will be sent from the main one.