Set up your phone to make & receive Google Voice calls

Your Google Voice number lets you make and receive calls at voice.google.com or on the Google Voice app. You can also link phone numbers you want to forward calls to if you don't want to answer with Google Voice. When call forwarding is set up, calls to your Google Voice number will ring your linked phones.

Forwarding calls from your Google Voice number to an automated system is unsupported.
Sign up for Google Workspace to use an auto attendant if you need to forward calls to an automated system. Learn more

Note: The linked number feature isn't available to SIP Link users. If you're uncertain whether you're a SIP Link user, reach out to your IT admin.

Receive calls using Google Voice on Android

Add a number to place & receive calls & texts

1. Open the Voice app .
2. In the top left, tap Menu Settings.
3. Under "Account," tap Devices and numbers.
4. Tap New linked number.
5. Enter the phone number to link.
6. Google Voice sends you a verification code.
   • To verify a mobile number: Tap Send code. Google Voice sends the code in a text message.
   • To verify a landline number: Tap Verify by phone  Call. Google Voice calls the phone number and gives the code.
7. Enter the code  tap Verify.

Tips: 

• You can link up to 6 numbers. You can't link a number that's already linked to a Google Voice number.
• Calls to your Google Voice number also ring on your linked number.

Get notifications in Gmail

1. To forward texts, missed calls, and voicemail to Gmail, open the Voice app .
2. In the top left, tap Menu Settings.
3. Turn on forwarding:
   • Messages: Turn on Forward messages to email.
   • Calls: Turn on Get email alerts for missed calls.
   • Voicemail: Turn on Get voicemail via email.

Reverify a number where you want to get calls

1. Open the Voice app .
2. At the bottom, you have a message that says "Your linked number is inactive." Tap Reverify.
3. Next to your linked number, tap Reverify.
4. Tap Send code. Google Voice sends the code in a text message.
   • Do not share the code with other people or sites.
   • If you don’t have the option to Send code, this step and the following steps may be automatically completed by your device.
5. Enter the code tap Verify.
6. You'll get a confirmation. Tap Finish.

Tip: If you don't reverify the number, your other linked numbers will still work.

Change where you get calls

1. Open the Voice app .
2. In the top left, tap Menu  Settings.
3. Under "Calls," tap Incoming calls.
4. Under "My devices," turn off any devices you don't want to get calls on.

Change your device's number

Important: Google Voice uses your linked number to make calls if an internet connection isn't available. If you didn't link your device's number during sign-up, you can link it later.

1. Open the Voice app .
2. In the top left, tap Menu  Settings.
3. Under “Account,” tap Devices and numbers.
4. Under “This device,” tap Change device number.
5. Choose an option:
   • Your device’s number: Google Voice links to your mobile device.
   • No number: Google Voice isn't linked to a device number.
   • New linked number: Google Voice links to a new number you enter. Google Voice verifies the number before it links.
6. Tap Save.

Remove a linked number

1. Open the Voice app .
2. In the top left, tap Menu Settings.
3. Under "Account," tap Devices and numbers.
4. Next to the linked number, tap Remove  Remove.

Set a custom ringtone

Important: These steps work only on Android 8 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

You can set custom ringtones in Google Voice on Android devices.

To customize a ringtone in Google Voice:

1. Open the Google Voice app .
2. At the top left, tap Menu   Settings.
3. Under “Calls,” tap Incoming call notifications  Sound.
4. Browse the ringtone options. To listen to a ringtone, tap it.
5. When you find the ringtone you want to use, tap it. On some Android phones, to save the new ringtone, at the top right, tap Save.

Use Call Waiting

In Google Voice, you can have 2 calls at a time and easily switch between them. When you get a new call, you can:

• Reject the new call.
• Place the current call on hold and answer the new call.

When you're on another call, you can also make a new call. Your current call is put on hold.

Related resources

• Manage SIP Link numbers