How can I instantly know if an incoming call is to my iPhone # or to my linked Google Voice #?

Hi Clark, welcome to the forum and thanks for asking.

 

You have a couple of options to identify whether the call is coming through Google Voice or not.

If you'd like to change the Caller-ID of incoming calls to show your Google Voice number, instead of the person calling to help differentiate which calls are being made directly to your personal line, and which are being made to your Google Voice number, you can set that up in the Legacy Google Voice interface.  To access this setting directly, visit the following web page:

1. I changed to "Wifi and Data" like Shane's post above under "make and receive calls" in the voice app. It opens my app to accept calls 

2. I removed my personal # from the app, I just now have it set the voice number to be attached to my device. (It doesn't forward to my personal #). If you don't, it like double calls your device.

3. At this point, the calls will now come through your app, and it will say "Voice Audio" instead of "mobile". You can also call back the caller directly from your iphone's call log, as it will just open the voice app and call through there anyways w/ your google #. 

You can use the below steps if you still want it to forward to your actual carrier phone number... and have a specific ringtone set. I personally still have the Google Voice incoming calls named "Work Call" just to keep work and personal calls "separated" in my log. I think it's definitely not necessary.

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Whenever someone calls my Google Voice number, it will show me "Work Call" and ring with a different tone. HOWEVER, the phone number of the caller won't be saved in your phone's call log, BUT it will show up in the call log in your Google Voice app -- if that makes sense. 

So, if you need the caller's phone number, you will need to go to the app as it will only show "Work Call" in your personal recent call list.

This is a pretty roundabout way of doing it, but I can't really think of anything else. I don't think google voice has a way of just telling us iphone users which # is being called (work or personal) yet. 

*I changed it to "Work call" because I can't really be bothered to have my google # memorized to the point where I can immediately recognize it when I get the call.

Let's try to not post in a thread that is 3 months old, and create a new thread for individual help.  This way we don't bother the original poster of this thread with notifications that new posts have been made.

 

The option is still available to show your Google Voice number as Caller-ID, I just checked it myself.

 

Bart, as posted above.  Start a new thread.

To say this is frustrating is an understatement. Fortunately, we haven't switched from our old voice solution. Looks like we won't be switching.

The method I used to fix the problem was to create a contact in my phone's contact list for my GV number, using "CM's Business - Incoming Call" as the name. I used my GV number for this contact.  I also added a photo that represented my business and used a unique ringtone that is different from my standard cell phone ringtone.  Now, when my GV number is called, I hear the unique ringtone and "CM's Business - Incoming Call" appears in the phone display.

The downside is that I can't see the callers name or phone number, but its a small price to pay to be able to differentiate my personal incoming calls from my business calls and to be able to answer the phone with an appropriate greeting instead of "Hello".

To (hopefully) cut down on SPAM calls to my GV number, I also turned on filtering in the settings menu.  I did NOT implement the "Prefer WIFI and mobile data" option. I left it set to "Use Carrier Only".  I didn't try it with "Prefer Wifi.....". It might work the same as "Use Carrier Only".  I didn't test it.  I also turned OFF call screening in the GV app, since it became an added step that served no purpose.  I already knew the call was a GV call since the ringtone was different and the Caller ID popped up with my business name and photo.

As a side note, I think my solution would also work if you have multiple google Voice accounts that all point to the same cell phone number. Add each unique GV number to your contact list with a unique name and ringtone. You will know instantly which account is being used for the incoming call.  I haven't tried it, but it theoretically should work.