What you can change about your Google Voice account
Google Voice lets you change your phone number, your greeting message, your voicemail settings, and which devices ring when someone calls. You cannot change the account email address itself — that stays tied to your Google account — but you can change almost everything about how the service works.
The steps differ depending on what you want to change. Changing your actual phone number takes a few minutes and costs nothing the first time. Changing where calls ring or what your voicemail says takes seconds. Some changes take effect right away; others take a few hours to roll through Google's system.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your Google Voice phone number for free once, then it costs $3 after that if you want to change it again within a year.
- To change your number, open Google Voice on the web, click Settings, select Phone Numbers, and follow the prompts to search for and claim a new one.
- You can change which devices ring when someone calls by going to Settings and selecting Linked Devices, then toggling each device on or off.
- Voicemail greetings, call screening, and call forwarding settings are all in the Settings menu and take effect within minutes of saving.
- If you want to keep your current number but change how it behaves, you do not need to do anything with the number itself — only adjust the settings.
How to change your Google Voice phone number
Open Google Voice in a web browser and sign in with your Google account. Click the Settings gear icon in the top right corner, then select Settings from the menu. On the left side, click Phone Numbers.
You will see your current number listed. Click the option to change your number — the exact wording varies, but it usually says "Change" or "Get a new number." Google will ask you to search for a new number by area code or city. Type in the area code or city you want, and Google will show you available numbers. Click the one you want, then confirm the change.
The first time you change your number, it is free. If you change it again within a year, Google charges $3. After a year has passed, you can change it free again. The new number takes effect immediately, but it may take a few hours for the change to show up everywhere in Google's system.
How to change which devices ring when you get a call
Go to Settings in Google Voice and click Linked Devices on the left side. You will see a list of all devices connected to your Google account — your phone, computer, tablet, or anything else you have signed into.
Next to each device, there is a toggle switch. Turn it on if you want calls to ring on that device, or turn it off if you do not. You can have calls ring on multiple devices at once, or just one. The change takes effect right away.
If a device does not appear in the list, it means Google Voice is not installed on it or you are not signed in. You can add devices by installing the Google Voice app or by signing into Google Voice on the web from that device.
How to change your voicemail greeting
Open Google Voice and click Settings. On the left, click Voicemail. Under "Greeting," you will see options to record a new greeting or upload an audio file you have already made.
To record a greeting, click Record and speak your message into your device's microphone. Google will play it back so you can hear how it sounds. If you like it, click Save. If you want to try again, click Record again.
You can also upload a greeting you recorded elsewhere — an MP3 file or another audio format. Click Upload and select the file from your computer. The greeting takes effect within minutes.
How to change call forwarding and screening settings
In Settings, click Calls on the left side. Here you can turn call screening on or off, set up call forwarding to send calls to another number, and choose whether to forward calls to voicemail or to another phone.
Call screening means Google Voice will ask callers to say their name before connecting the call to you. You hear the name and can choose to accept or decline the call. To turn this on, toggle Call Screening to the on position.
Call forwarding sends incoming calls to a different phone number. Click the forwarding number field, enter the phone number where you want calls to go, and save. You can set up multiple forwarding numbers and choose which one is active.
How to change your voicemail transcription and storage settings
In Settings, click Voicemail on the left. You can turn voicemail transcription on or off — this is the feature that converts voicemails to text so you can read them instead of listening.
You can also set how long Google keeps your voicemail messages before deleting them. The default is to keep them forever, but you can change it to delete after 30 days, 90 days, or another timeframe. Scroll down to find the retention setting and select your preference.
These changes take effect right away, though it may take a few hours for transcription to start working if you just turned it on.
How to change your caller ID name and number display
When you call someone from Google Voice, they see your Google Voice number on their caller ID. You can change what name appears alongside that number.
Go to Settings and click Caller ID on the left. Enter the name you want to display — this can be your real name, a business name, or anything else. Click Save. The change takes effect within a few hours.
You cannot change the phone number that shows up on caller ID — that is always your Google Voice number. But you can change the name that appears next to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Google Voice number back to what it was before?
No. Once you change your number, the old one is released back into Google's pool and you cannot reclaim it. If you change your mind immediately, contact Google Voice support, but there is no may provide they can help. Choose carefully before confirming a new number.
What happens to my old number when I change it?
Your old number is released and may be assigned to someone else. Anyone trying to reach your old number will not be able to reach you. Make sure to tell people your new number before you change it, or give them time to update their contacts.
Do I have to change my number to change my voicemail greeting?
No. Your voicemail greeting, call forwarding, and all other settings are separate from your phone number. You can change any of these without touching your number.
How long does it take for changes to show up?
Most changes — voicemail greetings, call screening, linked devices — take effect within minutes. Changing your phone number takes effect immediately, but may take a few hours to show up everywhere. Caller ID name changes can take up to a few hours.
Can I have different voicemail greetings for different callers?
Google Voice does not support multiple greetings based on who is calling. You have one greeting that all callers hear. However, you can use call screening to answer calls differently depending on who is calling.