You can delete Google Voice in two ways: remove just the phone number and keep your Google account, or delete your entire Google Voice account along with the number
The choice depends on whether you want to keep using Google services like Gmail or YouTube. If you delete only the Google Voice number, your Google account stays active and you can still sign into other Google products. If you delete the entire Google Voice account, you lose the number permanently and cannot recover it, but your main Google account remains untouched.
Before you delete anything, understand what happens next: your Google Voice number becomes available for someone else to claim after a short waiting period, any voicemails or text message history in Google Voice disappears, and you cannot undo the deletion. If other people or services use your Google Voice number to reach you, they will not be able to contact you that way anymore.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting only your Google Voice number takes about five minutes and leaves your Google account active for Gmail, YouTube, and other services.
- Deleting your entire Google Voice account removes the number permanently and erases all voicemails and text messages stored in Google Voice.
- Your Google Voice number becomes available for someone else to use after a waiting period, so do not share it publicly after deletion.
- You must sign into your Google account and navigate to the Google Voice settings page to start the deletion process.
How to delete only your Google Voice number
This route keeps your Google account active. Go to voice.google.com and sign in with your Google account. On the left side of the screen, click the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) to open the navigation panel. Select Settings from the menu.
In the Settings page, click the Account tab at the top. Scroll down until you see the section labeled Delete Google Voice or Delete your Google Voice account. Click the button that says Delete Google Voice. A pop-up window will appear asking you to confirm. Read the warning message, which tells you that your number will be released and your voicemails will be deleted. Click Delete to confirm.
Google will ask you to enter your password one more time for security. Type it in and click Confirm. The deletion happens immediately. Your Google Voice number is now gone, and you can no longer receive calls or texts at that number. Your Google account itself remains active.
How to delete your entire Google Voice account
This route removes both your Google Voice number and your Google Voice account, but leaves your main Google account (Gmail, YouTube, Drive, etc.) in place. The steps are almost identical to deleting just the number. Go to voice.google.com, sign in, click the menu icon, and select Settings.
Click the Account tab and scroll to Delete Google Voice. This time, look for an option that says Delete your Google Voice account or similar language that specifies the entire account, not just the number. Click it. Google will show you a warning that explains you are deleting the account, not just the number. Confirm your password and click Delete.
The deletion is permanent. You cannot recover your voicemails, text messages, or call history. Your Google account (for Gmail and other services) stays active unless you separately delete that as well.
What to do before you delete
Save any voicemails or text messages you want to keep. Google Voice does not have a built-in export tool, so you will need to manually save them. For voicemails, you can play each one and record it with your phone's voice memo app or another recording tool. For text messages, take screenshots of conversations you want to preserve.
Tell anyone who contacts you regularly through your Google Voice number that you are deleting it. Give them your new phone number or another way to reach you. If you use your Google Voice number for two-factor authentication on other accounts (like banking or social media), update those accounts with a different phone number or authentication method before you delete Google Voice. If you do not, you may lock yourself out of those accounts.
Check whether any services are forwarding calls to your Google Voice number. If your work uses Google Voice, your employer's IT department may need to know you are deleting it. The same applies if you set up call forwarding from another phone number to Google Voice.
If you delete by mistake
Google does not restore deleted Google Voice accounts. Once the deletion is complete, your number is gone and your voicemails are erased. You cannot undo it through Google's website or by contacting support.
If you need a Google Voice number again, you can create a new one by going back to voice.google.com and signing in with your Google account. Google will assign you a different number. You cannot reclaim your old number because it enters a waiting period before becoming available to others.
Why you might want to delete Google Voice
People delete Google Voice for different reasons. You might no longer use the number and want to stop receiving spam calls or texts at it. You might be switching to a different phone service and do not need a separate Google number anymore. You might be concerned about privacy and want to reduce the number of phone numbers tied to your identity. Or you might be closing down an old account you set up years ago and no longer check.
If you are deleting because of spam or unwanted calls, note that deleting the number does not stop spam from reaching your main phone number. Spam callers target phone numbers through different methods, and closing one account does not affect the others. If spam is the main issue, consider using Google Voice's built-in blocking features instead of deleting the account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover my Google Voice number after I delete it?
No. Once you delete your Google Voice number, it is gone permanently. Google does not restore deleted numbers. Your number enters a waiting period and then becomes available for someone else to claim. You can create a new Google Voice account and get a different number, but you cannot get your old one back.
Will deleting Google Voice delete my Gmail account?
No. Deleting Google Voice removes only your phone number and voicemail history. Your Google account, Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive, and all other Google services remain active. If you want to delete your entire Google account, you must do that separately through your Google Account settings.
What happens to my voicemails when I delete Google Voice?
All voicemails stored in Google Voice are permanently deleted when you delete your account. Google does not keep a backup. If you want to save any voicemails, record them before you delete. You can play each voicemail and record it with your phone's voice memo app or another recording tool.
Can I delete Google Voice on my phone instead of a computer?
You can access Google Voice on your phone through the Google Voice app or a web browser, but the deletion process is the same. Open voice.google.com in your phone's browser, sign in, go to Settings, and follow the deletion steps. The Google Voice app itself does not have a delete option — you must use the website.
Do I need to tell Google why I am deleting my account?
No. Google does not require you to provide a reason for deleting Google Voice. You simply confirm the deletion and it happens. You do not need to contact support or fill out a form explaining your choice.