Google Voice is a telephone service that provides call forwarding and voicemail services, voice and text messaging, as well as U.S. and international call termination for Google Account customers.
Google Voice provides a U.S. telephone number, chosen by the user from available numbers in selected area codes, free of charge to each user account. Calls to this number are forwarded to telephone numbers that each user must configure in the account web portal.
Google Voice Guides
Android
- Google Voice Application for Android Devices
- Download Google Voice application from the Play Store. Sign-in to your Google account.
- After logging in, search city or area code and select preferred Google Voice phone number.
- “Link your device” or “verify your account through a different number”.
- Verify your account through a different number:
- Allow “voice to make and manage call”.
- Enter your number to the link provided.
- Select “send verification code” and enter the code.
- Your account would be verified through the number you entered.
- Link your device:
- Sign-in to your Google account, and “link your device” to Google Voice.
- Select “Next” to “do you want Google Voice calls with this device”.
- Enter your number to the link provided.
- Select YES to “do you want to use your Google Voice number when calling from this device”.
- Allow voice to access phone logs.
- Read presented prompts to understand Google Voice.
- To give access to microphone, allow Google Voice to record audio.
- You are now ready to make and receive calls, as well as text message with Google Voice number.
iOS / Google Voice for Apple Devices:
- Search the app store for the Google Voice application.
- Download and open up the Google Voice application.
- Once prompted, sign into your Google account and accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policies.
- After successfully logging in, search any city or area code to be presented with a list of possible phone numbers (if no numbers are available for your city or area code, choose somewhere else).
- Choose the phone number you prefer and click select.
- After selection, Google Voice will ask to verify your existing phone number.
- Enter your phone number and type in the verification code sent via text/call.
- Once verification is complete, proceed to settings to set up call forwarding or text forwarding to your existing number if desired.
Chrome
- Open Google Chrome.
- Go to https://voice.google.com/about.
- Here you will have the option to choose whether you are using google voice “For personal use” or “For business”.
- Click on “For personal use”, a drop-down menu will appear, click on the Web option.
- You will then be prompted to sign into your google account. (If you do not have an account, you have the option to create an account here too.)
- Click continue to accept the terms of service and privacy policy.
- After successfully logging in, search any city or area code to be presented with a list of possible phone numbers (if no numbers are available for your city or area code, choose somewhere else).
- Choose the phone number you prefer and click select.
- After selection, Google Voice will ask to verify your existing phone number.
- Enter your phone number and type in the verification code sent via text/call.
- Once verification is complete, a keypad will appear on the right side of your screen and you’re ready to make Calls and Texts with selected number.
Firefox
- In your browser’s address bar, go to: http://voice.google.com/
- Here you will have the option to choose whether you are using google voice “For personal use” or “For business”.
- It will prompt you to sign into your Google account if you are not already.
- Once you are logged in, it will say “Welcome to Google Voice”. Click the blue Continue button.
- Google will ask you to choose a Google Voice number. Type in the area code for a number you want (ex. New York can be 347, 718, etc.). It will prompt you with a list of available phone numbers.
- When you find a phone number, click Select next to that number.
- You will then be asked to verify your phone number. Click on Verify.
- You will be asked to link your existing phone number. This would be your regular cell phone number.
- Click on Send Code, and Google will send you a verification code via text message.
- Input the code, and then click Verify. Once your number is added, click Finish.
- Once you have done these steps, you will see a keypad to the right side of your screen, along with your cell phone contacts list.
Navigation
- Speaker and Microphone Selection: On the top right, you will see an icon that looks like a headset and microphone. You can select this to enable your microphone, and select the speakers you will use to listen to the ringer, and calls.
- Firefox will prompt you and ask if you would like to enable your microphone for Google Voice near the address bar, simply allow it access to use your computer microphone.
- Settings: The cogwheel on the top right is your Google Voice settings. You can change or delete your google voice number in the Account settings.
- Calls, Messages, Voicemail: On the far left of the interface, you will see an icon that looks like a phone, one that looks like a chat bubble, and one that looks like a voicemail icon. You can use these to navigate call history, messages, and voicemails. There is also an icon to navigate through spam calls, which Google automatically filters.