Port Your Phone Number to Google Voice: A Complete Guide
Porting a Number to Google Voice: A Comprehensive Guide
Maintaining your existing phone number when acquiring a new one is often desirable. Alternatively, you might seek a secondary number for various purposes. Google Voice provides a convenient solution for this, allowing you to port a number to their service.
Initiating the Porting Process
The process of transferring your number to Google Voice is straightforward. It enables continued use of a familiar number alongside your new service.
Google Voice allows users to seamlessly integrate existing phone numbers. This is particularly useful for those who wish to avoid the inconvenience of notifying contacts of a change.
Understanding Porting Requirements
Before beginning, it’s important to understand the prerequisites for a successful port. These ensure a smooth transition of your number.
- Your number must be with a carrier that allows porting.
- You must have full control over the number and its associated account.
- The number cannot be currently blocked or suspended.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these steps to port your number to Google Voice. Each step is designed to guide you through the process efficiently.
First, sign in to your Google Voice account. Then, initiate the porting process within the settings menu. You will be prompted to verify your identity and provide account details.
You will need your carrier account number and PIN. These are essential for authorizing the transfer of your number. Ensure you have this information readily available.
Google Voice will then contact your current carrier to begin the porting process. This typically takes a few hours, but can sometimes extend to several days.
Related Information
For Android users, exploring additional features like Wi-Fi calling can further enhance their mobile experience.
Related: How to Enable Wi-Fi Calling on Android
Once the port is complete, your number will be fully functional with Google Voice. You can then enjoy all the benefits of the service, including voicemail transcription and call forwarding.
Maintaining Access to a Previous Phone Number with Google Voice
Should you have transitioned to a new mobile carrier and obtained a fresh phone number, yet wish to retain access to your former number as a backup, Google Voice offers a solution. Porting your old number to Google Voice allows continued use without incurring the costs of a second, dedicated mobile plan.
This ensures that any calls directed to your previous number are seamlessly forwarded to your current device, preventing missed communications due to outdated contact information.
Utilizing an Existing Number with Google Voice
While Google Voice provides the option of acquiring a new number for texting and call forwarding, it also supports the integration of numbers you already possess.
Instead of obtaining a new Google Voice number, you can port your existing number to the service, enabling its use within the Google Voice ecosystem.
Benefits of Porting to Google Voice
- Avoid the expense of maintaining a second mobile plan.
- Ensure no important calls are missed due to contacts using an old number.
- Seamlessly forward calls from your previous number to your current device.
Effectively, Google Voice allows you to leverage your existing number without the ongoing financial commitment of a separate service.
Understanding the Considerations
Initially, transferring a phone number to Google Voice involves a one-time cost of $20.
Furthermore, once a number is ported to Google Voice, utilizing the Google Voice application for sending text messages is not possible without a data connection via Wi-Fi or LTE/3G. However, Google Voice can be configured to forward text messages to your new number.
Replying to these forwarded messages through your standard messaging application will display your Google Voice number as the sender, offering a convenient feature.
Similar functionality applies to both making and receiving calls. With call forwarding enabled, calls can be made and received using your Google Voice number, even in the absence of a data connection.
Finally, the process of porting a number to Google Voice necessitates having two phone numbers:
- The existing phone number that you intend to transfer to Google Voice. This number must remain active throughout the porting procedure; avoid cancellation before completion.
- A new phone number to which Google Voice calls and texts will be forwarded. This can be a number from a different provider or one from your current provider.
In one instance, a switch to a new carrier (Cricket) was made, initiating a new account with them while simultaneously porting a number from Verizon. Google Voice then automatically cancelled the Verizon account.
Should you be acquiring a new number from the same carrier, simply adding a number to your account will suffice, after which Google Voice will handle the cancellation of the previous number.
It’s crucial to verify whether you are currently bound by a contract, as porting your number could potentially trigger an early termination fee (ETF) from your carrier. Contact customer service to confirm and request a note on your account to waive any ETF upon cancellation if uncertainty exists.
Transferring Your Phone Number to Google Voice
To begin the process of porting your existing phone number, navigate to www.google.com/voice. New users will first be required to agree to the terms of service before proceeding with the number transfer.
If you are already a Google Voice user, access the settings menu by clicking the gear icon located in the top-right corner, and then selecting "Settings".
Ensure the "Phones" tab is selected. This is where you will manage your phone number settings.
Adjacent to your current Google Voice number, click the "Change/Port" option. Be aware that porting a number will replace your existing Google Voice number after a 90-day period; however, you have the option to retain the original number for an additional $20, resulting in two active Google Voice numbers.
Select the option "I want to use my mobile number". This will be the initial screen presented to new Google Voice users following acceptance of the terms and conditions.
Enter the phone number you intend to port and then click "Check for available options". This will verify the number's eligibility for transfer.
Click "Port your number" to initiate the transfer request.
Review and acknowledge the terms and conditions by checking the corresponding boxes. Then, proceed by clicking "Next: Phone Verification".
To confirm ownership, Google Voice will place a call to the number you are porting. Enter the two-digit code provided during the call using your phone's keypad. Select "Call me now" to start this verification step.
Following successful verification, you will be prompted to provide your carrier account information. This includes details such as your account number, PIN, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. For example, this may involve providing your Verizon account details. Click "Next: Confirmation" after entering this information.
Carefully review all provided details for accuracy before clicking "Next: Google Payments".
If a credit card is already associated with your Google account, you can approve the purchase by clicking "Buy" when prompted. Otherwise, you will need to enter your credit card information.
Upon completing the purchase, a "Purchase Confirmation" message will appear. Click "Done" to finalize the process.
The subsequent page will reiterate key points, such as the replacement of your existing Google Voice number (unless you choose to retain it for $20) and the necessity of linking a new phone number for forwarding.
The final step is to await the completion of the porting process, which may take up to 24 hours. Full text messaging functionality may require up to three business days to become operational.
During this period, a yellow status bar will be displayed at the top of the Google Voice interface, indicating that the number porting is in progress.
Call Forwarding to Your Primary Number with Google Voice
Having successfully transferred your previous phone number to Google Voice, you gain the ability to send text messages to any contact, provided you have an active Wi-Fi or data connection. Alternatively, texting must have been initiated by the recipient first, with SMS forwarding enabled. Call origination and reception through your former number necessitate utilizing your primary phone number for forwarding.
Essentially, incoming calls to your old number will be automatically redirected to your main line.
Setting Up Call Forwarding
To configure this forwarding functionality, return to the Google Voice Settings and navigate to the "Phones" tab, as you did previously. This time, however, select the option labeled "Add another phone".
A name for the forwarding number should be entered, followed by the corresponding phone number itself. You also have the option to enable the forwarding of text messages.
For more granular control, click on "Show advanced settings".
Advanced Forwarding Options
Within these advanced settings, you can directly access the voicemail associated with your original number. Furthermore, you can define specific timeframes for call forwarding, functioning similarly to a "Do Not Disturb" feature. Note that Google Voice also offers a dedicated, separate Do Not Disturb function.
Once you have tailored the settings to your preferences, click "Save".
Following this, Google Voice will initiate a call to your forwarding number to confirm your ownership and operation of the line. You will then be prompted to enter the two-digit code displayed on your phone’s keypad.
Select "Connect" to commence the verification process.
Verification and Finalization
Upon successful verification, your forwarding number will appear within the "Phones" tab in Google Voice, listed directly below your ported number.
A new setting will become available: the option to receive text message notifications on your forwarding number whenever a voicemail is left on your ported number. Enable this feature by checking the corresponding box.
With these steps completed, your forwarding number is fully configured and operational. To make calls using your old phone number, utilize the Google Voice app on your smartphone (requiring a data connection) or dial your own Google Voice number to initiate the call.
Image source: Google
