How To Change your Google Voice Number

Cassandra McBride February 12, 2021

Google offers those who use Google Voice the ability to change their phone numbers quickly and easily for the low cost of $10. At this cost, you can choose a new area code and search for a number based entirely on both numbers and letters. This is incredibly useful for anyone who has recently moved into a new area code and would prefer to keep a local number. Also great for anyone wishing to personalize their phone number (think 555-THE-BEST or something along those lines).

Google also offers users of Google Voice a chance to keep their old number just in case they’ve recently switched carriers. This is handy for anyone who would like a new alternate number specifically for work calls while maintaining the same phone number that your friends and families already have saved for you. Just port your old number over to Google Voice and avoid paying for a second plan. All calls sent to your old number will be forwarded to the newer one so that you’ll never miss a call.

Changing Your Google Voice Number

No matter which reason you have for being here, the process for both is extremely simple and takes effect immediately. We’ll begin with the steps to change your old Google Voice number into a new one. You’ll be happy to know that, in order to help with the cutover from old to new, for a total of three months your old number will continue to forward all incoming calls and SMS texts to your new number. This will help provide a bit of time to anyone too lazy to change your old number on their phones to the new one, a long time window to do so.

Remember that the cost to replace your current Google Voice number with a new one will run you $10. After the change takes place, you will not be able to undo the process or get any of your money back. Make sure that you want to change it and that the number you change it to is exactly the one you want.

To change your current Google Voice number into something new:

On your computer, go to voice.google.com.
Log into your Google Account associated with the Google Voice number you want to change.
Located at the top right of the screen, click the Settings cog.
Select ‘Account‘ on the left-hand side if it isn’t already selected.
Now, click on ‘Change‘ located under your phone number.
On this new screen ensure that you’re on the ‘Phones‘ tab at the top.
Click on the blue ‘Change/Port‘ hyperlink.
Select ‘I want a new number‘ from the pop-up that appears.
Select ‘Continue‘ in the new pop-up window that confirms you’re willing to pay the $10.
Populate the fields to pull up a new phone number.
Select a phone number from the options menu, then click ‘Continue.’
Select ‘Purchase Number‘ and continue with your payment.
Once payment is complete, you’ll receive a few different emails. Some with updates and others that will provide further instructions in order to complete the process.

After the entire process is finished, the changes should be immediate and you’ll be able to use your new number right away. If you look at the numbers you have on Google Voice, the old number will still be visible.

It will remain after the number change, for a full 90-days until disappearing from the list. Your new number will be visible as well. Once the 90-days has ended, Google will send out emails with the contacts who have used your old number.

Keep Your Current Phone Number (Port A Number to Google Voice)

Planning to change your mobile plan and found a better deal with a competitor? This happens more often than you think. Your monthly bill will be a little cheaper than last month and your service is still just as good. But what about the phone number? You’ve been using the same number for several years. It’s the one all of your friends and family have saved in their phone. Do you hold off?

If you want to get a new number but still want to keep your old one, Google Voice can be the answer to your prayers. It offers individuals the chance to port their existing number over to their service for a one-time fee of $20. So not only will you get the new number with your new service, but you can also maintain your existing number and have all calls forwarded from that number to the new one. How awesome is that?

You’ll need to know that when you port a number to Google Voice, you can’t use the Google Voice app to send text messages–it requires a data connection over Wi-Fi or a mobile network. But you can, however, have Google Voice forward SMS texts to your new number. When replying to the incoming texts using your regular messaging app, the messages will appear to come from your new Google Voice number.

This is the same way that phone calls will work. With call-forwarding turned on, you can make and receive calls from your Google Voice number, even without a data connection. This should go without saying but you will need two phone numbers in order to port a number to Google Voice. This is your existing number where the calls and texts are received, and the new number to where they will be forwarded.

Your existing number will be the one ported over and must remain active at the time you begin the process. So DO NOT cancel your account before doing so. The new number can be one provided to you by your current carrier or a new carrier. Your second number can even be one from Google Voice. If you are switching carriers, once you start a new account with them and port your number over to Google Voice, Google will cancel your previous carrier account on your behalf. For a new number while remaining with the same carrier, after the number is added to Google Voice, Google will cancel your old number.

It’s very important that you don’t attempt to make such a change while still in the middle of a contract. Porting your number over has the potential to carry with it an Early Termination Fee (ETF) if canceled early. To be sure, contact the customer support of your current carrier and inform them of what your plans are before you cancel. They’ll be able to make a note on your account to not charge you an ETF when you finally cancel.

Calls and text messages to both numbers will reach you so long as call-forwarding has been turned on. However, outbound calls and texts will only be sent from your primary Google Voice number. Google Voice does allow you to swap which number you want as your primary, at any time you’d like.

To port a number over to your Google Voice account:

Open Google Voice in your browser and log in.
- You must be within 90 days of the cancelation process in order to port the number over. Any later and the number will be unavailable.
You’ll find Settings at the top right, so go ahead and click it.
Click ‘Account‘ then click on ‘Change‘ under your phone number just as we did above.
Click over to the ‘Phones‘ tab.
Click ‘Change/Port‘ then click ‘I want to use my mobile number.’
Type in your phone number and select ‘Check for available options.’
Assuming your number is available for porting you will see a blue ‘Port your number‘ hyperlink at the bottom of the pop-up window. Click it.
Check the boxes that appear confirming you accept the conditions of porting.
On the next screen, input all of your current account information.
Once the transaction has been completed, the expiration date next to your original Google Voice number will now disappear. It now belongs to you until you cancel/delete it yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Google need my account information to port my phone number?

Porting from one carrier to another (in this case Google) will always require account information such as an account number and an account passcode. This ensures that you are authorized to port the number and verify that you’re actually porting the right phone number.

I can’t port my number. Why?

Porting numbers can be finicky. Especially with a service like Google Voice. If your number is eligible, double-check your account information. If Google Voice doesn’t even let you move forward, there are a variety of reasons your number isn’t eligible.

Google Voice won’t let you port a landline number, a number that is owned by your school or your work. This means that you can’t directly port your number from one of these services to Google Voice. Unfortunately, the workaround for this is to port your number to another cell phone carrier, wait a while, then port it over to Google Voice (usually three days). It’s a hassle, but if it’s a number you’ve had for years it’s worth a shot.