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Google Voice is a convenient way to call or text people without worrying about compromising your actual phone number. You can sign up for a Google Voice phone number for free if you have a Google Account and a valid U.S. phone number. If you already have one, you can get a new Google Voice number after deleting the old one, though this can only be done once a year. If you're located outside of the U.S., you'll need to use the paid version. This wikiHow will show you how to get a free Google Voice number using your current phone number.
Things You Should Know
- Go to https://voice.google.com and log into your Google account. Press "Continue" to select a phone number.
- Click "Verify" and retrieve the code from your valid phone number. Verify your phone number to claim the Google Voice number.
- You can change your Google Voice number once per year. If you change it, you have 90 days to reclaim your old number.
Steps
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Go to https://voice.google.com in your computer's web browser. This will open the Google Voice setup page.[1]
- If you aren't logged into a Google account, click Sign in in the top-right corner. Enter your email address and password before proceeding.
- You must have a Google account, a valid U.S. phone number, and be located in the U.S. to get a Google Voice phone number.
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Tap Continue. This is the green button at the center of the page.Advertisement
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Search for a location. Click the text box in the middle of the page, then type in a city name or a ZIP code (e.g., 96703). As you type, a drop-down menu with phone number options will appear below the text box.
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Select a phone number. Click Select to the right of the phone number that you want to use.
- You may first have to select a city in the drop-down menu below the search bar.
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Click Verify. This green button is in the middle of the page. You'll be taken to a page where you can verify your actual phone number.
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Enter your valid phone number. In the text field that appears in the middle of the page, type in a phone number for a phone that you can access.
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Click SEND CODE. It's in the bottom-right corner of the phone number window. Google Voice will send a verification text to your phone.
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Retrieve your code. Open your phone's texting app, open the text from Google (usually a five-digit number), and review the six-digit code in the body of the text.
- Google's text will say something like "123456 is your Google Voice verification code."
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Enter the code. Type the six-digit code into the text field in the middle of the Google Voice page.
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Click Verify. It's in the bottom-right corner of the code verification window.
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Click Claim when prompted. This will confirm that you want to use the associated phone number with your Google Voice account.
- You might not see this option depending on your phone number. If so, skip to the next step.
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Click Finish when prompted. Doing so will confirm your phone number and take you to your Google Voice page.
- You can now use Google Voice. Any outgoing messages or phone calls from this page will use your Google Voice number.
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Set up Google Voice. Click the cog icon in the top-right corner to access your Settings. You'll be able to adjust your call settings, voicemail, notifications, and accessibility.
- Make a phone call by entering a number in the keypad on the right side of the home page. Click the phone icon to dial. You must have a connected microphone.
- To text with Google Voice, click the message icon in the left panel. Click Send new message, add a recipient and message, then click the airplane icon to send.
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Go to https://voice.google.com/ in your web browser. If you aren't logged into a Google Account, enter your email address and password before proceeding.
- You can reclaim your old number within 90 days if it's your only Google Voice phone number.
- You can only change your Google Voice number once per year.
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Click the cog icon. This will be in the top-right corner, next to a question mark icon.
- Your Settings will open. By default, you'll be in the Account tab.
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Click Delete. This will be underneath your current Google Voice number.
- A new window will open.
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Click Delete number. Your number will be deleted.
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Click Get a number. This will be underneath the Account header. The Delete button should have shifted to this button.
- This will begin the Google Voice set up again. Follow the steps to Signing up for Google Voice to claim a new number.
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I have more than one active number per email?Community AnswerNo. If you already have one then you must use that number or have different accounts.
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QuestionCan a Google voice number be decoded to see the name of the owner?Community AnswerYes, if the caller logs into the email account used to open the Google voice number.
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QuestionHow do I record my message on a Google voice number?Community AnswerThere are several things you can do for this. Google Audacity and Snag That, then google how to record audio from PC to Audacity.
Video
Tips
Warnings
- You can only have one Google Voice phone number per valid phone number.Thanks
About This Article
1. Go to https://voice.google.com.
2. Search for a location.
3. Select a phone number.
4. Verify the phone number.
5. Click Finish when prompted.
Reader Success Stories
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"Step-by-step instructions with pictures were very helpful and the tips educated me on what to expect."