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).
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On this new screen ensure that you’re on the ‘Phones‘ tab at the top.Click on the blue ‘Change/Port‘ hyperlink.Select ‘Continue‘ in the new pop-up window that confirms you’re willing to pay the $10.Select a phone number from the options menu, then click ‘Continue.’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.
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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.’Check the boxes that appear confirming you accept the conditions of porting.
2 thoughts on “How To Change your Google Voice Number”
Michael Barnes says:
June 18, 2020 at 12:10 pm
The instructions don’t match the selections available. For example, the phone number is not displayed, so there is nothing to click.
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