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How to Get a Google Voice Number (Step by Step)

Posted on 14/10/26 10:48 am

To get a Google Voice number, sign in at voice.google.com with a Google account, search for a number by city or area code, and verify it with an existing US phone number. It is free for personal use in the United States. Here is the full process, plus what to do if Google will not accept your verification number.

Requirements

  • A personal Google account (Gmail).
  • To be in the United States. Personal Google Voice is not offered in most other countries.
  • An existing US phone number to link. Google sends a code to it to prove you are a real person.

How to sign up for a Google Voice number

  1. Go to voice.google.com on a computer, or install the Google Voice app on your phone, and sign in.
  2. Accept the terms and tap Continue.
  3. Search for a number by city or area code (for example 212 or Chicago) and pick one from the list.
  4. Tap Verify and enter your existing US phone number.
  5. Type in the 6-digit code Google texts you. Your Google Voice number is now active.

You can now call and text from the app, the website, or have calls forwarded to your linked phone.

Why Google Voice will not accept my number

Google requires the linking number to be a real mobile or landline number in the US. It usually rejects:

  • Other VoIP numbers (TextNow, TextFree, Skype numbers).
  • Numbers already linked to another Google Voice account.
  • Non-US numbers.

If you do not have a US number, a private non-VoIP US number can receive the verification code. See our Google Voice verification number page; you only pay if the code arrives. For more detail, read creating a Google Voice account without your personal number.

Keeping your Google Voice number

  • Use it regularly. Google can reclaim numbers that have had no calls or texts for several months.
  • If you want to keep the number for good, you can port it to a carrier, or pay a small one-time fee to lock it.
  • Google Voice is itself a VoIP number, so many apps (banks, Venmo, some social networks) will not accept it for their own verification.

Google Voice alternatives

If you just need a number for a verification code and not a full calling line, a temporary phone number is quicker. For a full comparison, see our Google Voice alternatives guide.

Get a USA number for this

Receive SMS online · Non-VoIP numbers · Temporary phone numbers · Free numbers

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