How to Forward Calls on Google Voice
Google Voice is a popular voice-over-internet-phone (VoIP) service that allows users to make and receive phone calls, send faxes, and access various other features. One of the most useful features of Google Voice is the ability to forward calls to another phone number, making it a great tool for businesses, individuals, and families who need to manage multiple phone lines.
Setting Up Google Voice
Before you can forward calls on Google Voice, you need to set up the service. Here’s how:
- Go to the Google Voice website and sign in with your Google account.
- Click on the "Create a Google Voice account" button.
- Fill out the registration form with your name, email address, and phone number.
- Verify your email address by clicking on the link sent to you by Google.
- Once you’ve verified your email address, you’ll be taken to the Google Voice dashboard.
Creating a New Phone Number
Once you’ve set up Google Voice, you can create a new phone number. Here’s how:
- Click on the "Create a new phone number" button.
- Enter the phone number you want to forward calls to.
- Choose the type of phone number you want to create (e.g. a regular phone number, a VoIP number, or a custom number).
- Click on the "Create" button.
Forwarding Calls
Now that you’ve created a new phone number, you can start forwarding calls. Here’s how:
- Go to the Google Voice dashboard and click on the "Phone numbers" tab.
- Select the phone number you want to forward calls to.
- Click on the "Edit" button.
- Scroll down to the "Forwarding" section.
- Click on the "Add forwarding" button.
- Enter the phone number you want to forward calls to.
- Choose the type of forwarding you want to set up (e.g. "Call forwarding" or "Text message forwarding").
- Click on the "Save" button.
Forwarding Calls to a Specific Phone Number
You can also forward calls to a specific phone number, such as a business phone number or a family member’s phone number. Here’s how:
- Go to the Google Voice dashboard and click on the "Phone numbers" tab.
- Select the phone number you want to forward calls to.
- Click on the "Edit" button.
- Scroll down to the "Forwarding" section.
- Click on the "Add forwarding" button.
- Enter the phone number you want to forward calls to.
- Choose the type of forwarding you want to set up (e.g. "Call forwarding" or "Text message forwarding").
- Click on the "Save" button.
Important Notes
- Forwarding is only available for calls and text messages. You cannot forward calls to other types of messages, such as faxes or emails.
- You can only forward calls to a single phone number. If you want to forward calls to multiple phone numbers, you’ll need to create multiple phone numbers and set up forwarding for each one.
- You can only forward calls to a phone number that is not already set up as a Google Voice number. If you want to forward calls to a phone number that is already set up as a Google Voice number, you’ll need to delete the existing number and create a new one.
Tips and Tricks
- Use a separate Google Voice number for forwarding. This will help you keep your personal and business phone numbers separate.
- Use a VoIP service to forward calls. Google Voice is a VoIP service, and using a separate VoIP service can help you keep your calls and messages organized.
- Use a third-party service to forward calls. There are many third-party services available that can help you forward calls on Google Voice, such as RingCentral or Vonage.
Conclusion
Forwarding calls on Google Voice is a great way to manage multiple phone lines and keep your personal and business phone numbers separate. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily set up a new phone number and start forwarding calls to a specific phone number. Remember to use a separate Google Voice number for forwarding and to use a VoIP service or third-party service to forward calls. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to manage your phone lines and stay organized with Google Voice.