You can change your Google Voice number, but only once every 30 days

Google Voice lets you change the phone number attached to your account, but the process has real limits. You can change your number once every 30 days, and you lose your old number permanently — Google does not hold it for you or let you switch back. Before you change, understand what happens: calls and texts to your old number stop working, any contacts who have it will not reach you, and you cannot port a Google Voice number to another carrier if you ever want to leave the service.

The change itself takes about 24 hours to complete. During that time, calls and texts may not work reliably on either number. If you use Google Voice for work, for two-factor authentication codes, or for any service that has your number on file, changing it means updating those records separately — Google does not notify anyone that your number has changed.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Google Voice number once every 30 days, and the old number is deleted permanently after the change.
  • The change takes about 24 hours to complete, during which calls and texts may fail on both the old and new number.
  • Any service, contact, or account that uses your Google Voice number will stop reaching you unless you update it manually.
  • If you use Google Voice for two-factor authentication, you must change those settings before you change your number, or you may lose access to those accounts.

How to change your number in Google Voice settings

Open Google Voice on your computer at voice.google.com. On the left side, click Settings. In the Settings menu, click the Phones tab. Find your current Google Voice number and click the three-dot menu next to it, then select Change number.

Google will show you a warning that your old number will be deleted and you cannot undo this action. Click Change number again to confirm. You will then see a list of available numbers in your area code. You can search by area code if you want a number from a different region. Select the number you want and click Verify. Google will send a verification code to your phone — enter it to complete the change.

The new number becomes active within 24 hours. During this time, do not rely on Google Voice for incoming calls or texts. If you have a backup phone number on your Google Voice account, calls may ring there instead while the change is processing.

What to do before you change your number

Make a list of every service, account, and contact that has your current Google Voice number. This includes your bank, your email recovery phone number, your employer, your doctor's office, messaging apps, and any two-factor authentication setup. You will need to update all of these manually after the change.

Two-factor authentication is the most critical. If your Google Voice number is the recovery method for your Gmail, your bank account, or any other important service, change that setting before you change your number. Log into each account, go to security or account settings, and update the phone number to a different phone you own — a personal cell phone, a work phone, or a landline. If you do not do this, you may lock yourself out of those accounts.

Tell anyone who calls you regularly that your number is changing. Send a text or email with your new number once the change is complete. If you use Google Voice for business, notify your clients or customers before the change happens.

What happens to your old number after you change it

Your old Google Voice number is permanently deleted. Google does not hold it in reserve, and you cannot get it back. If someone tries to call or text your old number after the change, the call or text will fail — it will not forward anywhere or give them a message that you have a new number.

If you change your mind within the 30-day waiting period, you cannot undo the change. You can request a new number after 30 days have passed, but it will be a different number than the one you just deleted. There is no way to recover a deleted Google Voice number.

Why Google Voice numbers cannot be ported to other carriers

Google Voice numbers are not real phone numbers in the traditional sense — they are virtual numbers that Google owns and manages. Because of this, they cannot be ported to another phone carrier or VoIP service using the standard number portability process. If you want to switch away from Google Voice and keep your phone number, you cannot do it.

This is different from a number you get from a traditional carrier like Verizon or AT&T, which can be ported to another carrier if you leave. If you think you might want to switch services in the future, this is worth considering before you rely heavily on a Google Voice number for important accounts or business use.

Changing your number for security reasons

If you change your Google Voice number because someone has been harassing you, calling repeatedly, or texting unwanted messages, changing the number stops those calls when ready. However, if the person knows your email address or other contact information, they may find other ways to reach you. Changing your number is a tool for stopping phone-based harassment, not a complete privacy solution.

If you are being harassed, you can also block specific numbers in Google Voice before you change your number. Open Google Voice, click the number you want to block, click the three-dot menu, and select Block number. Blocking does not stop the person from calling, but it sends their calls to voicemail and hides their messages from your inbox. This may be enough without changing your number.

Keeping your Google Voice number stable

If you want to avoid changing your number, keep your account active by using it at least once every six months. Google can delete inactive Google Voice accounts, which means you lose the number. If you do not use Google Voice regularly, log in occasionally or make a test call to yourself to keep the account alive.

If you are moving to a different area code and want to keep your current number, you can do that — Google Voice numbers are not tied to your location. You can have a number from any area code you choose, even if you live somewhere else. This is one advantage of Google Voice over traditional phone carriers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Google Voice number on my phone instead of a computer?

The change number option is only available on the Google Voice website, not in the mobile app. You will need to open voice.google.com in a browser on your phone or use a computer. Once the change is complete, you can use the app normally with your new number.

What if I change my number and then realize I made a mistake?

You cannot undo a number change. You can request a new number after 30 days, but it will be different from the one you deleted. If you deleted a number you needed, your only option is to wait 30 days and choose a new one.

Do I lose my voicemail and text history when I change my number?

Your voicemail messages and text history stay in your Google Voice account. You keep access to old messages even after you change your number. However, people trying to reach your old number will not be able to leave you voicemail — the call will straightforward fail.

Can I have two Google Voice numbers at the same time?

No. Each Google account can have only one active Google Voice number. If you want a second number, you would need to create a separate Google account and set up Google Voice on that account.

How long does it take for my new number to work after I change it?

Google says the change takes about 24 hours. In practice, your new number may work within a few hours, but you should not rely on it for important calls or texts during the first 24 hours. Wait a full day before updating critical accounts like banking or two-factor authentication.