Important: This feature operates differently based on the type of account you have. Learn more about Google Voice account types.
When your mobile phone number is busy or you don't answer, you can send the calls to your Google voicemail instead of your phone's voicemail. If you use your operator's voicemail on more than one phone, you can use Google voicemail instead to check them all at once.
Use Google Voice voicemail instead of your phone's voicemail
Most mobile phone operators provide a feature called Conditional Call Forwarding (CCF) or No answer/busy transfer. To send busy or unanswered calls to your Google Voice voicemail, set up this feature on your mobile number.
Each mobile phone operator uses a set of star (*) commands to turn conditional call forwarding on or off. These commands may vary by operator. For the most accurate information, contact your mobile operator and ask for their conditional call forwarding commands.
Some mobile service providers are subsidiaries or resellers of the major operator’s service. Plans on these service providers may not support conditional call forwarding. Contact your service provider to learn more.
Note: If you have more than one phone number linked to your Google Voice number, you will need to set up conditional call forwarding on every linked number. Some traditional or VoIP service providers also support this feature. Contact your service provider to learn more.
On your mobile phone’s keypad, not the Google Voice app keypad, enter the appropriate commands using your Google Voice number as the forwarding destination.
Example: AT&T wireless customers
To turn on conditional call forwarding, enter the following three commands one at a time on your phone’s keypad and wait for confirmation. After entering each command, tap Send or Call, hang up and enter the next command. Replace 1234567890 with your Google Voice number.
- Call forward if unanswered: *61*1234567890#
- Call forward if unreachable: *62*1234567890#
- Call forward if busy: *67*1234567890#
Example: Verizon wireless customers
Verizon Wireless has two methods to control conditional call forwarding: star (*) commands or a menu on their customer website. You can use either method.
To turn on conditional call forwarding, enter *711234567890 on your phone’s keypad, wait for the confirmation stutter tone and then hang up.
Switch back to your phone's voicemail
If you stop using Google Voice, you should turn off conditional call forwarding on your phone. To turn off conditional call forwarding, use the appropriate commands for your mobile operator or use your operator’s website to make the change. For assistance, contact your operator.
Example: AT&T wireless customers
To turn off conditional call forwarding, enter the following three commands one at a time on your phone’s keypad and wait for confirmation. After entering each command, tap Send or Call, hang up and enter the next command:
- Call forward if unanswered: ##61#
- Call forward if unreachable: ##62#
- Call forward if busy: ##67#
Example: Verizon wireless customers
To turn off conditional call forwarding, enter *73 on your phone’s keypad, wait for the confirmation stutter tone and then hang up.
Help make voicemail transcripts more accurate
Computer programs automatically transcribe voicemails. You can donate your voicemails to help us improve our programs. Your account information won't be attached to your voicemails and no one will listen to your voicemails because machines analyse them.
You can turn off this option at any time and we'll stop using your messages.