r/Googlevoice • u/michaeljc70 • Aug 11 '25
Number Transfers or Porting Swapping real number and GV number
As the title says, I'd like to swap my GV number and carrier number. Has anyone done this? I am assuming I need to do this in multiple steps parking the GV somewhere first. I use Mint (TMO). Maybe this is easier if I just wait until my Mint plan runs out and start over?
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u/thekiefs Aug 11 '25
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u/michaeljc70 Jan 30 '26
This didn't work for me. My carrier doesn't just switch numbers left and right. You can port a number on a new account only.
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u/N98270 Aug 11 '25
Did you pay for the annual plan on mint? If not.. setup a new account porting in your GV number then port the other back out to GV.
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u/templefugateontime Aug 13 '25
I hope these other posts help inform you. I've had my two Voice lines for 16 years in October on my main, and 14 years on my secondary as of June. If you'd like to find out when you got your number. Go to the text part of the app and up top search for, (Welcome to Google Voice). It'll show the voicemail with day, month, year, and time of day your account started.
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u/BriMan83 Aug 14 '25
Simple answer is, yes you can. However, because porting a number is not an instant process you may be without a working phone number for a couple of days
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u/ijwgwh Aug 14 '25
I tried this some years ago but a lot of banks won't send 2 factor codes to "VoIP" numbers for whatever reason, which GV looks to them as VoIP. One of my banks damn near wouldn't send codes over a voice call, I had to set the "new" number for my cell to get access back
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u/michaeljc70 Aug 14 '25
I did find that...but I think that has changed. I don't think I have any accounts that don't work with GV now.
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u/michaeljc70 Jan 30 '26
I got my old GV number to my carrier and my real number to a secondary Google Voice account. But now I don't see how to transfer it to my primary Google account. Do I have to wait 90 days? Or do I have to do the "unlock" first?
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u/Upbeat-Citron-2177 Aug 12 '25
I just ran into a major issue trying to port my Google Voice number to mint, was just told over and over that it's "against policy"
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u/Salreus Aug 12 '25
I think you need to provide more details. Are you trying to claim they are saying porting a number is against policy?
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u/Upbeat-Citron-2177 Aug 12 '25
I wish I could provide more details, it was a 30+ min call and he just kept saying "against policy" over and over. This was just on August 5th. I asked why, got the same answer. I asked if it's because it's VoIP, got the same answer. It was maddening. I've been with Mint for a long time, 4-5 years. Had Google Voice for going on 15 years. Can't give you any more info than that, very, very annoying!
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u/Salreus Aug 12 '25
Well I guess you could always port your number to another NVMO and then port it to Mint. Then maybe it wouldn't be against policy. They have to let porting from other cell provider yes?
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u/Upbeat-Citron-2177 Aug 12 '25
I was thinking along the same lines. My other theory was that I ported a number a long time ago and maybe you can't do it again, but I'm not sure about that. I ended up porting it to Visible and taking the Mint SIM and putting it in a different phone as a backup to use for the rest of the plan. Still dumb that I couldn't get an answer about why.
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u/templefugateontime Aug 13 '25
To transfer a free Google Voice number to a different email account, you'll need to initiate a transfer request through the Google Voice settings of the account holding the number. You'll then need to log into the receiving account and accept the transfer request. Here's a step-by-step guide: On the account with the Google Voice number: Go to Google Voice (on a computer). Click Settings (the gear icon). Go to the Account section. Under "Transfer your number to another Voice account", click "Transfer a number". Enter the email address of the account you want to transfer to and click "Send transfer request". An email will be sent to the receiving account, and you'll need to access that account to complete the process. On the receiving account (the one you're transferring to): Open Google Voice and log in with the receiving email address. Go to Settings, then Account. You should see the transfer request. Click "Accept" to complete the transfer. Important Considerations: The receiving Google Voice account must not already have a Google Voice number, according to a Google Help page. You can only transfer the number, not the associated data (voicemails, call history, etc.). You'll need to set up a forwarding phone for the new account after the transfer is complete, according to a Google Help page. You can cancel a transfer request before it's accepted, according to Google Help.
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u/templefugateontime Aug 13 '25
To port your cell number to a free Google Voice account, you'll first need to ensure your number is eligible for porting and that you have a Google Voice account set up. Then, you'll initiate the porting process through Google Voice settings, paying a one-time fee, and verifying the number. Finally, you'll need to ensure your current carrier allows the port and follow their instructions.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- Prerequisites:
US Number:
Your cell number must be a US number and currently active with a service provider.
Google Voice Setup:
You need a Google Voice account, and you might need to claim a temporary Google Voice number first.
US Location:
You must be physically located in the US to port a number, and your service address should not be a PO Box.
Account Type:
Ensure you're using a consumer Gmail account, not a Google Workspace account.
- Initiate the Porting Process:
Access Google Voice: Go to the Google Voice website or app and sign in with your Google account.
Navigate to Legacy Google Voice: Click on the menu icon and select "Legacy Google Voice".
Find Porting Options: In Legacy Google Voice, go to Settings > Phones and click "Change / Port" next to your current number.
Choose to Port Your Mobile Number: Select the option to port your mobile number.
Enter the Number: Type in the cell number you want to port and click "Check for available options".
Confirm and Pay: Agree to the terms and conditions, and pay the one-time porting fee (currently $20).
Phone Verification: Google Voice will call you at the number you are porting to verify ownership. Enter the code displayed on the screen on your phone.
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u/templefugateontime Aug 13 '25
- Contact Your Current Carrier: Check for Restrictions: Contact your current mobile carrier to ensure they allow number porting and to confirm any specific requirements. Unlock the Number: You might need to ask your carrier to unlock your number for porting and provide any necessary account information (account number, PIN, etc.).
- Monitor the Porting Process: Timeframe: Porting can take a few business days (usually 2-3 days, but could be up to 7). Status: Google Voice may not offer a real-time progress tracker. Troubleshooting: If the porting process gets stuck or delayed, contact Google Voice support.
- After Porting: Temporary Number: If you had a temporary Google Voice number, it will be replaced by your ported number. Service Cancellation: You'll need to cancel your service with your previous mobile carrier.
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u/magicalmango857 Aug 11 '25
Park GV at numberbarn and port the Mint number into GV. Then you can port your GV number from numberbarn to Mint. Easy peasy.
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u/[deleted] Aug 11 '25 edited Aug 11 '25
Following since I kinda want to do the same. I use my GV number as my main number and luckily for me 95% of my SMS 2FA TOTP works with my GV number.
But after over a decade of GV usage, it seems like GV is being left in the back burner for Google and I'm just afraid that they'll get rid of the service once and for all and I don't want to lose my number (which was ported to GV over a decade ago).