How To Port A Google Voice Number? The Ultimate Guide

Introduction

People enjoy using Google Voice because it is affordable, provides essential features, and is suitable for small businesses. However, while it satisfies the requirements of certain businesses, it may not be the best fit for others. As a result, while some businesses choose to stick with Google Voice, others seek out alternatives that offer superior features and support.

Whether you’re switching from Google Voice to another provider or vice versa, you would want to keep your business number with you because that’s the number your customers identify you with. When porting a Google Voice number, it’s crucial to follow the instructions and guidelines provided by the carriers involved.

In this article, we will cover all possible scenarios and try to answer all questions that you might have on porting numbers to and from Google Voice.

How Is Porting A Number From Google Voice Different From Hosting A Number?

When you port a Google Voice number, it means that you are transferring your number from Google Voice to another service provider or carrier. This enables you to retain and utilize your existing phone number with a new service provider of your choice. On the other hand, hosting a number means that a cloud communication provider manages and takes care of your phone number for you. When you host a number, the provider handles everything from infrastructure and connectivity to call routing, voice recordings, and business messaging services. It’s a convenient way to centralize your business communications.×Dismiss this alert.

How To Port A Google Voice Number: The Process

1. Connect with Google Voice and Unlock Your Number
2. Get in touch with your service provider 
3. Pay the $3 fee 
4. Ask your service provider to initiate the porting request 
5. Check the porting status 
6. See if your number is active 
7. Cancel your service with Google Voice 

We understand that porting your Google Voice. number can seem daunting. But you need not worry as we’ve explained this process in greater depth. Check out the detailed process below: 

Step 1: Connect with Google Voice and Unlock Your Number

The very first thing that you need to do in order to port your google voice number is to unlock your number from Google Voice. Here’s how you can do that:

• Visit http://www.google.com/voice/unlock
• Enter your Login details
• Go to Settings > Account
• You’ll see your Google Voice Number. Just click on ‘Unlock’.

• Once you click on ‘Unlock’, you’ll get a prompt like this: 

• Click ‘Yes’ to proceed. 

Now your number is ready to be ported out. Google will then initiate a porting process. .

Step 2: Get in Touch With Your Service Provider

Once you have unlocked your number, it is time to get in touch with the service provider that you have switched to. If you’re signing up with Emitrr, then you need to provide the following details to have your number ported:

• The phone number you want to port
• Your name as it is with your old service provider
• Account number from the previous provider
• PIN of Google Voice account (You’ll find it in your account itself)
• The billing address the previous provider has on file for you
• A letter of authorization

Step 3: Pay The $3 Fee

You will have to pay Google $3 to have your number ported.

Step 4: Ask Your Current Service Provider to Take up The Porting Request.

For this, they will need to submit an LOA to the NNID (Net Number ID).

What is NNID?

NNID, short for NetNumber ID is a six-digit number that is assigned by NetNumber. This is a unique identification number that is given to a service provider (in this case, Google Voice). This number typically defines which carrier a particular number belongs to. 

What is an LOA?

Step 5: Check Your Porting Status

If the number porting is successful, Google will show that your number has been unlocked.

Step 6: Check if Your Number is Active

Check with your current service provider whether the ported number is active.

Step 7: Cancel Service With Google Voice

Once the number is active, cancel your service with Google Voice. Do not cancel the service before because if there are any issues with porting your number and you have cancelled the service beforehand, you’ll be stuck, and you might not get your number back. 

How to Port a Number From Google Voice to Specific Providers?

In addition to following the aforementioned process, here are some additional steps that you need to follow based on the provider you choose.

1. Xfinity Mobile 
2. Verizon 
3. Google Fi 
4. AT&T 
5. Cricket 
6. Mint Mobile 
7. RingCentral 
8. T-Mobile 
9. Visible

How to Port a Google Voice Number to Xfinity Mobile

For this, you need to follow the steps mentioned in the section ‘How to port a Google Voice number to another provider?’. Additionally, you need to contact Xfinity and ask them to submit an LOA to Google including the following details: 

• The 10-digit number you want to port 
• Account number 
• Google Voice PIN 
• Street address of Google 

Porting a Google Voice Number to Verizon

For porting into Verizon, you need to follow the steps mentioned in the section ‘How to port a Google Voice number to another provider?’. Additionally, you need to contact Verizon and ask them to submit an LOA to Google with the following details:

• The 10-digit number you want to port
• Account number 
• Google Voice PIN 
• Street address of Google

How to Transfer Google Voice to Google Fi

You first need to sign up with Google Fi. Once you do, place a port-out request on Google Voice as you’d normally do. You can have a Google Voice and Google Fi number in the same account. 

The transfer will begin when you activate your Google Fi service on your phone. It can take a few business days for the transfer to complete. For more assistance, you can head to https://support.google.com/fi/gethelp?sjid=6238015845749368686-AP.  

How to Port Google Voice Number to AT&T

For porting to AT&T, you need to follow the steps mentioned in the section ‘How to port a Google Voice number to another provider?’. Additionally, you need to contact AT&T and ask them to submit an LOA to Google with the following details:

• The 10-digit number you want to port 
• Account number 
• Google Voice PIN 
• Street address of Google

Porting a Google Voice Number to Cricket

You cannot directly port your Google Voice number to Cricket as it doesn’t support VoIP or Google Voice. You’ll first need to port the Google Voice number to a carrier and then port it to Cricket. 

How to Port a Google Voice Number to Mint Mobile

Unlock your Google Voice number, and give Mint Mobile your 10-digit Google Voice number and the Google Voice PIN to access voicemail. The process to port out your Google Voice number remains the same. Refer to common process mentioned above. 

Porting a Google Voice Number to RingCentral

The process to port out your Google Voice number to RingCentral remains the same as porting out to any other carrier. Refer to the aforementioned common process.  For more assistance check out https://netstorage.ringcentral.com/uk/documents/number_transfer_checklist.pdf.  

Porting a Google Voice Number to T-mobile

For this, you need to follow the steps mentioned in the section ‘How to port a Google Voice number to another provider?’. Additionally, you need to contact AT&T and ask them to submit an LOA to Google with the following details:

• The 10-digit number you want to port 
• Account number 
• Google Voice PIN 
• Street address of Google

How to Port a Google Voice Number to Visible

For porting to Visible, you need to follow the steps mentioned in the section ‘How to port a Google Voice number to another provider?’. Additionally, you need to contact Visible and ask them to submit an LOA to Google with the following details:

• The 10-digit number you want to port 
• Your Google Voice account number 
• Google Voice PIN 
• Street address of Google

How to Port a Number to Google Voice: The Process

Now that you have learned how to port a Google Voice number out of Google Voice to another provider, it is now time to learn about porting a number into Google Voice. 

Here are some easy steps that you can follow:

Step-1: Open Google Voice and enter your login details.

Step-2: Click on ‘Settings’ > ‘Account’ 

Step-3: Under ‘Accounts’, click on ‘Port a number to Google Voice’ 

Step-4: Click on Port a number > Get Started 

Step-5: Enter the phone number that you want to port. Google Voice will send you a text message with a six-digit code. 

Step-6: Enter the code you received.

Step-7: If your number is eligible for porting, you will be directed towards entering your carrier account information. To access this information you can check your carrier’s website. 

Step-8: You will need to pay $20 to port your number to Google Voice. Make the payment. Google will send you the receipt via email after successfully completing the payment. 

Step-9: Track the porting progress.

How to Track the Porting Progress?

Step 1: Go to Google Voice > Settings > Account 

Step 2: Under Account, click on Track your progress. You will see an estimated time for porting the number, given that your account details are verified. 

If you don’t see ‘Track your progress’ as an option, then resubmit your porting request.

How to check the Google Voice port eligibility?

Enter the number that you want to port and click on ‘Check for available options’. If the number is eligible, you’ll be asked to enter the carrier account information. If it is ineligible, then you’ll receive a message that ‘porting your mobile number to Google Voice is unavailable’. 

In some cases, this tool will tell you that your ‘area’ is not supported. If you get that message, stop trying as there’s no workaround for the same. Your number cannot be ported.  

Another response that you can get is ‘Your number belongs to a carrier that we don’t support’. Well, in that case, you can simply port your number to a different carrier and then port it to Google Voice. 

What we have mentioned above is a generic process that is applicable to all providers. However, when it comes to porting a number from a specific provider to Google Voice, there are some additional steps involved. Check these out to ensure a smooth porting process. 

How to Port Numbers From Specific Providers To Google Voice

1. Canadian number 
2. Porting while abroad 
3. Vonage 
4. Ooma 
5. Google Fi 
6. CenturyLink 
7. Comcast 
8. AT&T
9. MagicJack 
10. RingCentral
11. Sideline 
12. Skype
13. Spectrum VoIP 
14. Sprint 
15. Straight Talk 
16. T-Mobile 
17. Talkatone 
18. Tracfone 
19. UltraMobile 
20. Landline number 
21. Toll-free number 
22. US Number 

How to Port a Canadian Number to Google Voice

Considering the fact that Canada’s wireless prices are the highest in the world, it is natural for businesses to opt for VoIP to cut down costs. If you are a customer of Google Workspace, you can access Google Voice, but only the paid version. If you are not a Google Workspace customer, then you can become one by picking the package that best suits your needs: 

Before you opt for either of these plans, keep these things in mind: 

• You don’t get toll-free numbers 
• Google Voice is available in just 14 countries (this is important if your operations are spread globally)
• Texting isn’t supported by Google Voice in Canada

Now let’s talk about porting. 

If you want to port a Google Voice number in Canada, then you need to sign up for the business-class version of Google Voice. Though there is a free version, it is only available in the USA. The paid version, however, is available in Canada. You can access it by clicking on https://workspace.google.com/products/voice/. 

If you want to send SMSs through Google Voice, then we’d suggest that you use a dedicated business messaging service like Emitrr for the same that offers advanced texting capabilities, such as mass texting, schedule-based texting, appointment scheduling, sending review requests via text, group texting, and more.  

Port a Canadian Number From Google Voice

The process to port out a Google Voice number in Canada is quite simple. All you need to do is Go to Google Voice and follow the basic porting procedure as explained above. Make sure to select a good service provider that offers more features than just what Google Voice does. Pay the applicable fees, complete all the paperwork, and only cancel your account with Google Voice once the porting process is complete and your number is active with your new service provider. 

Port a Number to Google Voice While Abroad

You cannot port a Google Voice number while abroad; you will have to initiate porting while in the US. If you’re thinking of using VPN, you need to drop that idea as it will not work. 

Here’s what you can do abroad with Google Voice:

• Place and receive phone calls using VoIP
• Send and receive text messages over Wi-Fi or mobile data 

Here’s what you cannot do with Google Voice abroad: 

• Forward your Google Voice number to a non-US number 
• Initiate 2FA (Google Voice numbers are considered to be landline numbers)

Port Vonage Number to Google Voice

What you need: 

• A prepaid phone/SIM (Preferably AT&T Prepaid or T-Mobile Prepaid) You will need to call the prepaid carrier before activating the SIM. 
• A minimum purchase of calling minutes (to place and answer a few test calls) 

Steps to follow: 

• Port the number into your mobile carrier 
• Wait for a week for the porting process to complete 
• Port the number into Google Voice (Follow the steps mentioned in the section ‘How to port a Google Voice number to Google Voice?’)
• You’ll receive a notification that your number has been successfully ported. 

Things to keep in mind:

• Do not make multiple attempts to port your number, as the porting might get stuck and even fail. 
• Before going through the entire process, make sure to check the porting eligibility tool to see if your number can be ported or not 
• Porting the number to your mobile carrier is an important step here as Google Voice accepts port-ins from mobile carriers only

How to Port Number From Ooma to Google Voice

Just like Google Voice, Ooma numbers are also considered to be landline numbers. Hence, you will need to first port your Ooma number to a carrier, and then initiate a porting process from the carrier to Google Voice. The instructions to port a Google Voice number remains the same. 

How to Port a Google Fi Number to Google Voice

To port a Google Fi number to Google Voice, you first need to transfer your Google Fi number to a new carrier. Then you can port that number from the carrier to Google Voice. The instructions to port a Google Voice number remains the same. 

How to Port Centurylink Number to Google Voice

For that, you will first need to port the Centurylink number to a mobile phone carrier. Then you can port the number to Google Voice by following the basic porting instructions. 

How to Port Comcast Number to Google Voice

First, you need to check the eligibility of your number getting ported by clicking on https://www.google.com/voice/b/0/porting. If your number is eligible, then you first need to port it to a prepaid carrier and then port it to Google Voice. The instructions to port a Google Voice number remains the same. 

How to Port Number From AT&T to Google Voice

If you want to port a number from AT&T to Google Voice, then you first need to go to https://voice.google.com/u/0/settings. There, you’ll see your current Google Voice number. Click on ‘change’. When we say ‘current Google Voice number, we mean that you need to log in to Google Voice and get a temporary number first. You cannot port in your AT&T number to Google Voice before getting a temporary number first. Once you have your temporary number, you can click on change and initiate the porting request. Doing so will take you to GV’s legacy page to port your AT&T number. The process for porting your number will remain the same. 

How to Port Number From Magicjack to Google Voice

First, you need to check the eligibility of your number getting ported by clicking on https://www.google.com/voice/b/0/porting. If your number is eligible, then you first need to port it to a prepaid carrier and then port it to Google Voice. The instructions to port a Google Voice number remains the same. 

How to Port RingCentral Number to Google Voice

The process of porting a RingCentral number is similar to that of porting a number from AT&T to Google Voice. You first need to check the eligibility of your RingCentral number (which is a VoIP number), then select from a list of temporary numbers in Google Voice, then click on ‘change’ and port your RingCentral number to Google Voice. The instructions to port a Google Voice number from there remain the same.

How to port Sideline Number to Google Voice

Sideline numbers are VoIP numbers. To port your Sideline number to Google Voice, you will first need to check the eligibility of your number for porting. If your number is eligible, you will have to initiate a port-out request on your Sideline App. You will need to port your Sideline number to a mobile carrier first, only then will you be able to port that number to Google Voice. The instructions to port a Google Voice number from there remain the same. 

How to Port Skype Number to Google Voice

First, you need to check the eligibility of your number getting ported by clicking on https://www.google.com/voice/b/0/porting. If your number is eligible, then you first need to port it to a prepaid carrier and then port it to Google Voice. The instructions to port a Google Voice number remains the same. 

How to Port Spectrum Number to Google Voice

First, you need to check the eligibility of your number getting ported by clicking on https://www.google.com/voice/b/0/porting. If your number is eligible, then you first need to port it to a prepaid carrier and then port it to Google Voice. The instructions to port a Google Voice number remains the same. 

How to Port Sprint Number to Google Voice

Here you only need to follow the basic porting process of Google Voice. Login to Google Voice, go to Settings > Account > Port a number > Get started. Enter the required details and initiate the porting request. However, you need to contact Sprint first and get the following details:

• The number you want to port
• Name of the account holder
• Spring account number 
• 6-10 digit Sprint PIN 

How to Port Straight Talk Number to Google Voice

Here you only need to follow the basic porting process of Google Voice. Login to Google Voice, go to Settings > Account > Port a number > Get started. Enter the required details and initiate the porting request. 

How to Port a T-mobile Number to Google Voice

Login to Google Voice and get a temporary number first. Then go to MENU > LEGACY GOOGLE VOICE. From there, go to Settings > Phones Tab > Change/Port. From there, select ‘I want to use my mobile number’. Follow the instructions on the screen, pay the fee and your request will be placed. Keep these things handy before initiating the request:

• The T-mobile number you want to port 
• Account holder’s name 
• T-Mobile account number 

How to Port Talkatone Number to Google Voice 

Talkatone is a virtual service. First, you need to check the eligibility of your number getting ported by clicking on https://www.google.com/voice/b/0/porting. If your number is eligible, then you first need to port it to a prepaid carrier and then port it to Google Voice. The instructions to port a Google Voice number remains the same. 

How to Port a Tracfone Number to Google Voice

Here you only need to follow the basic porting process of Google Voice. Login to Google Voice, go to Settings > Account > Port a number > Get started. Enter the required details and initiate the porting request. 

How to Port Ultra Mobile to Google Voice

Here you only need to follow the basic porting process of Google Voice. Login to Google Voice, go to Settings > Account > Port a number > Get started. Enter the required details and initiate the porting request. 

How to Port a Landline Number to Google Voice

You cannot port a landline number or home phone number to Google Voice directly. First, you will have to port your landline number to a mobile carrier. Once that is done, then you can port your number from the carrier to Google Voice. The instructions to port a Google Voice number remains the same. 

How to Port a Toll-Free Number to Google Voice

If you’re wanting to port your business number or toll-free number to Google Voice, follow these steps: 

1. Login to Google Voice. Go to Number Porting > Create a port order 
2. Enter your port name, enter your country name and click continue 
3. Enter the name and phone number of the person you want to contact about this port order under ‘Identify your primary contact’
4. Enter the port details as required, check the box ‘I authorize Google Voice’ and click Continue. 
5. You can review your port order by going to Tasks > View Details 

For more information, head to https://support.google.com/a/answer/9049997?sjid=919420538881167064-AP 

How to Port a US Number to Google Voice

To port your US-cellular number to google voice, you only need to follow the basic porting process of Google Voice. Login to Google Voice, go to Settings > Account > Port a number > Get started. Enter the required details and initiate the porting request. 

Bonus: What Alternatives Should I Consider While Porting a Google Voice Number?

Just like you, a lot of Google Voice users are switching from the platform due to inefficiencies in spam call filtering, issues with syncing text messages, Google’s tendency to sunset products, lack of integrations, basic functionalities, and poor customer support. It’s always great to consider Google Voice alternatives that offer better capabilities and support and reduce your workload. 

Additional ReadingFor a detailed analysis of all the players out there, check out this Google Voice Alternatives Guide. https://emitrr.com/blog/google-voice-alternatives/×Dismiss this alert.

Once you’ve chosen your perfect alternative, then all you need to do is follow the aforementioned steps and get started! Here’s a list of the top Google Voice Alternatives and their comparison for your reference:  

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

If you want to port your Google Voice number, this is the ultimate guide for you. You no longer need to have hundreds of tabs open just to figure out the process. Just follow the steps mentioned for porting your number into and out of Google Voice, while also keeping in constant touch with your provider.