What happens if I delete my Google Voice?
What is Google Voice?
Google Voice is a telephony service from Google that provides call forwarding, voicemail transcripts, and other phone features.
Some key features of Google Voice include:
- A free phone number – You get a dedicated Google Voice phone number that rings multiple phones.
- Voicemail transcription – Voicemails are automatically transcribed so you can read them.
- Call screening – You can screen calls and only answer if you want.
- SMS support – You can send/receive text messages.
- Call recording – You can record inbound and outbound calls.
- Web interface – Manage calls/voicemail online or via mobile app.
Google Voice aims to centralize phone communication so you can seamlessly use one number across devices. It acts as a virtual phone system giving you more control over how incoming calls are handled.
Google Voice is popular with small businesses, freelancers, and individuals looking for a unified business line or secondary personal number.
Why Would You Want to Delete Google Voice?
There are a few key reasons someone may want to delete their Google Voice account:
No longer needing the service – If you originally set up Google Voice to have a separate number for business purposes but no longer operate that business, you may no longer require the extra phone number. Or perhaps you set it up while traveling abroad and no longer need a U.S. number.
Wanting to consolidate numbers – Some people end up with a Google Voice number in addition to their regular mobile number. They may want to delete their Google Voice number and only have one number for simplicity.
Privacy concerns – With privacy and data security being important issues, some may want to delete Google Voice to cut down on the amount of personal data stored by Google. There are concerns over how Google may use call logs, voicemails, texts, etc. stored through Google Voice.
Overall, the main reasons come down to no longer needing the service, wanting to simplify and consolidate numbers, and desiring more privacy and less data collection by Google.
How to Delete Your Google Voice Account
Here are the step-by-step instructions for deleting your Google Voice account:
1. Open the Google Voice website and log into your account.
2. Click on the settings icon in the top right corner.
3. In the settings menu, click on “Delete Google Voice” at the bottom.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to delete your Google Voice account. You will be asked to confirm your choice.
5. Once confirmed, your Google Voice account will be scheduled for deletion. It can take up to a few days for the deletion to fully process.
6. You will receive an email confirmation once your Google Voice account has been successfully deleted.
Important notes:
– Deleting your Google Voice account is permanent. You cannot undo it once deletion is complete.
– Your Google Voice number will be released and made available for others to claim.
– All data associated with your account, including voicemails, texts, etc. will be deleted.
What Happens to Your Google Voice Number?
When you delete your Google Voice account, your Google Voice number gets released back into the pool of available phone numbers. According to Google Support, you have 45 days to reclaim your original Google Voice number before it is assigned to a new user.
After 45 days, there is no way to get your exact Google Voice number back if it has been assigned to someone else. The number is gone from your account permanently. However, you can sign up for a new Google Voice number if you decide to reactivate the service.
In summary, after deletion your Google Voice number enters a 45 day grace period where it can be recovered. But after 45 days the number is deleted and can be assigned to a new user.
What Happens to Your Voicemails and Texts?
When you delete your Google Voice account, all of your voicemails and text messages are permanently deleted from Google’s servers. According to Google Support, “After you delete a conversation, call, or voicemail from Google Voice, you can’t access it again. It may be stored on your devices or the devices you contacted.”1
So once you delete your Google Voice account, all of your archived voicemails and text messages stored by Google Voice will be gone for good. There is no way to recover deleted voicemails or texts after the account is removed. The messages also get deleted from the devices of any contacts you communicated with via your Google Voice number.
If you want to save a record of conversations on Google Voice before closing your account, make sure to export or screenshot your voicemails and text messages. But keep in mind the exported content may not include media like photos. Once your account is gone, those messages will be lost forever.
What Happens to Your Google Voice App Data?
When you delete your Google Voice account, all of the data associated with the Google Voice app gets permanently erased. This includes your app settings, contact list, call history, voicemails, text messages, and any other data stored in the app.
According to Google support, “Deleting your Google Voice account will permanently delete all data associated with your account, including…
- Google Voice settings
- Contacts
- Call history
- Voicemail messages
- Text messages”
So if you delete your Google Voice account, don’t expect to recover any of that app data later on. Once it’s gone from the app, it’s gone for good.
The same goes whether you’re using Google Voice on an iPhone, Android phone, or any other device. Deleting the account erases all app data across the board.
If you want to retain any voicemails, texts, or other data from the app, be sure to export or backup that content before deleting your account. Otherwise, expect everything in the app to be permanently erased.
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Can You Reactivate a Deleted Google Voice Number?
Unfortunately, once you delete your Google Voice account, there is no way to reactivate or recover the Google Voice number associated with that account. The deletion permanently removes the number from Google Voice’s pool of available numbers.
According to Google Support, “After you delete your Google Voice account, your Google Voice phone number can’t be reactivated.”1 This means that even if you create a new Google Voice account, you cannot get that previous number back.
The number becomes available to be assigned to a new Google Voice user after it is released from your deleted account. So if you accidentally deleted your account and number, there is unfortunately no way to undo it and reuse that number.
Before deleting your Google Voice account, it’s a good idea to port your number out to another provider if you want to continue using it. Otherwise, once your Google Voice account is deleted, that number is gone for good.
Alternatives to Deleting Google Voice
Instead of deleting your Google Voice account, you may want to consider some alternatives that allow you to keep your Google Voice number active but stop using the service.
One option is to simply leave your Google Voice account open but inactive. You can stop forwarding calls and texts to your linked numbers. This will keep your Google Voice number reserved to your account in case you want to reactivate it later. Your voicemails and texts will continue going to your Google Voice account but you can choose not to check them.
Another alternative is to forward your Google Voice number to a new phone number or service. For example, you could forward your calls and texts to a new cell phone number, landline, or a VOIP business phone service. This way your Google Voice number stays intact, but the calls and messages get sent to your new number. Some popular Google Voice alternatives include Ringblaze, Skype, and Nextiva.
The benefit of keeping your Google Voice account open but inactive or forwarding to a new number is that you keep full ownership of your existing Google Voice phone number. If you later decide you want to use Google Voice again, you can simply reactivate the account without having to get a new number assigned.
What to Do Before Deleting Google Voice
If you decide to delete your Google Voice account, there are some important steps to take beforehand so you don’t lose important data:
- Download any voicemails or text messages you want to save – you can do this by going to the Voicemail and Text tabs in the Google Voice app and website.
- Notify your contacts that you’re closing your Google Voice number so they know not to call or text you there anymore.
- Unlink your cell phone, landline, and any other numbers that are forwarding calls to your Google Voice number. You can do this in the Settings or Phones tab of your Google Voice account.
Taking these steps allows you to preserve any voicemails, texts, or messages you want to keep before disconnecting your Google Voice number. It also ensures you don’t miss any future calls or texts intended for your Google Voice number after it’s closed down. Leaving your cell phone and other numbers linked could result in calls still ringing through to a deactivated Google Voice account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions users have about deleting their Google Voice account:
Can I reactivate my deleted Google Voice number?
Unfortunately, once you delete your Google Voice number, you cannot reactivate or retrieve that exact number. However, you can sign up for a new Google Voice number using the same Google account. See this Google support article for more details.
What happens to my voicemails and texts if I delete Google Voice?
All previous voicemails and text messages associated with your Google Voice number will be permanently deleted and cannot be recovered after you delete your account. Make sure to save any important voicemails or texts before proceeding.
Can I delete just the app without deleting my whole account?
Yes, deleting the Google Voice app itself does not affect your account or number. You can delete the app from your phone but still receive calls and texts to your Google Voice number as long as you do not delete your entire account.
What if I change my mind after deleting Google Voice?
Unfortunately there is no way to recover a deleted Google Voice number. However, you can sign up for a new number using the same Google account. Your previous texts and voicemails cannot be recovered, but your contacts will remain associated with your account.