Why can’t i make calls from Google Voice?

Google Voice is a virtual phone number service provided by Google that allows users to make phone calls, send texts, and manage voicemail via one integrated account. One of the main features of Google Voice is the ability to make and receive phone calls using the Google Voice number.

The calling feature in Google Voice allows users to place outgoing calls to domestic numbers in the U.S. and Canada for free and international calls for low rates. Users can make these calls over Wi-Fi or mobile data so they don’t use cellular minutes. Incoming calls to the Google Voice number can also be received on any linked device. Google Voice integrates with the native Phone app on iOS and Android devices to make and receive calls.

Account Setup

To make calls with Google Voice, you first need to properly set up your account. This involves signing up for a Google Voice number and verifying your identity. According to Google’s support article, “Set up your phone to make & receive Google Voice calls,” you must complete the following steps:

1. Go to voice.google.com and sign into your Google account.

2. Click “Get a Number” and choose your area code to get a free Google Voice phone number.

3. Verify your identity by entering a verification code sent to your mobile number or landline. This links your Google Voice number to your real phone number.

4. Download the Google Voice app and sign in on your mobile device. This allows you to make calls through the app.

5. Configure calling preferences and settings in the app or on the Google Voice website. For example, you can choose to display your caller ID when making outbound calls.

Once these steps are complete, your Google Voice account is ready to make calls over Wi-Fi or your mobile data. Just be sure to check that calling is enabled for your account and that you have calling credits, if required.

Number Verification

Verifying your phone number is a critical step when setting up Google Voice. Google Voice uses your phone number to ensure your account is legitimate and to enable calling capabilities. When you sign up for Google Voice, Google sends a 6-digit verification code via text message or phone call to confirm you own the phone number. Entering this code correctly associates your number with your Google Voice account.

Number verification serves several important purposes:

• It links your real phone number to your Google Voice account so you can make and receive calls.
• It prevents others from using your number without permission.
• It helps reduce spam by verifying real users.
• It enables extra features like voicemail transcription.

Overall, number verification is crucial for activating a fully-functional Google Voice account with calling and messaging features. It provides identity verification and security for your account. Attempting to use Google Voice without a verified number will result in very limited capabilities.

Calling Credits

To make outbound calls on Google Voice, you need to have calling credits in your account. Calling credits allow you to make calls to mobile phones and landlines in the US and Canada using your Google Voice number. Without calling credits, you can only make free calls to other Google Voice numbers and incoming calls.

You can check your calling credit balance by going to the Google Voice website and clicking on the “Calling” tab. This will show you your current balance. You can also check your balance through the Google Voice mobile app by going to “Settings” and selecting “Calling credits”. The app will display how many minutes you have available.

According to Google’s support page, “Buy credit to make calls” https://support.google.com/voice/answer/141923?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop, you can purchase calling credits in increments starting at $10 for 100 minutes. Calling rates are around 1¢ per minute for calls to US and Canada mobile phones and landlines. International rates vary.

Calling Restrictions

Google Voice places certain restrictions on calling based on your location and carrier. According to the Google Voice Help article When you call my GV number it says calling restrictions, if you are using WiFi or mobile data for calling, you may be restricted from calling certain phone numbers outside of your carrier’s network.

Google also blocks calls to premium rate numbers that charge callers additional fees. This is part of Google Voice’s Acceptable Use Policy to prevent abuse of the service. Certain geographic regions may be entirely blocked from placing calls according to Google’s policy.

If you receive an error about calling restrictions when trying to place a call from your Google Voice number, it is likely due to your location or carrier rather than an issue with your account. You may be able to lift calling restrictions by changing to a different network or enabling cellular calling. However, Google reserves the right to limit calling capabilities to comply with regulations and prevent abuse.

Calling Settings

One of the most common issues that prevent making calls from Google Voice is having the calling feature disabled in your account settings. To enable calling, you’ll need to check your calling settings in the Voice app or website.

On Android, open the Google Voice app and tap the hamburger menu in the top left. Then go to Settings > Calls > Incoming Calls. Make sure “My devices” is checked for any phones you want to make calls from. You can also enable calling for Linked Numbers here (source).

On iPhone, open the Voice app, tap the hamburger menu, go to Settings > Calls and toggle on “Make and receive calls”. Make sure your iPhone number is listed under “Phones to use for calls”.

On the web, visit voice.google.com and click on Settings > Calls. Make sure “Make and receive calls” is enabled. Under “Phones to use for calls”, add any numbers you want to make Voice calls from.

Double check that calling is fully enabled across your devices. Once enabled, you should be able to make calls over WiFi or mobile data using your Google Voice number. If you still can’t call, continue troubleshooting or reach out to Google Voice support.

Network Connectivity

Google Voice relies on a stable internet connection for high-quality voice calling. Issues like dropped calls, poor audio quality, or inability to connect can often be traced back to problems with your network connectivity.

Some common connectivity issues that can impact Google Voice calls include:

• Weak or unstable WiFi signal – Try moving closer to your wireless router or access point.
• Cellular data problems – Ensure you have a strong 4G LTE or 5G connection. Restart your phone or toggle Airplane mode on/off to reset the cellular radio.
• VPN connections – VPNs can sometimes disrupt VoIP calls. Try disconnecting the VPN to see if it fixes the issue.

Check the Google Voice connectivity requirements to ensure your network is properly configured for voice traffic. On Android, you can enable WiFi Calling in Settings which can improve call quality over WiFi.

If you are still having issues, try toggling Airplane Mode on and off on your phone to reset all network connections. Also restart your phone and router/modem if connectivity problems persist.

Google Hangouts

Google Hangouts was previously integrated with Google Voice to enable calling directly from the Hangouts app or website. However, in 2021 Google discontinued this integration as Hangouts was shut down in favor of Google Chat ^[1]. Now, Google Voice calls must be made directly from the Voice app or website.

Previously, Hangouts allowed Google Voice users to make and receive calls over data or WiFi without using mobile phone minutes. It also enabled some additional features like call transfer between devices. However, with the discontinuation of Hangouts integration, these features are no longer available.

Google Voice users who relied on Hangouts for calling will need to adjust to making Voice calls directly through the main Voice service. This means calls will ring all linked phones rather than only one device. The Voice website and apps now offer the main calling interface for Google Voice users.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you are having issues making or receiving calls with Google Voice, here are some troubleshooting tips to try:

Make sure your device’s notification settings allow Google Voice to send notifications. On Android, check the app notifications settings. On iPhone, check the device notification settings for Google Voice (source).

Check for any third party apps like call recorders or blockers that could interfere with Google Voice. Try disabling those to see if it resolves the issue (source).

Make sure you have an active data/WiFi connection. Google Voice relies on an internet connection to make and receive calls.

Update the Google Voice app and your device OS to the latest versions in case a bug is causing issues.

Try toggling your device’s airplane mode on and off to reestablish the network connection.

Clear app cache and data for the Google Voice app and reboot your device.

Check your Google Voice calling settings to make sure everything is configured properly.

If issues persist, you can also try contacting Google Voice support for further troubleshooting assistance.

Get Help

If you are still having issues making calls from Google Voice after trying the troubleshooting tips, you can get help directly from the Google Voice support team. There are a few ways to contact them:

Email: You can email the Google Voice support team at https://support.google.com/a/contact/gsuite_voice_complaints. Be sure to include your Google Account email address and a detailed description of the issue you are having.

Twitter: The Google Voice support team can be reached on Twitter at @googlevoicehelp. Send them a tweet describing your problem and include your Google Account email address.

Phone: You can call the Google Voice 24/7 customer support phone number at 1-866-2GOOGLE (1-866-246-6453). Explain the calling issue you are experiencing so they can troubleshoot and resolve it.

Online Forums: There are Google Voice online forums where you can post questions and get help from Google support staff and other Voice users. Check out the forums at https://support.google.com/voice/community.

By reaching out to Google Voice customer support through one of these channels, you can get personalized help resolving your calling issues.