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 carrier'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 carriers 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 carrier uses a set of star (*) commands to turn conditional call forwarding on or off. These commands may vary by carrier. For the most accurate information, contact your mobile carrier and ask for their conditional call forwarding commands.
Some mobile service providers are subsidiaries or resellers of the major carriers’ 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 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 3 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 2 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, 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 carrier or use your carrier’s website to make the change. For assistance, contact your carrier.
Example: AT&T Wireless customers
To turn off conditional call forwarding, enter the following 3 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, then hang up.
Help make voicemail transcripts more accurate
Computer programs automatically transcribe voicemail. You can donate your voicemails to help us improve the programs. Your account information won't be attached to your voicemails, and no one will listen to your voicemails because machines analyze them.
You can turn this option off any time, and we'll stop using your messages.
Related articles
- Set up voicemail greeting
- Check your voicemail
- Send calls to voicemail
