Use Google Voice with classic Hangouts

This feature is not available for Voice for Google Workspace accounts managed by your work or school. Learn more.

Important: Google plans to shut down Google Voice integration with classic Hangouts in early 2021. You can export your classic Hangouts data until mid-June 2021. Read about changes to Hangouts with Google Voice.

The features described below will be removed in early 2021. Switch back to Voice from classic Hangouts.

You can get calls to your Google Voice number using classic Hangouts online, on Gmail, and through the classic Hangouts Chrome extension.

For the best call experience, we recommend you get calls with the Google Voice mobile app or at voice.google.com.

Important: You can't make emergency service calls with an unmanaged Google Voice account or Hangouts.

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Learn about cost

Most Google Voice calls to the U.S. and Canada are free when you call from countries where Hangouts calling is available.

  • Calling isn't available from some countries. Learn more.
  • Calls to some places in the U.S. and Canada cost 1 cent per minute (USD), or the listed rate for your local currency.

Turn on ringing for incoming calls in Hangouts

If you have a Google Voice number, you can get calls on Hangouts. You can also make calls with Hangouts.

  1. Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
  2. Open settings:
    • On hangouts.google.com: Click Menu Menuand then Settings.
    • On Gmail: At the top of your Hangouts list, click the Down arrow Down arrow.
  3. Next to "Ring on incoming phone calls," check or uncheck the box. When the box is checked, calls to your Google Voice will ring in Hangouts at hangouts.google.com, in Gmail, and in the Hangouts Chrome extension.

Get Google Voice texts and voicemails

When you turn on Google Voice texts and voicemail in Hangouts on one device, you get your messages in Hangouts on all your devices.

Step 1: Check that you're signed into Google Voice and Hangouts on the same account

  1. Open your account on Google Voice.
  2. At the top right, click your profile photo. Note what your account username and email address are.
  3. Go to hangouts.google.com.
  4. At the top right, click your profile photo.
  5. Make sure your account here is the same as the one you saw in Google Voice.
  6. If they don't match, sign in to Hangouts with the same account you use for Google Voice.

Step 2: Turn Google Voice in Hangouts on or off

  1. Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
  2. Open settings:
    • On hangouts.google.com: Click Menu Menuand then Settings.
    • On Gmail: At the top of your Hangouts list, click the Down arrow Down arrow.
  3. Under the "Google Voice" section, check Receive SMS and voicemail in Hangouts. To turn off, uncheck the box.
What happens when you get Google Voice texts in Hangouts
  • It will be marked as "SMS.”
  • The message will look like a Hangouts conversation.
  • Under the message, it will be marked "via Google Voice."

  • Message history will appear in both Hangouts and Google Voice.
    Note: If you don’t see message history in Google Voice yet, you’ll see a notification in the app when it’s available.

  • Messages won't show in your Google Voice history if they’re either:

    • Video or audio messages

    • Group messages where a participant was removed from the group

  • Deleting a Google Voice message in Hangouts or Google Voice will delete it from both apps.

What happens when you turn off Google Voice texts and voicemail in Hangouts

  • You can read and respond to messages only in Google Voice.
  • Google Voice message history from Hangouts will still appear in Google Voice.
  • Voicemails will be stored in Google Voice and will be marked as unread.

Use Google Voice 

Answer Google Voice calls

  • Accept the call: After you accept, a Hangout window will open.
  • Ignore the call: After you ignore, the call request goes away. The other person won't be notified that you ignored the call.

Send Google Voice texts in Hangouts

You can't send text messages to numbers outside the U.S. and Canada. But you can get text messages from anywhere in the world.

  1. Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
  2. At the top, click Add Plus.
  3. Type and click a name, phone number, or email address.
  4. In the conversation window, click SMS SMS.
If you have trouble sending messages, change your invitation settings.

Check your Google Voice voicemail in Hangouts

  1. Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
  2. Go to your Conversations list.
  3. If you have a new voicemail, it’ll be marked as Voicemail Voicemail.
  4. Open the conversation and click Play Play.
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