Can I forward my cell phone to a Google Voice number?

Yes. Use your carrier's USSD or star code with your 10-digit Google Voice number as the destination: `**21* #` on AT&T or T-Mobile (every call), `*72 ` on Verizon, with `**61*` or `*71` for conditional-only forwarding.

Will the forwarded call show the original caller's number in Google Voice?

Yes — Google Voice sees the original incoming caller ID, not your number. GV logs the call under the original caller and applies its rules (do-not-disturb, screening, blocked numbers) based on them.

Will I be charged for forwarding to my Google Voice number?

Forwarded calls are billed at your carrier's standard outbound rate from your line to the GV number. Most modern unlimited plans include this at no extra cost. Google Voice itself doesn't charge for receiving forwarded calls in the US.

Do I need a Google Voice number to forward calls to GV?

Yes — Google Voice has to be set up first. Go to voice.google.com → choose a number → verify a linked phone. Once your GV number is provisioned, you can forward your existing line to it with the carrier codes above.

← Help center

How to forward calls to a Google Voice number

Forward your existing number to Google Voice so GV handles voicemail transcription, call screening, and routing.

Forwarding your existing mobile or landline to a Google Voice number lets Google Voice handle voicemail transcription, call screening, do-not-disturb rules, and routing to other devices — without changing the number you give out. The setup is two parts: dial the carrier code on your existing line, and confirm your Google Voice number is configured to receive forwarded calls.

Step 1 — Get your Google Voice number ready

Make sure your Google Voice number is set up and pointing somewhere it can ring through:

Go to voice.google.com.
Settings (gear icon, top-right) → Calls → Call forwarding.
Add at least one linked number — your cell, a work phone, or another VoIP line — and verify it.
Set Incoming call options how you want them: ring linked devices, send to voicemail after X rings, etc.

Google Voice can receive forwarded calls from any number, but it needs at least one onward destination (your cell, a softphone, the GV app) to ring or its own voicemail to catch them.

Step 2 — Forward your existing line to Google Voice

Dial your carrier's forwarding code, using your Google Voice number as the destination:

Carrier	Forward every call	Forward when busy / no answer	Cancel
Verizon	`*72<GV-number>`	`*71<GV-number>`	`*73`
AT&T wireless	`*21<GV-number>#`	`*61<GV-number>#`	`##21#`
T-Mobile	`*21<GV-number>#`	`*61<GV-number>#`	`##21#`
Cricket / Mint Mobile	`*21<GV-number>#`	`*61<GV-number>#`	`##21#`
Visible / US Cellular	`*72<GV-number>`	`*71<GV-number>`	`*73`
Spectrum / Xfinity Voice	`*72<GV-number>`	`*71<GV-number>`	`*73`
Bell / Telus (CA)	`*72<GV-number>`	`*71<GV-number>`	`*73`

Use your full 10-digit GV number with no formatting. Example: *72 followed by 4155551234. Wait for the confirmation tone (star codes) or text (USSD codes) before hanging up.

Test by calling your existing line from another phone — it should ring through to whatever your Google Voice number is set to ring.

Conditional or unconditional — which is right?

Conditional forwarding (*71 / **61*) is the right pick when you want Google Voice to catch only the calls you don't pick up — busy line, no answer, phone off. You still answer the calls you can. Pair this with GV voicemail and you've got a free 24/7 answering machine with transcription.

Unconditional forwarding (*72 / **21*) routes every call to GV — your existing line doesn't ring at all. Use this if you want GV's call screening, do-not-disturb, or device-fanout to apply to every call.

Cancelling the forward

Dial *73 (CDMA / landline / cable VoIP) or ##21# (GSM wireless) from the same line to stop forwarding to Google Voice. Calls then ring your original line normally.

If you want to keep the forward but change what happens on the GV side, edit voice.google.com → Settings → Calls without touching the carrier code.

Try the carrier code generator

Pick your carrier and condition — get the exact code to dial, with a copy button.

Country

Carrier

When should calls forward?

Forward to this number (your RingOwl number, your other line, etc.)

Code preview

Enter the destination number above and the dial code appears here.

FAQ

Can I forward my cell phone to a Google Voice number?: Yes. Use your carrier's USSD or star code with your 10-digit Google Voice number as the destination: **21*<GV-number># on AT&T or T-Mobile (every call), *72<GV-number> on Verizon, with **61* or *71 for conditional-only forwarding.
Will the forwarded call show the original caller's number in Google Voice?: Yes — Google Voice sees the original incoming caller ID, not your number. GV logs the call under the original caller and applies its rules (do-not-disturb, screening, blocked numbers) based on them.
Will I be charged for forwarding to my Google Voice number?: Forwarded calls are billed at your carrier's standard outbound rate from your line to the GV number. Most modern unlimited plans include this at no extra cost. Google Voice itself doesn't charge for receiving forwarded calls in the US.
Do I need a Google Voice number to forward calls to GV?: Yes — Google Voice has to be set up first. Go to voice.google.com → choose a number → verify a linked phone. Once your GV number is provisioned, you can forward your existing line to it with the carrier codes above.

Forward your line to an AI that books

RingOwl is a 24/7 AI answering service for small businesses. Forward your line with the codes above and the AI picks up every call, books appointments straight into your calendar, and texts you a summary. Free 7-day trial, no credit card.

Start your free trial →