Use Google Voice with Hangouts
You can get calls to your Google Voice number using Hangouts online, on Gmail, and through the Hangouts apps.
Google Voice is only available in the U.S.
Important: You can't make or receive emergency service calls using Google Voice or Hangouts.
Before you get started
You need:
Cost
Almost all Google Voice calls to the U.S. and Canada are free when you're calling from countries where Hangouts calling is available.
- Calling isn't available from some countries, such as Mexico and Argentina.
- Calls to a few 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 learn how to make calls with Hangouts.
- Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
- Open settings:
- On hangouts.google.com: Click Menu
Settings.
- On Gmail: At the top of your Hangouts list, click the Down arrow
.
- On hangouts.google.com: Click Menu
- 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 app.
Settings.Get Google Voice texts and voicemails in Hangouts
When you turn on Google Voice texts and voicemail in Hangouts on one device, you'll get your messages in Hangouts on all your devices.
Important: Soon, text messaging (SMS) will only be available in Hangouts if you have a Google Voice or Project Fi number. Read more.
Step 1: Check that you're signed into Google Voice and Hangouts on the same account
- Open your account on Google Voice.
- At the top right, click your profile photo. Note what your account username and email address are.
- Go to hangouts.google.com.
- At the top right, click your profile photo.
- Make sure your account here is the same as the one you saw in Google Voice.
- 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
- Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
- Open settings:
- On hangouts.google.com: Click Menu
- On Gmail: At the top of your Hangouts list, click the Down arrow
- On hangouts.google.com: Click Menu
- 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."
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 won’t appear in Google Voice.
- Voicemails will be stored in Google Voice and will be marked as unread.
Use Google Voice in Hangouts
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.
- Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
- At the top, click Add
.
- Type and click a name, phone number, or email address.
- In the conversation window, click SMS
.
.Check your Google Voice voicemail in Hangouts
- Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
- Go to your Conversations list.
- If you have a new voicemail, it’ll be marked as Voicemail
.
- Open the conversation and click Play
.
.Related link
Brenna is a Hangouts expert and the author of this help page. Help her improve this article by leaving feedback below.