Which kind of forwarding to use
Always
Every call goes to FrontDesk Talk and your phone never rings. Use it when you want the AI to answer everything, or at night and on weekends.
No answer
Your phone rings first. If you don’t pick up, the call moves to FrontDesk Talk. This is the setup most owners start with.
Busy
If you’re already on a call or you decline one, the caller goes to FrontDesk Talk instead of voicemail.
Unreachable
If your phone is off, out of battery, or has no signal, calls still get answered.
Our advice for Google Voice: Port your Google Voice number to FrontDesk Talk. It’s the setup Google supports, and your callers keep dialing the same number.
Step by step
Unlock your number
In Google Voice on a computer, open Settings. Under Account, find your number and click Unlock. Google may charge a small fee.
Start the port with us
Tell us you want to bring your number. We’ll ask for your Google Voice number and PIN, which Google uses as the account number and PIN.
Keep using Google Voice for now
Calls keep working the usual way until the port finishes. Google says it can take up to 48 hours.
Test and go live
Once the port finishes, call your number from another phone and hear your receptionist.
Good to know
- Linking FrontDesk Talk as a forwarding number in Google Voice may seem to work, but Google doesn’t support it and it can stop without warning. We don’t recommend it.
- If you use Google Voice through Google Workspace, your admin handles the port from the Workspace admin console.
Menus and settings can vary by plan. If one doesn’t work, call your carrier.
Test it
- Call your business number from a different phone, like your cell.
- You should hear your FrontDesk Talk greeting instead of a ring or voicemail.
- Hang up and watch for the Talk Note by text and email.
Turn it off
After a port, forwarding isn’t needed. If you ever leave FrontDesk Talk, you can port your number to another carrier.
Questions
Why not just add FrontDesk Talk as a linked number?
Google’s help page says forwarding calls from Google Voice to an automated system is unsupported. Porting avoids surprises.
Will I lose my texts in Google Voice?
Your Google Voice history stays in your Google account. New texts to your number come to FrontDesk Talk after the port.
Will my callers know the call was forwarded?
No. They dial your usual number and hear your receptionist. Nothing sounds different on their end.
Would porting my number be better?
Forwarding is quickest. Porting moves your number to us so you can drop the old line. Read the porting guide.
Sources, checked September 2026: Google Voice Help: Set up your phone to make and receive calls; Google Voice Help: Port your Google Voice number.
Stop paying for voicemail.
Setup takes about 10 minutes. Cancel anytime.