Verizon Conditional Call Forwarding Google Voice

Conditional forwarding is different from forwarding all calls. With all-call forwarding, every incoming call goes straight to the other number and your phone never rings. With conditional forwarding, your phone still rings normally; the call only moves to the destination when a condition is met, such as no answer after several rings.

On Verizon mobile, the documented codes are *72 plus the destination for forwarding all calls, *71 plus the destination for unanswered calls, and *73 to disable forwarding. These codes must be dialed from the mobile phone itself while it is in Verizon coverage. Forwarding covers calls only, not text messages, and charges depend on your plan.

If your business line is a Verizon business landline product rather than a mobile line, the wireless instructions above do not apply. Verizon's business landline guide covers *72 activation and *73 deactivation for all-call forwarding, so check which exact product you have before dialing anything.

• *72 + 10-digit number: forward all calls (Verizon mobile)
• *71 + 10-digit number: forward unanswered calls (Verizon mobile)
• *73: turn forwarding off (Verizon mobile)
• Setup must happen from the phone itself, in Verizon coverage
• Calls only, not texts; plan charges may apply

Google's own guidance for sending busy or unanswered cell calls to Google Voice voicemail says to configure conditional forwarding on the cell line, not in the Voice app. In other words, you dial the carrier code on your Verizon phone and enter your Google Voice number as the destination. Google documents the Verizon example as *71 plus the destination, with *73 to disable.

Before dialing, make sure the Google Voice number you want to use is active and that you can receive its voicemail through the Voice app or website. Carrier codes vary across providers, and Google notes that reseller or prepaid plans may not support conditional forwarding at all, so it is worth confirming with Verizon that your specific line supports *71 before relying on it.

After you activate *71 with your Google Voice number, place a test call from another phone and let it ring out. The call should end up in your Google Voice voicemail rather than your Verizon voicemail. If it still lands in Verizon's voicemail, deactivate with *73 and contact Verizon support, because voicemail and forwarding can interact on the same line.

• Configure forwarding on the Verizon line, not in the Google Voice app
• Use your full 10-digit Google Voice number as the destination
• Test by calling from another phone and letting it ring out
• Deactivate with *73 if you want calls returning to normal

When conditional forwarding to Google Voice is active, your unanswered Verizon calls are handled by Google Voice voicemail, so callers hear Google's greeting instead of your Verizon one. Record a clear greeting in the Voice app so callers know they reached the right business. If you later forward to a different destination, remember to disable the old setting with *73 so calls do not end up in two places.

Google Voice can also forward incoming calls to linked phone numbers, which is a separate feature from conditional forwarding. That direction works for ringing your other phones from a Voice number. What Google explicitly does not support is forwarding calls from a Google Voice number to an automated answering system. So if you use a Google Voice number as your main business line, you cannot point it at an automated receptionist service; the automation would need to sit on the underlying carrier line instead.

Also keep in mind that forwarding is calls only. Text messages sent to your Verizon number stay on your phone, and forwarded calls may use plan minutes or incur charges depending on your Verizon plan.

• Unanswered calls go to Google Voice voicemail, so record a greeting there
• Disable old forwarding with *73 before changing destinations
• Google Voice can ring linked numbers, but forwarding a Voice number to an automated system is unsupported
• Texts are not forwarded; forwarded calls may count against your plan

Conditional forwarding to Google Voice solves one problem: missed calls reach a voicemail you actually check. It does not answer the call, book appointments, or reply to common questions. If you would rather have missed calls handled by an assistant, the same conditional forwarding idea applies, but the destination would be an answering service instead of Google Voice.

AllDayDesk, the service on this site, is an AI receptionist that answers calls around the clock using your saved business information. You keep your existing Verizon number by forwarding calls to it, then choose phone setup during onboarding. It can take messages when it does not know an answer or price, and new appointments go to the built-in dashboard calendar by default, with an optional Google Calendar connection available in Settings after you authorize your account.

Because Google does not support forwarding a Google Voice number to an automated system, owners who want automated answering usually forward the underlying Verizon line directly rather than routing through Voice. That keeps your public Verizon number unchanged and avoids the unsupported hop.

• Conditional forwarding works with any destination number you control
• AllDayDesk answers with your business info and takes messages when unsure
• Keep your Verizon number; forward it rather than routing through Google Voice
• Existing appointment changes come to you as requests, not confirmed edits