KUKU had just recently written a post about using Google Voice together with Google Fi and Hangouts to turn one number into three, and about Voice and Hangouts working together for dual-number dual-standby:

I originally wanted to pick a new number for my own GV secondary line today, and it turns out GV now also allows dual-number dual-standby. After looking it up, this policy seems to have been introduced around the same time as the post above.

GV number-retention policy

First, it needs to be repeated again and again: unpurchased Google Voice numbers do expire. Google's current policy is that if you send or receive a text message or make or receive a call within 9 months, the number is renewed [this changes often, so please check the official Terms]. Google Voice supports Port-in, so you can transfer your number from another carrier to Google Voice. It costs $20 and makes the number never expire. This is especially suitable for people who still want to keep their U.S. number before returning to China. For a more detailed introduction to Google Voice, see:

How dual-number dual-standby works

In short, it comes down to the following:

  • Google Voice now lets you change your number and make the new one permanent directly, for just $10
  • The old number can also be made permanent, which costs another $20; after that, it can only receive texts and calls
  • The new and old numbers that have been made permanent can switch the Primary number, and the Primary number can place calls and send texts

Detailed steps

First, go to the Google Voice main page

Click the area shown in the image to go to the legacy GV

Click your number, then choose change number and get a new number

Google will tell you that there is a fee, and that as long as you don't violate the rules, the number will be permanent. It also tells you that the old number can be made permanent as well, which costs another $20; if you don't make it permanent, it will still be kept for three months so it can continue to receive texts and calls.

Next, enter the ZIP code or digits you want for the number search

Choose the number you want [if you need one, pick quickly; the good ones have already been picked over by scalpers]

It's best to pay with the credit card on your Google account. You can consider using a dining or streaming AMEX card to pay (reimbursement depends on luck; see this 101 update)

After choosing a number, go back to the legacy GV home page, and you'll see a new option on the old number: "Make Permanent"

Click it to see the instructions and pay. After making the number permanent, it can only receive texts and calls, not place them.

Switching primary and secondary numbers

After paying the $20, we can see that GV lets you switch the Primary number, which gives you true dual-number dual-standby. When you need to, just switch between the two numbers.

How to make an existing GV permanent

Previously there was only one method, the Port-in loop ($23 cost). Now there are three methods:

  • Method 1 (new method): choose a new number first (pay $10), then make the old number permanent (pay $20). The old number is then permanent, and after switching Primary, the newly selected number becomes standby while the old number can place calls and send texts. Total cost: $30.
  • Method 2 (Fi loop, without canceling Fi): if you already need Fi, the cost is zero. Port-in GV to Fi, choose a new number on Fi, then Port-in Fi back to GV. This GV becomes permanently free. Google did not explicitly say this, but using the dual-number setup in this article seems to make it permanent as well. See here for details.
  • Method 3 (Port-in loop): first unlock GV and Port-in to another carrier (cost $3). After that, Port-in back from the other carrier to GV, costing $20, for a total of $23. It is unknown whether you can Port-in directly from GV to GV. (See our GV introduction for the steps)

Is it worth making it permanent?

First, the old saying still applies: A U.S. phone number can do a lot of things. Although the usefulness of GV has been greatly weakened, its power and practicality are still irreplaceable.

KUKU personally thinks that spending just $10 to make a GV permanent is very worthwhile. Many people forget to send a text or make a call and end up letting their GV expire. If you had a $10 chance, would you still miss it?

As for the dual-number dual-standby setup, if you're good at managing numbers, then a total cost of $30 is not expensive. Why not have one more nice number?

For GV scalpers, managing multiple GV numbers costs a lot of time. Spending a little money can keep two numbers alive, and the resale value will also go up. In the future, the cost of buying GV is probably going to rise. [The author strongly does not recommend buying scalped numbers. Be careful about getting banned. Follow the guides on this site more closely; if you want to have one or even multiple GVs, it's actually very easy.]

Does permanent mean it will never be reclaimed?

As for whether "Make Permanent" means you will permanently keep this number, neither this article's workflow nor the earlier 1-to-3 mitosis post has been specifically clarified by Google.

Account inactivity

If you have a Google Voice number, but you haven't made or received a call or sent or received a text message in 9 months, Google will reclaim the number. However, Google will not reclaim numbers that have been ported into Google Voice service or have been granted permanent use rights.


Numbers that have been ported into GV and numbers that have been granted permanent use rights will not be reclaimed. The author believes that "Make Permanent" is the same as applying for permanent use rights. The fee for Port-in from another carrier to GV is $20, and the price matches. Porting from Fi to GV, although free, also seems to fit the definition of porting. In short, YMMV.

Also, even if it is permanent, Google can still shut down your account if there is a violation. This is another reason the author strongly does not recommend buying scalped numbers. Who knows what this number was used for before, or whether Google later banned the account because it was bought and sold.

Any kind of bonus-chasing carries risk. If Google still reclaims numbers in the future because of account inactivity, that would not be surprising either. YMMV.

Can a permanent number be moved out?

Yes. The unlock fee is still $3. Make sure to set your voicemail PIN in advance; the PIN used for porting is the voicemail PIN. After that, you should still be able to choose a secondary number.

The mitosis of working with Fi

If you combine it with Google Fi, then you can turn 1 number into 5 numbers, which is really too many (for users who need to move from GV to Fi):

Related articles