Read How call forwarding works first for the forwarding modes and the caller-ID check.
Which Google Voice do you have?
Google Voice for Workspace
Paid, managed in the Google Admin console. More flexible routing, and the practical choice for a business.
Personal Google Voice
The free consumer product. The linked-number restriction bites hardest here.
Google Voice for Workspace
1
Open the Admin console
Sign in at admin.google.com as an administrator and go to the Google Voice section under Apps.
2
Find the user or ring group holding your business number
Trace which user or auto-attendant your public number actually rings.
3
Set the call routing destination
In that user’s Voice settings, set calls to route to an external number and enter your Recepta.ai number in full:
+15551234567.4
Configure unanswered-call handling
If you want your team to get first refusal, set unanswered calls to route to the external number rather than to voicemail.
5
Test from a mobile
Confirm the call reaches the agent and check the caller ID in Call logs.
Personal Google Voice
Forwarding lives under Settings → Calls, where you choose which linked devices ring. You add a destination with New linked number, and you can link up to six. The problem is getting Recepta.ai into that list. Google rejects virtual and VoIP numbers during verification, and the verification itself expects a human to key in a code from an SMS or automated call.Working around the verification
Recommended: publish your Recepta.ai number directly
Recommended: publish your Recepta.ai number directly
Rather than fighting the restriction, use the Recepta.ai number as your business number on your website, Google Business Profile, and ads. Keep Google Voice for whatever it’s already doing.Cleaner than forwarding, and you get accurate per-number attribution. The cost is updating your listings.
Ask about moving the number
Ask about moving the number
If the Google Voice number is your business identity and you can’t change it, moving the number to Recepta.ai outright would remove the problem entirely — forwarding stops mattering, and texts would land on the same number.Whether that’s possible depends on the number and the carrier holding it. Email info@recepta.ai with the number and we’ll tell you where you stand before you commit to anything.
Upgrade to Workspace
Upgrade to Workspace
Google Voice for Workspace routes to external numbers without consumer linking limits, and is generally a better fit for a business anyway.
Troubleshooting
Google won't accept the Recepta.ai number
Google won't accept the Recepta.ai number
Expected — Google doesn’t allow virtual or VoIP numbers as linked numbers. This is a restriction, not a fault, and no amount of retrying will change it. Use one of the workarounds above.
Calls go to Google Voice voicemail instead
Calls go to Google Voice voicemail instead
Google Voice tends to send unanswered calls to its own voicemail by default. Change unanswered-call handling to route to your external number.
Calls are being screened first
Calls are being screened first
Call screening asks callers to state their name and waits for you to accept. Turn it off — with an AI answering, screening just adds friction and can stop the call connecting.
Spam filtering is swallowing calls
Spam filtering is swallowing calls
Google Voice’s spam filter silently diverts suspected spam. If test calls vanish entirely, check the spam setting.
Texts to your Google Voice number are not forwarded. See How call forwarding works.