How to Port a Purchased Phone Number to Google Voice: A Step-by-Step Guide

You just purchased your brand new vanity phone number from RingBoost – congratulations! But now you might be wondering how to bring that number into Google Voice. Good news: Google Voice does support number porting, but there are a few extra hoops to jump through to use this service.

Don’t worry. There’s a reliable workaround—and in this post, we’ll walk you through how to port your RingBoost number to Google Voice step by step, along with everything you need to know to do it smoothly.

Why Port your Number to Google Voice?

Many people and businesses want to move their vanity numbers to Google Voice so they can:

• Cut costs by canceling traditional phone service
• Work remotely using just a mobile phone or web app
• Preserve a legacy business number without paying high monthly fees
• Add smart call routing, voicemail transcripts, and text messaging

But here’s the catch: Google Voice only allows porting from mobile carriers—not landline providers. And RingBoost numbers are considered landlines.

The Workaround: A Two-Step Port

To bring a landline into Google Voice, you’ll need to first port it to a mobile carrier, then port it again to Google Voice. It’s a few extra steps, but very doable.

What You’ll Need

• Account number (provided by RingBoost)
• PIN (if applicable), and billing info from your current provider (provided by RingBoost)
• A prepaid mobile carrier account that allows number porting (like T-Mobile, AT&T Prepaid, Ting, Mint, etc.)
• A personal Gmail account (not a Google Workspace email)
• $10–$20 for the prepaid SIM + $20 Google Voice porting fee

Step-by-Step: Porting a Landline to Google Voice

Step 1: Choose a Prepaid Mobile Carrier

Pick a prepaid mobile carrier that:

• Supports number porting
• Allows activation without a physical store visit
• Has good online support

Popular options include:

• T-Mobile Prepaid
• AT&T Prepaid
• Verizon Prepaid

You’ll need to buy a SIM card and activate it with a temporary number, then request to port your landline.

Step 2: Port Your RingBoost number to the Prepaid Carrier

Once you’ve got the SIM card and account:

1. Log into the prepaid carrier’s portal.
2. Begin the port-in process.
3. Enter your landline number and current provider account details.
4. Wait 3–5 business days for the port to complete.

Step 3: Verify the Number Now Works on the Mobile Carrier

Once the port is complete, your landline number will now be treated as a mobile number. You can now make/receive calls on it using the prepaid SIM card.

This is your green light to move on to Google Voice.

Step 4: Port the Number to Google Voice

1. Go to https://voice.google.com and sign in.
2. Click the gear icon → Account → Transfer a number.
3. Enter the newly-mobile number and click Check for eligibility.
4. If eligible, continue through the prompts.
5. Enter the mobile carrier’s account info (now where the number lives).
6. Pay the $20 porting fee via Google Pay.

The port to Google Voice usually completes in 24 to 48 hours.

Step 5: Cancel the Prepaid Plan (Optional)

Once the number is successfully on Google Voice, you can cancel the prepaid mobile account—unless you want to keep using the SIM card for other purposes.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

❌ Trying to port directly from a landline to Google Voice

It won’t work. You must first port to a mobile carrier.

❌ Giving the wrong account info

Even one incorrect digit in your account number or address can delay the port.

❌ Using a Google Workspace account

Only personal Gmail accounts support porting into Google Voice.

Final Thoughts

Porting a landline to Google Voice is a bit of a detour, but it's well worth it if you're looking to modernize how you handle phone calls—especially for businesses wanting to use a vanity phone number in a digital world.

It typically takes about a week total from start to finish and costs $30–$50 outside of the one-time fee from RingBoost (including prepaid SIM and Google’s $20 fee). There are other VoIP providers similar to Google Voice that you can use that don’t require you to port the number over to a Mobile carrier and also don’t have port in fees.

Contact us if you have any questions about porting the number over to Google Voice or if you would like for us to put you in contact with one of our VoIP partners.