Can you block phone calls from Google Voice?
What is Google Voice?
Google Voice is a phone and calling service provided by Google. It gives users a free phone number that can be used for calling, text messaging, and voicemail [1]. With Google Voice, you get a single number that rings multiple devices so you don’t miss important calls [2]. It also provides features like call screening, voicemail transcriptions, call blocking, and more.
Google Voice is available on iOS, Android, and the web, allowing you to make calls, send texts, check voicemail, and manage your account from any device. It integrates with your existing phone service and essentially acts as a second phone line with additional features. Overall, Google Voice aims to enhance your calling experience and give you more control over how you communicate.
How does call blocking work on Google Voice?
Google Voice has built-in call screening and call blocking features that allow you to block unwanted calls. You can block calls in a few different ways:
Block individual numbers: You can block specific phone numbers by going to Google Voice settings, selecting “Blocked numbers”, and adding the number you want to block. This will prevent any calls from that number from ringing through.
Block private numbers: You can enable the setting to block all private or unknown callers. This will prevent any call without caller ID information from reaching you.
Use call screening: Google Voice’s call screening feature will ask unknown callers to announce their name before the call rings through. You can then choose to accept, block, or report the caller.
Block by area code: Under call settings, you can block entire area codes. This could be useful to prevent nuisance calls from a certain region.
Google Voice will remember blocked numbers across all linked devices. However, there are some limitations – you can only block specific numbers rather than blanket blocking all numbers from Google Voice. But the call screening provides a way to vet unknown callers before deciding to block them.
Blocking individual numbers
You can block specific phone numbers in your Google Voice settings using either the mobile app or desktop website. On mobile, open a call or voicemail from the number you want to block, tap More options > Block number, and confirm. On desktop, click on the number in your call log or voicemail, click More, and select Block number. Blocked numbers will no longer be able to call or text you. You can view and manage your blocked numbers under Settings > Blocked numbers.
According to Google’s support page, “Block calls & messages or mark as spam – Android,” you can block individual numbers by opening a call or voicemail from that number, tapping More options > Block number, and confirming. This prevents that number from contacting you in the future via calls or texts.
Blocking private numbers
Google Voice allows you to block all calls from private or anonymous numbers [1]. When you receive a call from a private number, you’ll see “Anonymous” or “Private Number” in your call history. To block these calls:
– Open your call history in the Google Voice app and tap on the private number call.
– Tap the three dots in the upper right corner and select “Block number.”
This will block all future calls from private and anonymous numbers. You can also block specific private number calls using this same method [2]. Private numbers can also be blocked entirely by toggling on “Block anonymous callers” in your app settings.
Using the call screening feature
One way to block unwanted calls on Google Voice is by using the call screening feature. This allows Google Assistant to answer and screen calls for you, and only put through calls that you approve. According to Google’s Phone app help page, when you receive a call, you can tap “Screen call” and the Google Assistant will ask the caller to state their name and reason for calling.
You can then see a transcript of the caller’s response and choose whether to answer, send to voicemail, or report as spam. The key benefit here is that call screening can automatically send unknown or suspicious callers to voicemail without you having to answer. This helps filter out spam calls and robocalls. However, the call screening feature is only available on Android and on Google’s own Phone app, so it won’t work on all devices.
Blocking calls by area code
One way to cut down on unwanted calls in Google Voice is to block entire area codes. According to a Google Voice Community thread, if you receive multiple calls from numbers with the same area code, you can block the entire area code to stop calls from that region.
To block an area code on Google Voice:
- Open the Google Voice app or go to voice.google.com
- Click on Settings > Blocked calls and texts
- Tap Add blocked number
- Enter the 3-digit area code you want to block
- Tap Block
Once an area code is blocked, all calls originating from phone numbers with that area code will be automatically rejected. This can be useful for stopping robocalls or other unwanted calls from specific regions.
However, according to a Reddit discussion, there are some limitations to this area code blocking. You cannot block toll-free area codes like 800, 888, 877, etc. And legitimate callers from that region will also be blocked if you block the area code.
Limitations of call blocking
While Google Voice offers various options for blocking unwanted calls, there are some limitations to be aware of:
First, some calls may still get through even if you have call blocking enabled. According to Google’s support site, “Google Voice isn’t able to block 100% of unwanted calls” (source). This is because robocallers and spammers frequently change their numbers to get around blocks.
Additionally, Google Voice cannot block calls that come from some toll-free numbers or emergency services. There are also no options to block entire area codes or international calls.
While adding numbers to your blocked list can help reduce unwanted calls, some may still slip through. Using call screening or third party apps may provide additional protection.
Using Do Not Disturb
Google Voice gives users the option to turn on Do Not Disturb, which will send all incoming calls directly to voicemail. When enabled, Do Not Disturb blocks all calls so your phone will never ring. This can be useful if you need to focus without interruptions or want to avoid unwanted calls.
Do Not Disturb can be enabled in the Google Voice app on your mobile phone or on the Google Voice website. On Android, open the Google Voice app and tap on your profile icon in the top right. Select “Settings” and then tap on “Do not disturb.” Toggle it on to enable it. On iPhone, tap on the menu icon in the top left and select “Settings.” Tap on “Do not disturb” and toggle it on. On the website, click on “Settings” at the top right and then select “Do not disturb” on the left side. Toggle it on to enable it.
With Do Not Disturb enabled on Google Voice, all calls will go straight to voicemail. You can customize Do Not Disturb hours if you only want it enabled during certain times. Exceptions can also be made to allow calls from certain contacts even when Do Not Disturb is on. Overall, it gives users an easy option to block all incoming calls when needed.
Third-party call blocking apps
In addition to the built-in call blocking features in Google Voice, there are also third-party apps that can provide enhanced spam call blocking and identification. One popular app is RoboKiller, which uses AI and crowdsourcing to maintain a database of known spam numbers and auto-block them before they reach you. RoboKiller can integrate directly with your Google Voice number to block calls and texts.
Other top-rated call blocking apps like Nomorobo and YouMail also work with Google Voice. These apps leverage advanced filtering algorithms to identify likely spam calls based on calling patterns and known sources. By combining Google Voice’s native controls with a third-party app, you can effectively stop nearly all spam calls from interrupting you.
Preventing spam calls completely
While call blocking features on Google Voice can help reduce spam calls, no solution is ever 100% effective against unwanted robocalls and spam. As this Google Voice help article explains, even when using features like call screening and blocking certain area codes, some spam calls may still get through.
That said, combining multiple layers of defense by enabling call screening, blocking individual numbers, turning on “Do Not Disturb”, and using third party call blocking apps, can help prevent a majority of spam calls. But users should keep in mind that new numbers can always be spoofed, so staying vigilant is important.
The key is managing expectations – the goal should be reducing spam calls rather than expecting to stop them completely. As this Reddit discussion highlights, no existing solution can guarantee blocking all spam, especially with voice calls. So Google Voice users should use all available tools to optimize filtering, while recognizing limitations.