Three years ago, Google started updating and redesigning its Google Voice service, making it an integral part of the G Suite. Back in 2018, Google also mentioned that Legacy Google Voice users will lose support at some point in the future, and encouraged them to migrate.
The support cycle of the Legacy web version of the Google Voice service is coming to an end, as 9to5Google has received a mail from Google, delivering the sad news.
You are receiving this email because you have a consumer (personal) Google Voice account and are one of the few remaining users using a legacy web feature that may be impacted as we complete the migration of all Voice users to the modern experience (which launched in 2017)
It’s also important to note that some legacy features won’t be carried over on the mobile app, or to the new web experience. Google describes all the differences between the two services in detail on its support pages.
Legacy Google Voice features that won’t work after migration
Call-to-listen voicemail access: To check your voicemail from a call, you must turn on the “Call-to-listen” feature and set a PIN. When you call your number to check your voicemail, enter the PIN. Learn how to call Google Voice to check your voicemail.
Call forward rules for SIP devices for Fiber phones only: Call forward rules based on your contacts or caller ID no longer apply if you use a Fiber phone. Calls from contacts or caller IDs with forward rules will ring your desktop phone (SIP device).
Call notes: To save your notes, use Google Takeout and download your data before the end of March 2022. To learn more, read Remove notes from Legacy Voice.
“Do not disturb” timer: Do not disturb is available in Google Voice, but you can no longer set a timer. Learn how to send Google Voice calls to voicemail.
Non-USD currencies: Google Voice is only available in the U.S. You can only buy Google Voice credits in US dollars (USD). In the near future, all non-USD credit balances will be automatically converted to USD, and auto-recharging in non-USD will be disabled. Learn more.
Ring schedule: Ring schedule isn’t available. If you used this feature in legacy Google Voice, in the latest Google Voice experience, calls will ring your phone any time of day. If you have a smartphone, you can use your phone’s “Do not disturb” feature to ignore notifications and calls at certain times.
Settings for Call Forwarding: There’s no setting for Carrier Call Forwarding in the latest Google Voice experience. Carrier-forwarded calls from your linked number automatically go to your Google Voice voicemail. It isn’t possible to have carrier-forwarded calls from a linked number ring on all your devices. If you want your devices to ring from your carrier number, port your number to Google Voice.
Unauthenticated access to voicemails through links: In Google Voice, you must sign in to your Google Voice account to access your voicemail.
Voicemail-only accounts: If you have a voicemail-only account without a Google Voice number, upgrade to a full Google Voice account.
The Call Forwarding feature changes seem to be the most substantial and bear the biggest impact on migrating legacy users. Basically, all your forwarded calls will go automatically to VoiceMail without an option to get them on another linked device.
The changes in the Ring Schedule and Do Not Disturb Timer could also potentially annoy some people. You will have to rely on your phone’s DND mode to take care of those, you won’t be able to set them up in Google Voice once you migrate. The phase-out of the Google Voice legacy website will start sometime in mid-February.
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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