Google Voice has two caller ID settings you can change. For incoming calls forwarded to your phone, go to Settings > Calls and turn Show my Google Voice number as caller ID when forwarding calls on or off. For outgoing calls, you can hide your number with Anonymous caller ID, or choose whether calls from the app use your Google Voice number or your carrier number. What you can’t do is type in a custom caller ID name; the name people see comes from carrier databases, not from Google Voice.
Below are the steps on a computer, Android, and iPhone, and what each setting actually changes.
Caller ID settings at a glance
| What you want | Setting |
|---|---|
| See that a forwarded call came through your Voice number | Turn on “Show my Google Voice number as caller ID when forwarding calls” |
| See the real caller’s number on forwarded calls | Turn that setting off |
| Hide your number on outgoing calls | Turn on Anonymous caller ID |
| Make sure outgoing calls show your Voice number | Place calls from the Google Voice app or website |
| Change the name people see | Not available in Google Voice |
Change caller ID for forwarded incoming calls (computer)
- Go to voice.google.com and sign in.
- Click the Settings gear at the top right.
- Click Calls on the left.
- Turn Show my Google Voice number as caller ID when forwarding calls on to see your Voice number when a call is forwarded, or off to see the caller’s own number.
Showing your Google Voice number is handy if you use one phone for personal and business calls: you’ll know a call came in through your Voice number before you answer. The downside is that you won’t see who’s calling until you pick up. Google notes this setting doesn’t affect calls you answer over the internet in the Voice app, which always show the caller’s number. Depending on your account type, the option may not appear.
Change caller ID on Android
- Open the Google Voice app.
- Tap Menu (three lines) > Settings.
- Under Calls, find the forwarding caller ID option and set it the way you want.
- To hide your number on outgoing calls, turn on Anonymous caller ID.
Change caller ID on iPhone and iPad
- Open the Google Voice app.
- Tap Menu > Settings.
- Under Calls, adjust the caller ID options available for your account.
Outgoing calls: which number do people see?
When you call from the Google Voice app or website, the person you call sees your Google Voice number. If you call from your phone’s regular dialer, they see your carrier number instead. On Android, the Voice app’s Making calls setting lets you choose whether calls from your phone’s dialer go through Google Voice, so check it if people are seeing the wrong number.
Hide your number completely
Turn on Anonymous caller ID in the app’s call settings to show “Private” or “Unknown” on outgoing calls. Many people don’t answer blocked numbers, so use it only when you need to. Also keep in mind that Google Voice isn’t meant for emergency calls; use your phone’s regular dialer to call emergency services.
Why you can’t change your caller ID name
The name that appears on someone’s phone (often called CNAM) is looked up by the recipient’s carrier from industry databases. Google Voice doesn’t offer a way to set or edit it, which is why some Voice calls show only a city name, “Wireless caller,” or nothing at all. Saving your name in the other person’s contacts is the most reliable way for them to see it.
Using two numbers on one phone
Many people use Google Voice as a second line for work, selling items online, or sign-ups, while keeping their carrier number private. To keep the two separate, make work calls and texts from the Voice app, use the forwarding caller ID setting to spot Voice calls at a glance, and set Do Not Disturb hours in Voice settings so the second line stays quiet outside working hours.
Troubleshooting
- The forwarding caller ID option is missing: Some account types or regions don’t offer it. Check that you’re signed in to the account with the Voice number.
- People see your carrier number: You’re probably calling from your phone’s dialer. Use the Voice app instead.
- Calls show as “Spam likely”: Some carriers flag VoIP numbers. Ask frequent contacts to save your number.
Related: How to use Google Voice.
Related: How to see your Google Voice number.
Frequently asked questions
Can I show a different phone number as my caller ID?
Only your Google Voice number or your linked carrier number, depending on how you place the call. You can’t choose an arbitrary number.
Does Google Voice show my real number to people I call?
Not when you call from the Voice app or website; they see your Voice number.
Can businesses set a caller ID name?
Not through Google Voice settings. Some carriers and third-party services offer CNAM registration for business numbers.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.