Google Voice help, please!

May 8, 2014 7:31 AM

I've been having problems using Google Voice for texts ever since I got a new cell phone in December (Samsung Galaxy Mega). Inside is how I would like it to be configured and what is happening instead.

This is how it worked on my old phone (HTC Inspire?) and how I'd like it to work again:
- Can get texts on my phone that are sent to my Voice number, through the Voice app
- Can get texts on my phone that are sent to my ATT number, through the native messaging app
- Voice handles voicemail and I get text summaries by email and alerts on my phone when I have new voicemail

Shit, at this point I'd settle for no Google Voice and just being able to get freaking messages sent to my ATT number and retrieved via the native messaging app.

Currently:
- I'm not getting texts sent to EITHER my ATT number or to the Voice number

I did a hard reset of my phone, including uninstalling Google Voice, and I still can't even get messages sent to my ATT number through the native messaging app.

I don't understand the settings on Google Voice where it says:
[X] Mobile (AT&T)
[phone] - Mobile
[X] Receive text messages on this phone
[ ] Notify me of new voicemails via text

Does that have to do with getting voicemails on my phone at all or at that number or what?

I am so confused. I think I'm at the end of my rope. I don't want to call AT&T 'cause I already know they are going to tell me they can't help me with a third-party app.

posted by fiercecupcake to Technology (4 answers total)

This has happened to me in the past when I left the old phone on. Where's the phone this replaced? If it's on turn it off. If it's already off, turn it on and confirm that it says "no service" or "no signal".

I would also try deleting the phone number from Google Voice and adding it from scratch.
posted by eatcake at 7:50 AM on May 8, 2014

Response by poster: Thanks, eatcake, I will try that when I get home. I think the old phone is super dead in a drawer somewhere but who knows the magic of telephony.

Honestly at this point I would settle for porting my Voice number over to ATT (it's a nicer number) and not dealing with Voice ever again, if I could just get texts please.
posted by fiercecupcake at 8:19 AM on May 8, 2014

I don't want to call AT&T 'cause I already know they are going to tell me they can't help me with a third-party app.

If you aren't getting texts sent directly to your phone, that's an AT&T issue. Google Voice can intercept phone calls and voicemail if you have various forwarding options set up, but there isn't really any mechanism to redirect text messages without them hitting your phone.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 9:03 AM on May 8, 2014 [1 favorite]

Seconding eatcake's suggestion. Make sure you disable/remove your old phone from Google Voice settings.

You might also want to play with the "Receive text messages on this phone" setting on your new phone. Mine is unchecked and I see text messages in both my native messaging app and google voice.
posted by sarah_pdx at 11:18 PM on May 8, 2014