How can I auto forward all my Android texts to another phone?

July 13, 2018 6:15 AM

My wife and I use android phones. She is on Google Project Fi, I am on US Mobile network. I need to put my phone on snooze (deactivate the service but keep the phone number though paying just a monthly service fee) for some time.

(We do almost everything through wifi to keep costs down.)
However, there will still be people who will text me or Marco Polo me, not knowing that I don't have an active phone.

1. With my number on snooze, can I still get texts and videos that are trying to get through and have them auto-tranferred to my wife's phone?
2. If so, how do I do this?

posted by luvmywife to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

Google Voice lets you port numbers in for a one-time fee, and can forward calls, texts, and MMSes to a phone number of your choice.
posted by mkb at 6:42 AM on July 13, 2018

and in case google voice won't let you port your number (happened to me in backwater virginia) you can use number barn for $6/month to park a phone number and forward calls/texts.
posted by noloveforned at 8:43 AM on July 13, 2018 [1 favorite]

Came in to suggest Google Voice as well -- I've been using it for years while having an employer-provided phone. When I leave this job I'll resurrect the parked number. Texts don't technically get forwarded, but show up on the Google Voice app on my phone (and you can get them as emails as well). Works fine.
posted by AwkwardPause at 12:00 PM on July 13, 2018

Any solution I can think of requires service to be on, i.e. the original phone needs to get the messages first and then it will forward them to the new phone. The suggestion of porting the number seems like the only one that might work - I suspect there is not a way to do this with U.S. Cellular but you should check with them. I have a Google Voice number connected to my gmail account, and all text messages arrive as emails.
posted by AppleTurnover at 12:06 PM on July 13, 2018

If you've asked your current carrier this question and found them unhelpful, then yeah, porting your number to a different service is pretty much the only option you have.
posted by Aleyn at 12:53 PM on July 13, 2018