I noticed some old posts in using Google Voice in the forum have outdated information, this info below is out-to-date and solved some of my issues in getting this working on my new S7. Enjoy!
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/tips-for-google-voice-in-hangouts-on-android/
Now that Google has finally rolled Voice into the existing Hangouts app, there are a few settings you may want to adjust for a better calling and texting experience.
Update, January 29, 2016: Added new information about the Hangouts Dialer app.
The recent into the Hangouts application lets users call phone numbers and send texts, acting a second phone line. These new features are really useful if you have a limited number of minutes or texts on your carrier plan, or if your cellular signal is less reliable than your Wi-Fi signal.
Here are five tips to help make your Google Voice in Hangouts experience more pleasant:
Note: Before you get started with the tips, make sure that the boxes next to Incoming phone calls and Messages are checked in the Settings area of the Hangouts app.
Make calls over Wi-Fi/4G/3G
If you've used the Google Voice app in the past, you may have set it to use your Voice number when making calls. These calls still used your carrier minutes, instead of your data signal. As a solution, Google created a second app that acts as a plug-in for Hangouts, called Hangouts Dialer. This app will add a dialer tab to Hangouts, allowing you to make outbound calls with your Voice number over Wi-Fi/data (VoIP). After you download the app, make sure to open it at least once to connect it to the original Hangouts app. You do not need this app to receive video calls via Hangouts.
Disable double ring
When a call is coming in, you don't need two separate notifications going off at the same time on your phone. To stop this from happening, disable call forwarding to your mobile number in your Voice account. Afterward, only the Hangouts app will ring. Here's how:
- Log in to Google Voice on the Web.
- Click the cog menu in top right-hand corner and choose Settings.
- In the first tab, uncheck the box next to your mobile carrier number.
Adjust notification sounds
By default, the Hangouts app will play the same alert for instant messages, Google Voice SMS, and carrier SMS (if you are using it as your default SMS app). This may work for someone who always has a moment to check his or her phone, but if you want different notifications, you can easily change them in the Settings menu.
Instant messages
Settings > Google account name > Hangouts messages & invites > Sound
Google Voice SMS
Settings > Google account name > Google Voice SMS > Sound
Carrier SMS
Settings > SMS > Sound
Change 'send from' number
If you set the Hangouts app as your default SMS client, you may want to adjust which number is being used when replying to someone. You have three options:
- Smart reply (uses the number that you were contacted on to reply)
- Google Voice
- Carrier
These options can be accessed through the Hangouts settings:
SMS
Default dialer
If you want to use the stock dialer app on your device but have your Google Voice number appear on caller ID, keep the original Google Voice app and select the use Google Voice to make all calls in the settings.
Additionally, you can now set the Hangouts Dialer app as your default dialer, which will display your Google Voice number on Caller ID.
Comments
Thanks for the update, Michael. I'm sure this will be super beneficial to everyone who uses GV on Ting! :)
Anyone else that's using Google Voice have an issue all of a sudden where Voice answers incoming calls immediately on its own?
Hey Sam,
Are you using GVoice's call filtering feature?
I'm aware of them, but nope. Everything is set up as normally as I know how to set things up. Just out of the blue, about two months back, any time I get a call, Voice immediately answers and connects the call. Which, I guess, is better than not connecting calls at all, but still less than ideal. ;)
I started a thread on the Google Voice forums after I sifted through the Voice options to see if there was some "auto answer" feature that had been added or I'd turned on inadvertently, but the answer I got over there was that Voice isn't actually capable of such a thing and to check with my handset manufacturer (OnePlus). Didn't see anything on that front, so I uninstalled Voice and Hangouts/Hangouts Dialer, and reinstalled, but it's still doing it. Kind of beyond perplexed at this point.
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