Google Voice is a very practical tool for users who need to run businesses overseas. However, during the registration process, many people encounter various problems that lead to registration failure and affect subsequent use. Apart from issues with phone number verification during registration, sometimes the verification succeeds but the number is not released. Why does this happen? This article will explain the reasons why a number is not released after verification and provide some solutions.
I. Basic Requirements for Registration
To register for a GV number, there are some fundamental conditions that must be met. If these are not in place, registration will not be possible:
1、U.S. Physical Number
Since 2018, GV numbers can only be registered using real U.S. physical numbers. Virtual numbers cannot be used. When choosing a physical number, it is best to use major carriers such as AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile. Also, make sure the number is capable of receiving both SMS and voice calls.
2、U.S. IP Address
Regarding IPs, nowadays it is generally recommended to use a U.S. residential IP. This increases the success rate of registration. If your registration environment is not clean, or worse, if it looks suspicious, your Google account used for registration might even get suspended. Never use free proxy.
3、Google Account/Gmail
For your Google account or Gmail, it’s best to use a high-quality account. Ideally, one that has been registered for a while. Using a brand-new Google account carries risks: not only is the GV registration success rate lower, but the new account itself might get suspended. Whenever possible, register your Gmail within the same environment you are using for GV — this strengthens authenticity.
II. Reasons for Number Not Releasing After Verification
Aside from not meeting the basic conditions mentioned above, there are several other reasons why GV numbers might not release after verification:
1、Phone Number Quality Issues
Even if you are using a number from a major U.S. carrier, your number may have been previously used, recently recycled, or just assigned. In such cases, registration may fail. Some SMS platforms also provide numbers that only support text messages, which will fail if Google requests voice verification.
2、Ghost Account
Many users, in order to avoid account association, try registering on a brand-new device, browser environment, or in incognito mode. While this reduces association risk, it also has downsides. If Google detects that your account has no prior browsing history or activity at all, it might treat it as a “ghost account,” leading to number release failures or other issues.
3、Account Review
Another possible explanation is that accounts created on the same day cannot immediately release GV numbers after verification. While this hasn’t been fully confirmed, if this is the case, it is worth waiting a few days before trying again.
III. How to Solve the Number Release Issue
1、Optimize the Registration Environment
Most GV registration failures (and related problems) are due to Google detecting abnormal environments. Before registering, set up a stable account environment. After choosing a proxy, test its purity and IP type to make sure they meet requirements. For example, I used the combination of a Anti-detect browser + IPFoxy , with language, timezone, and IP all switched to the U.S. — the registration and number release process went smoothly.
2、Check Number Quality
After selecting a phone number provider, always verify if the number is a real SIM card. Some numbers are suitable only for GV recovery or changing an existing GV number but have a low success rate for new registrations. Avoid wasting verification attempts. During testing, check whether the number type is mobile and confirm the carrier information — this lowers the risk of failure or account being flagged.
3、Wait for Review
If you have met all the requirements but still cannot release the number after verification, your account may be under review. Sometimes Google places registration operations into a manual review process, which results in a “verification succeeded but pending allocation/manual check” state. In this case, you may need to wait for the review to complete or seek help via Google support or community forums.
IV. Conclusion
There are many reasons why Google Voice might not release the number after verification. The key is to ensure that your account, device, and IP environment are not flagged as problematic. Even after successfully releasing the number, remember to warm up the account — don’t bind multiple services in bulk immediately after registration. Hopefully, this article helps you better understand and resolve issues related to GV numbers!
