Phone greeting for Google Voice

Which file does Google Voice need?

Good to know before you order: a personal Google Voice greeting can only be re-recorded by phone or in the app, Google does not offer a way to upload a file for it. Uploading an audio file is only possible for the automated attendant (IVR) in Google Voice for Google Workspace, set up by an admin. Google does not publish exact format requirements for that upload, so we deliver every format to be safe.

All formats

How to upload your greeting in Google Voice

For Google Voice, the upload location differs per installation and management environment; there is no public step-by-step guide that fits everyone. Use the file we supply for Google Voice and ask your telecom partner or administrator where greetings are configured. The upload itself is usually a matter of browse and select.

Which greetings does Google Voice play?

A phone system plays a different file per situation. These are the four you will need most often on Google Voice.

Welcome message

The first thing a caller hears. Your company name, and immediate confirmation that they reached the right place.

Phone menu (IVR)

The options callers use to route themselves. Each option is a separate line, so keep them short and put the most-used option first.

On-hold message

What someone hears while waiting in the queue. Say roughly how long it takes, or where they can find the answer themselves.

Closed announcement and voicemail

Outside opening hours, or when nobody picks up. Say when you are available again, so the customer calls back at the right moment.

Common questions about greetings for Google Voice

Can I use one file for everything?

No. The phone menu, the on-hold message, the closed announcement and the voicemail are separate files that Google Voice plays per situation. Order them in the same voice so it sounds like one whole.

What does a greeting for Google Voice cost?

A single greeting costs 24 dollars, regardless of length. If you need several, a package is cheaper; credits never expire.

What if I switch to a different phone system later?

Then you need the same recording in a different format. If you are not sure which system you have, choose “Other / not sure” at checkout and you receive every format at once.