When you hear “the Google subscriber is not available” upon calling a GV number, note that you’re not alone and many other people experience the same issue.
However, in this guide, we will unveil everything about the meaning of this message as well as the best possible solutions!
When the Google subscriber is not available, first check whether the GV number is not blocked or whether the GV DND mode has been activated.
Another cause for the issue would be if the GV number has been marked as SPAM or the calls are being forwarded.
Let’s continue to unwrap!
Why is the Google Subscriber Not Available?
When you hear that the Google subscriber you are trying to reach is not available, note that this is the default Google Voicemail.
When the subscriber hasn’t set their own greeting message to sound when they are unavailable, you’ll hear the default voice message every single time.
In case you’re hearing this message when calling someone through your GV number or vice versa, the “not available” message simply translates to “unreachable”.
There are many reasons why a Google subscriber couldn’t be reached or reach you, so let’s unveil the causes upfront.
Blocked GV Number
When you have blocked the number calling you or the receiver has blocked your Google Voice number, you’ll be redirected straight to the default voicemail.
GV numbers can be easily blocked and unblocked anytime.
Spam GV Number
There is a SPAM folder in your GV settings, where you can include numbers that you wouldn’t like calling you anymore.
In turn, when they call you, they’ll be hearing the automated voicemail.
GV Do Not Disturb
Of course, if your Google Voice has an enabled DND (Do Not Disturb), all callers will be sent to the Google Voicemail every time.
The DND mode can easily be disabled through the settings!
GV Call Forwarding
Call Forwarding is another feature that GV is equipped with, allowing people to forward any incoming calls from one number to another number.
In case this feature is enabled and the device supposed to receive the calls is unavailable, the callers will be sent to Google voicemail.
Is There a Ringing?
In case there is absolutely no ringing when you’re calling the particular GV number, then for any reason, you’re unable to contact them.
So if they have no pre-set (custom) greeting you’ll hear the default Google voicemail which is – Google subscriber is unavailable.
How to Fix When the Google Subscriber is Not Available?
In case there is absolutely no ringing when you’re calling the particular GV number, then for any reason, you’re unable to contact them.
So if they have no pre-set (custom) greeting you’ll hear the default Google voicemail which is – “Google subscriber is unavailable”, until further notice!
In order to solve the problem, follow the steps below:
1. Unblock the Google Voice Caller!
The first and most important step is to check whether the GV caller has been blocked by the GV receiver.
There are two ways to unblock numbers, you will either need to download and set up the mobile Google Voice app, available for Android and iOS, or go to GV Account Blocklist.
- We recommend removing all blocked numbers on your Google Voice!
On Android devices, you can unblock numbers by going into Settings > Google > Google Account > People & Sharing > Blocked.
In addition, blocking people in Google Hangouts also blocks them in your Google Voice, so you need to check there as well.
How to Unblock Numbers in Hangouts?
- Go to the Google Hangouts web or app.
- Open the Menu “≡” and go to Settings.
- Next, locate the “Blocked People” option.
- Tap on the “Unblock” button to unblock!
Reminder: Test whether the Google subscriber is still unavailable only by calling from numbers other than your own Google Voice linked numbers.
2. Disable the Google Voice DND
The DND or “Do Not Disturb” feature is one of the primary reasons why you’re hearing the auto voicemail when calling a GV subscriber.
The feature can be easily disabled through the Google Voice app, which is supposed to enable the calls coming to your GV number!
Here’s how to disable the DND mode through the Google Voice app:
- First, open the Google Voice number on your mobile.
- Then, navigate into the Menu “≡” at the top left side.
- You will see a “Do Not Disturb” button, again on top.
- Tapping on the button will switch from ”ON” to “OFF”.
When the Do Not Disturb feature is disabled on your GV account, test calling to determine if that was the culprit.
In case the Google subscriber is still not available, continue reading further!
3. Remove GV Number from SPAM
A Google Voice number can occasionally get marked as “SPAM” when behavior is weird and detected by the automated system.
So, if the number that is trying to reach you is marked as a “SPAM”, then they will be redirected to the GV voicemail every time they attempt to call you!
- Open the Google Voice app on your mobile.
- Then tap on “Messages, Calls, or Voicemail”.
- Navigate to the Google Voice “Call History”.
- Select the number that is marked for SPAM.
- Tap on “Not Spam”, then “Confirm Not Spam”.
- The number will be removed from the spam.
In case you’ve found that the number receiving the automated voicemail is in the spam folder, well, then this is the culprit.
Now when the number is not marked as “spam” test calling so you can determine whether this fixed the issue.
Alternatively: Open the Google Voice app, go to Menu “≡”, tap “Spam”, select the call you need to unmark, tap on “More Options” and select “Unmark as Spam”.
4. The GV Receiver Has No Internet
Google Voice uses mobile data or WiFi to perform calls, not cellular coverage.
This means that when the receiver’s device has no internet connection, incoming calls will not be available. Then the caller will be sent to the automated GV voicemail.
Verify that the Google Voice device is connected to the internet!
In case you’re only using the app, we recommend going to the GV web portal and attempting to perform calls from there.
If you’re still hearing the annoying voicemail, continue reading further!
5. Remove & Re-Add GV Number!
Sometimes the reason why your GV number is unreachable and sending calls to the voicemail is due to false verification.
So, to overcome this hurdle, it’s enough to remove the GV number that is currently linked to your Google Voice account and then re-add the number cleanly!
Note: The steps below apply to the GV web portal but also work on the GV app!
How to Remove GV Number?
- First, open the Google Voice online portal.
- Then, sign into your Google Voice account.
- Click on the “Settings” at the top right corner.
- Next, click on “Account” located underneath.
- Finally, select the number and click “Delete”.
How to Re-Add GV Number?
- Open the GV web interface and sign in.
- Go to “Settings” > “Linked Numbers”.
- Then click on “New Linked Number”.
- Then, enter the phone number to link.
- Click on “Send Code” for verification.
- Insert the code and click on “Verify”.
Info: When the verification is ready, test whether callers will still be redirected to the voicemail and still will be unable to call your GV number.
6. Tweak the GV Call Forwarding
In case the GV calls are redirected to an unresponsive device, the caller will be redirected to the voicemail every time.
So, within the app, there is an easy way to check whether the calls are being forwarded to another device.
Here’s how to remove numbers added for forwarding GV calls:
- Open the Google Voice mobile app!
- Go to Settings > Calls > My Devices.
- Add at least one device to My Devices.
- Remove devices from “Call Forwarding”.
When you’re ready, call your GV number from a non-linked to your GV account number to test whether the call will commence.
In case not, we strongly recommend getting in touch with Google Customer Service or reading more about your issue at Google Voice Help.
Quick Recap:
Whenever the Google subscriber is not available, first check whether the caller’s number is blocked or is marked as “SPAM”. In case not, perhaps the DND (Do Not Disturb) mode is enabled on your Google Voice account or simply the number verification has failed.
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Read Next: How to Get a Google Voice Number for Free?
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.