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So the author probably could have migrated if he hadn't used a Google Fi phone number for 2FA. Some banks and businesses (such as Uber) will detect a Google Fi

So the author probably could have migrated if he hadn't used a Google Fi phone number for 2FA. Some banks and businesses (such as Uber) will detect a Google Fi or Google Voice number and not let you use them. Other businesses don't do the detection, but the 2FA texts will never arrive. Like the author, I've got some accounts that I was able to set up for 2FA using a Google account, but 2FA no longer works on them.

colechristensen 3mo ago
Google Voice? (and other strictly VoIP services) Absolutely. I've never had a single problem with Google Fi.
- Beijinger 3mo ago
  Try WISE With Google FI
  - agolliver 3mo ago
    The money transfer app? Works perfectly fine.
    - Beijinger 3mo ago
      Abroad? With Google Fi?
- natebc 3mo ago
  Same, they must mean Google Voice. I've used Google Fi for gosh, 8-9+ years (honestly don't remember, but a good long while) and I've had ZERO problems with anything relating to using it as my cell provider.
- jayknight 3mo ago
  Me neither, but I moved a T Mobile number to Fi. It could be different with numbers originally designated to Fi.
  - natebc 3mo ago
    Where I live (Durham, NC) Google Fi's MNO is T-Mobile so they're effectively the same.
- saghm 3mo ago
  I was going to say the same thing. I've been using it close to a decade and I've yet to encounter a circumstance where anything I've used has even seemed aware of the fact that I'm using it rather than a more "traditional" carrier. Conflating both of those would be like saying you need to watch your blood and sugar if you consume a lot of Nestles Crunch bars or Nestle bottled water.
zdw 3mo ago
Blocking specific service providers in this way should be made illegal. It's an abuse of market power primarily used to eliminate competition.
- jitix 3mo ago
  How is it eliminating market competition? Uber, etc don’t compete with google voice and similar services. And its a valid reason for preventing scammers. I am literally tired of scammers on every single app. I still want an open internet but I think ALL phone numbers should be tied to real human identity and geolocation. Yes, it seems dystopian but it’s no different than the time when we only had landlines with verified callers. Democracy is as fine back then, maybe even better. Some structure and verification around telecommunications will go a long way towards improving the experience for everyone even if it hurts the libertarian part of my brain.
  - ToucanLoucan 3mo ago
    The problem is that scammers juice engagement numbers and everything right now makes money via user engagement. The platforms are incentivized to not punish scammers, spammers, etc. one ounce more than they can manage without pissing off their users.
    - LPisGood 3mo ago
      That’s why platform providers should not be the primary rule makers; there is a fundamental problem of incentives.
      - jitix 3mo ago
        Its a market positioning thing. I will pay platforms that reduce my daily friction over those that don’t. You may not. The overall market sentiment will determine which companies win. I’m saying this as someone who moved 100% off of public cloud storage recently and who has self hosted my own email from 2010 to 2017. Phone numbers is one thing where I want less privacy. I personally can vet but it’s still super annoying. Non technical users fall for scams all the time. I literally want people’s IDs be linked to phone numbers. I’m literally TIRED of screening calls even though Apple made it easier recently. Agree to disagree, sorry. Edit: I want every phone number calling me to be linked with a physical ID and address (whether individual or legal entity) and accessible via a single button tap. In 2026 there is no reason for someone to call someone anonymously.
bastawhiz 3mo ago
I've used Google Voice since it was Grand Central and switched to Fi the month it came out, and I have never experienced what you're describing.
fragmede 3mo ago
switching to voice calls seems to help.
snowwrestler 3mo ago
Nah, this is not correct. The Gizmo watches work fine with the GizmoHub app, but not the new Verizon Family app. You have to authenticate in both apps. I have Verizon service and use a Google Voice number as my MFA and it has worked fine for many years: in the GizmoHub app, in the Verizon website, and in the My Verizon app. The only place I can’t properly authenticate is the new Verizon Family app. They just screwed up that new app.
jefftk 3mo ago
A Verizon tech called me yesterday and told me that they were not going to take Gizmohub down until they'd resolved these issues. They also walked me through getting set up, including getting me the 2FA code that was not coming through. Apparently delivery of 2FA codes to Google Fi has been an issue for them. After our call I saw that this 2FA code (but not the earlier codes) did actually come through under "Spam and Blocked", so if others are having issues I'd recommend looking there.

colechristensen 3mo ago

Google Voice? (and other strictly VoIP services) Absolutely. I've never had a single problem with Google Fi.

Beijinger 3mo ago
Try WISE With Google FI
- agolliver 3mo ago
  The money transfer app? Works perfectly fine.
  - Beijinger 3mo ago
    Abroad? With Google Fi?
natebc 3mo ago
Same, they must mean Google Voice. I've used Google Fi for gosh, 8-9+ years (honestly don't remember, but a good long while) and I've had ZERO problems with anything relating to using it as my cell provider.
jayknight 3mo ago
Me neither, but I moved a T Mobile number to Fi. It could be different with numbers originally designated to Fi.
- natebc 3mo ago
  Where I live (Durham, NC) Google Fi's MNO is T-Mobile so they're effectively the same.
saghm 3mo ago
I was going to say the same thing. I've been using it close to a decade and I've yet to encounter a circumstance where anything I've used has even seemed aware of the fact that I'm using it rather than a more "traditional" carrier. Conflating both of those would be like saying you need to watch your blood and sugar if you consume a lot of Nestles Crunch bars or Nestle bottled water.

zdw 3mo ago

Blocking specific service providers in this way should be made illegal. It's an abuse of market power primarily used to eliminate competition.

jitix 3mo ago
How is it eliminating market competition? Uber, etc don’t compete with google voice and similar services. And its a valid reason for preventing scammers. I am literally tired of scammers on every single app. I still want an open internet but I think ALL phone numbers should be tied to real human identity and geolocation. Yes, it seems dystopian but it’s no different than the time when we only had landlines with verified callers. Democracy is as fine back then, maybe even better. Some structure and verification around telecommunications will go a long way towards improving the experience for everyone even if it hurts the libertarian part of my brain.
- ToucanLoucan 3mo ago
  The problem is that scammers juice engagement numbers and everything right now makes money via user engagement. The platforms are incentivized to not punish scammers, spammers, etc. one ounce more than they can manage without pissing off their users.
  - LPisGood 3mo ago
    That’s why platform providers should not be the primary rule makers; there is a fundamental problem of incentives.
    - jitix 3mo ago
      Its a market positioning thing. I will pay platforms that reduce my daily friction over those that don’t. You may not. The overall market sentiment will determine which companies win. I’m saying this as someone who moved 100% off of public cloud storage recently and who has self hosted my own email from 2010 to 2017. Phone numbers is one thing where I want less privacy. I personally can vet but it’s still super annoying. Non technical users fall for scams all the time. I literally want people’s IDs be linked to phone numbers. I’m literally TIRED of screening calls even though Apple made it easier recently. Agree to disagree, sorry. Edit: I want every phone number calling me to be linked with a physical ID and address (whether individual or legal entity) and accessible via a single button tap. In 2026 there is no reason for someone to call someone anonymously.

bastawhiz 3mo ago

I've used Google Voice since it was Grand Central and switched to Fi the month it came out, and I have never experienced what you're describing.

fragmede 3mo ago

switching to voice calls seems to help.

snowwrestler 3mo ago

Nah, this is not correct. The Gizmo watches work fine with the GizmoHub app, but not the new Verizon Family app. You have to authenticate in both apps. I have Verizon service and use a Google Voice number as my MFA and it has worked fine for many years: in the GizmoHub app, in the Verizon website, and in the My Verizon app. The only place I can’t properly authenticate is the new Verizon Family app. They just screwed up that new app.

jefftk 3mo ago

A Verizon tech called me yesterday and told me that they were not going to take Gizmohub down until they'd resolved these issues. They also walked me through getting set up, including getting me the 2FA code that was not coming through. Apparently delivery of 2FA codes to Google Fi has been an issue for them. After our call I saw that this 2FA code (but not the earlier codes) did actually come through under "Spam and Blocked", so if others are having issues I'd recommend looking there.