Phone Number Setup

Your AI receptionist needs a phone number to receive calls. You have two options: get a new number from TawkBase or forward your existing business number.

Option 1: Get a New TawkBase Number

Perfect if you’re starting fresh or want a dedicated number for your AI receptionist.

How to Get a Number

1. Go to Phone Number in the menu
2. Click “Search for a Number”
3. Enter your area code or city name
4. Browse available numbers
5. Click “Purchase” on your preferred number
6. Your number is active immediately

Choosing the Right Number

Local Numbers: Choose a number in your city’s area code to appear local to customers.

Toll-Free Numbers: Get an 800, 888, 877, or similar number for a professional nationwide presence.

Vanity Numbers: Search for numbers with memorable patterns or digits that spell words.

Option 2: Forward Your Existing Number

Keep your current business number and have calls answered by your AI receptionist.

How Call Forwarding Works

1. Customers call your existing business number
2. Your phone provider forwards the call to your TawkBase number
3. Your AI receptionist answers the call
4. You keep your existing number - customers never know the difference

Setting Up Call Forwarding

Step 1: Get Your TawkBase Number

1. Go to Phone Number in TawkBase
2. Copy your TawkBase forwarding number

Step 2: Contact Your Provider Call your phone provider and request call forwarding to your TawkBase number.

Step 3: Test It Call your business number to verify calls are being forwarded correctly.

Common Phone Providers

Most business phone providers support call forwarding:

• Traditional landline providers
• VoIP services (RingCentral, Vonage, 8x8)
• Mobile carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile)
• Cloud phone systems (Grasshopper, Phone.com)

Managing Your Phone Number

Viewing Your Number

Your active phone number is displayed in:

• Dashboard home screen
• Phone Number settings page
• Organization details

Changing Your Number

Need a different number?

1. Go to Phone Number settings
2. Click “Change Number”
3. Search for and select a new number
4. Your old number is released, new number activates immediately

Releasing Your Number

If you no longer need your TawkBase number:

1. Go to Phone Number settings
2. Click “Release Number”
3. Confirm the release

Released numbers return to the available pool and cannot be recovered.

Multiple Numbers

Need more than one number? Create additional organizations.

Troubleshooting

Calls aren’t being received

• Verify your number is active in the dashboard
• If using call forwarding, confirm it’s set up correctly with your provider
• Test by calling your number directly

Call forwarding not working

• Double-check the forwarding number with your provider
• Ensure call forwarding is enabled (not just set up)
• Try disabling and re-enabling call forwarding

Number search shows no results

• Try a different area code
• Search by city name instead of area code
• Contact support if you need a specific number