The fastest way to cancel call forwarding depends on your phone type and carrier

Call forwarding is a feature that sends incoming calls to a different number — usually another phone, a voicemail box, or a business line. To turn it off, you typically dial a code into your phone's keypad, change a setting in your phone's menu, or contact your carrier. The exact steps depend on whether you have an iPhone, Android phone, or a landline, and whether your carrier is a major one like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile or a smaller provider.

Most people can disable call forwarding in under a minute using a phone code. If that does not work, your phone's settings menu or a call to your carrier will get the job done.

Key Takeaways

  • On any phone, dial ##21# and press call to turn off all call forwarding immediately — this works on most carriers and phone types.
  • iPhone users can also go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding and toggle it off, which shows the forwarding number before you disable it.
  • Android users should check Settings > Call Settings > Call Forwarding (exact menu names vary by phone maker and carrier).
  • If codes and settings do not work, call your carrier's customer service number on your bill — they can disable it from their end in seconds.
  • Some carriers charge a small monthly fee for call forwarding; turning it off stops the charge.

Disabling call forwarding with a phone code

The quickest method works on nearly all phones and carriers. Open your phone's keypad and dial ##21#, then press the call button. Your phone will display a message confirming that call forwarding has been disabled. This code works on iPhones, Android phones, and most landlines.

If ##21# does not work, try *21# followed by the call button. Some carriers use this format instead. If neither code works, move to the settings method or contact your carrier.

Turning off call forwarding on iPhone

Open the Settings app and tap Phone. Scroll down and tap Call Forwarding. If the toggle next to Call Forwarding is green (on), tap it to turn it off. The screen will show you which number calls were being forwarded to before you disabled it.

If you do not see the Call Forwarding option in the Phone settings, your carrier may not support this menu control. In that case, use the ##21# code method or contact your carrier directly.

Turning off call forwarding on Android

The steps vary slightly depending on your phone maker and carrier. Open the Phone app and look for a menu icon (three dots or lines) in the top right or bottom right corner. Tap it and look for Settings or Call Settings. From there, find Call Forwarding or Call Divert.

Tap Call Forwarding and select the option to turn it off or disable it. Some Android phones label this as "Disable All Forwarding" or "Cancel All Forwarding." If you cannot find the option in your phone's settings, the ##21# code will work instead.

Canceling call forwarding through your carrier

If the phone codes and settings menu do not work, call your carrier's customer service number. This number is on your monthly bill, on your carrier's website, or on the back of your SIM card. Tell the representative you want to disable call forwarding on your account.

The representative can turn it off from their system in seconds. They can also tell you if you were being charged a monthly fee for the feature — some carriers charge $0.50 to $2 per month — and confirm that the charge will stop. Keep the confirmation number they provide in case you need to reference the change later.

What happens after you disable call forwarding

Once call forwarding is off, all incoming calls will ring only on your phone. They will not go to another number, voicemail, or business line unless you set up a different feature like conditional call forwarding (which sends calls only when your phone is busy or unanswered).

If you turned off call forwarding because you were being charged a fee, that charge should disappear from your next bill. If it does not, contact your carrier and reference the confirmation number from when you disabled it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling call forwarding affect my voicemail?

No. Call forwarding and voicemail are separate features. Turning off call forwarding means calls will not go to another phone number, but they will still reach your voicemail if you do not answer. Voicemail settings are controlled separately in your phone's settings or through your carrier.

Can I turn off call forwarding for only certain callers?

Not with standard call forwarding. However, many phones support conditional call forwarding, which forwards calls only when your phone is busy or you do not answer within a set time. You can disable all forwarding with ##21# and then set up conditional forwarding if you need it for specific situations.

Why does the ##21# code not work on my phone?

Some carriers use different codes or do not support this method. Try *21# instead. If neither works, check your phone's settings menu for a Call Forwarding or Call Divert option. If you still cannot find it, your carrier may require you to call customer service to disable it.

Will I be charged if I turn off call forwarding mid-month?

Most carriers do not charge a prorated fee if you disable call forwarding partway through your billing cycle. The feature charge should simply stop on your next bill. If you see a charge after disabling it, contact your carrier to request a credit.

What if I want to turn call forwarding back on later?

You can re-enable it using the same methods. Dial *21*[phone number]# to turn it back on and forward calls to a specific number, or use your phone's settings menu. Your carrier can also re-enable it if you call customer service.