How to disable call forwarding on your phone
Call forwarding sends incoming calls to a different number — usually another phone, a voicemail service, or a business line. To stop this, you need to access your phone's settings or contact your carrier, depending on whether the forwarding is set up on your device or through your service plan. The steps differ between iPhone and Android, and between carriers, so the method depends on what you're using.
Most people set up call forwarding themselves and forget about it, or inherit it from a previous owner. If you're not sure whether it's active, you can check your phone's settings first before contacting your carrier.
Key Takeaways
- Call forwarding can be turned off in your phone's settings on both iPhone and Android, usually under Call Settings or Phone Settings.
- If you cannot find the setting on your phone, your carrier may have set it up through your account, and you will need to contact them to disable it.
- Some carriers charge a small monthly fee for call forwarding, so disabling it may lower your bill.
- If you share a phone plan with others, check whether call forwarding is set up on your individual line before assuming it is a device setting.
Disabling call forwarding on iPhone
On iPhone, call forwarding lives in the Phone app settings. Open the Phone app, tap Settings (the gear icon at the bottom right), then tap Call Forwarding. If the toggle is on, tap it to turn it off. That's the complete process for device-level forwarding.
If you don't see a Call Forwarding option in the Phone app settings, your carrier may have set it up at the account level instead. In that case, you'll need to contact your carrier directly — the setting won't appear on your phone because it's controlled through their network.
Disabling call forwarding on Android
Android's location for this setting varies by manufacturer and carrier. On most phones, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu (or Settings), then look for Call Settings or Call Forwarding. The exact name and location depend on your phone's brand — Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and others place it differently.
If you cannot find it in the Phone app, try opening Settings, then searching for "call forwarding" using the search bar at the top. This usually surfaces the right menu regardless of your phone's manufacturer. If the search returns nothing, your carrier has set it up on their end, and you'll need to contact them.
Checking with your carrier
If call forwarding isn't in your phone's settings, or if you've turned it off on your device but calls are still forwarding, your carrier has activated it through your account. This is common when you've switched phones, changed plans, or inherited a line from someone else.
Contact your carrier's customer service — you can usually find the number on your bill or on their website. Tell them you want to disable call forwarding on your line. They can turn it off immediately and confirm it's been removed. Some carriers also let you manage this through their website or app, so ask whether that's an option.
Why call forwarding might be active
Call forwarding is usually set up intentionally — to send work calls to your personal phone, or to route calls while you're away. But it can also be active without your knowledge if someone else set it up, if you inherited the phone number from a previous owner, or if your carrier activated it as part of a service package.
If you find call forwarding is on and you didn't set it up, check whether anyone else has access to your account. If you share a family plan, another account holder may have enabled it. If you're the only one with access and you didn't do it, contact your carrier to ask when it was activated and by whom.
What happens when you disable call forwarding
Once you turn off call forwarding, calls will ring on your phone directly instead of being sent elsewhere. If you were forwarding to voicemail, calls will go to your phone's voicemail instead of a separate number. If you were forwarding to another device, that device will stop receiving your calls.
If your carrier was charging a monthly fee for call forwarding, that charge should disappear from your next bill. Some carriers charge $1 to $5 per month, though this varies. If the fee doesn't drop after a billing cycle, contact your carrier to confirm the service was removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if call forwarding is turned on?
On iPhone, open the Phone app, tap Settings, and look at Call Forwarding — if it's on, you'll see a toggle that's switched on and a number listed. On Android, the method varies by phone, but you can search "call forwarding" in Settings to find it. If you see a number listed next to Call Forwarding, it's active.
Can I disable call forwarding if I don't know the forwarding number?
Yes. On your phone, you can simply turn off the toggle or setting without needing to know where calls were going. If it's set up through your carrier, contact them and ask them to disable it — they can do this without you providing the forwarding number.
Will disabling call forwarding affect my voicemail?
No. Call forwarding and voicemail are separate services. Disabling call forwarding means calls ring on your phone instead of going elsewhere, but voicemail will still work normally when you don't answer.
What if I want to keep call forwarding but change where calls go?
On your phone, go back to the Call Forwarding setting and enter a new number instead of turning it off. If your carrier set it up, contact them with the new number and they'll update it for you.
Does disabling call forwarding on my phone also disable it on my carrier's network?
Not necessarily. If you disabled it in your phone's settings but your carrier also has it set up on their end, calls may still forward. Contact your carrier to confirm it's been removed from their system as well.