Call divert stops working the moment you turn it off

Call divert (also called call forwarding) is a phone feature that sends incoming calls to a different number — another phone, voicemail, or a service. To stop it, you go into your phone's settings or dial a code, depending on your phone type and carrier. The exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or a landline, and whether your carrier is the one running the divert or your phone is.

The good news: you do not need to contact your carrier to turn it off. Most diversions can be cancelled in seconds from your phone itself.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone users turn off call divert in Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding, then tap the toggle to off.
  • Android users go to Phone > Settings > Call Settings > Call Forwarding and select the option to turn it off or clear the forwarding number.
  • If you do not see call forwarding in your phone settings, your carrier may be running it — dial *#21# to check what is active and *21# to cancel it.
  • Landline users should check their phone's display panel or dial *21# to turn off divert, or contact their provider if those do not work.
  • Call divert set up through a third-party app (like Google Voice) must be turned off in that app's settings, not in your phone settings.

How to turn off call divert on iPhone

Open Settings 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 toggle will turn grey, and calls will stop being forwarded immediately.

If you do not see Call Forwarding in the Phone settings menu, your carrier may be running the divert instead of your phone. In that case, use the carrier code method below.

How to turn off call divert on Android

Open the Phone app and tap the three-dot menu (or Settings, depending on your phone). Look for Call Settings or Call Forwarding. Tap Call Forwarding. You will see options like "Always Forward", "Forward When Busy", or "Forward When Unanswered". Tap each one and select "Disable" or "Turn Off", or clear the phone number in the field.

Some Android phones show a toggle instead of a menu — if so, tap it to turn forwarding off. If you cannot find Call Forwarding in your phone settings at all, your carrier is running it, and you should use the carrier code method below.

Using carrier codes to turn off call divert

If call forwarding does not appear in your phone settings, your carrier (like Vodafone, O2, EE, or your mobile provider) is managing it. You can turn it off by dialling a code from your phone.

Dial *21# and press call. This cancels all active call forwarding on your account. You will see a message on screen confirming it is off. If you set up different types of forwarding (forward when busy, forward when unanswered), you may need to dial the code for each type:

  • *61# cancels "forward when unanswered"
  • *67# cancels "forward when busy"
  • *62# cancels "forward when unreachable"

To check what forwarding is currently active without turning it off, dial *#21# and press call. Your phone will display which numbers (if any) are set up to receive your calls.

Turning off call divert on a landline

Landline call divert is usually managed through your phone's handset or a control panel on the phone itself. Look for a button or display showing "Divert" or "Call Forward". Press it to toggle the feature off. Some landlines show a light that goes out when divert is cancelled.

If your landline does not have a control panel, dial *21# from the landline itself to turn off divert. If that does not work, contact your landline provider — they may be running the divert from their system, and you will need them to cancel it.

Cancelling call divert set up through an app

If you set up call forwarding through Google Voice, Skype, WhatsApp, or another app, turning off your phone's call forwarding will not stop it. You must turn it off in the app itself.

Open the app, go to Settings or Preferences, find the Call Forwarding or Call Settings section, and turn off the feature or delete the forwarding number. Each app is different — if you are not sure where the setting is, search the app's help section for "call forwarding" or "call divert".

What to do if call divert will not turn off

If you have turned off call forwarding in your phone settings but calls are still being forwarded, your carrier is running the divert. Try the carrier codes above. If those do not work, restart your phone and try again — sometimes the setting does not take effect until the phone restarts.

If call divert still will not turn off after restarting, contact your carrier. Tell them you have turned off call forwarding in your phone settings and tried the cancellation codes, but calls are still being forwarded. They can check their system and turn it off from their end. You will need to provide your phone number and confirm your identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off call divert affect my voicemail?

No. Call divert and voicemail are separate features. Turning off call divert means calls will not go to another number, but they will still go to voicemail if you do not answer. Voicemail has its own settings if you want to turn that off too.

Will my contacts know I have turned off call divert?

No. Turning off call divert is invisible to the people calling you. They will simply reach you on your normal phone number instead of the forwarded number.

Can I turn off call divert for only certain people?

Most phones do not have a built-in way to forward calls from only some contacts. You would need to use a third-party app like Google Voice or a call-filtering app to set rules for specific people. Check your phone's app store for "call forwarding" or "call filtering" apps if you need that level of control.

What if I forgot which number I set call divert to?

Dial *#21# from your phone and press call. Your phone will display the number that calls are being forwarded to. Once you see it, you can decide whether to turn off the divert or change it to a different number.

Do I need to contact my carrier to turn off call divert?

Usually no. Most diversions can be turned off from your phone settings or by dialling a code. Contact your carrier only if those methods do not work, or if your carrier is the one that set up the divert (which you can confirm by checking your phone settings first).