Cancel call transfer by going to your phone's settings and finding the call forwarding option, then selecting the option to turn it off or delete the forwarding number
Call transfer — also called call forwarding — sends incoming calls to a different phone number instead of ringing on your device. If you set this up and now want to stop it, the steps depend on what kind of phone you have and whether you use your carrier's forwarding service or your phone's built-in feature.
The fastest way is usually through your phone's settings. On most phones, you can turn off call forwarding in under a minute without calling your carrier. If you cannot find the setting on your phone, your carrier's customer service line can disable it for you in one call.
Key Takeaways
- Call forwarding on iPhones is turned off in Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding by toggling the switch to off.
- Android phones typically have call forwarding in Settings > Advanced Calling or Settings > Call Settings, where you can select "Turn off" or delete the forwarding number.
- If you cannot find the setting on your phone, your carrier can disable call forwarding over the phone in minutes.
- Some carriers charge a small monthly fee for call forwarding, which will stop once you turn it off.
- Turning off call forwarding does not delete your voicemail or affect incoming calls that go to voicemail.
Cancel call forwarding on an iPhone
Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Phone. Scroll down until you see Call Forwarding and tap it. You will see a toggle switch next to "Call Forwarding" — tap it to turn it off. The switch will turn gray when it is off, and calls will no longer forward to another number.
If you do not see Call Forwarding in the Phone settings, your carrier may not support this feature on your account, or you may not have set it up through your phone. In that case, contact your carrier directly to ask them to disable any forwarding they have on file for your number.
Cancel call forwarding on an Android phone
The exact location varies by phone model and carrier, but the process is similar. Open Settings and look for Phone, Call Settings, or Advanced Calling. Tap Call Forwarding or Call Transfer. You should see a list of forwarding options — tap the one that is currently active (usually labeled "Always Forward" or "Forward All Calls") and select "Turn off" or "Disable."
If you see a phone number listed under the forwarding option, you can also tap it and delete the number, which will stop the forwarding. If you cannot find Call Forwarding in your settings after checking Phone, Call Settings, and Advanced Calling, your phone may not have this feature built in, and you will need to contact your carrier to turn it off on their end.
Turn off call forwarding through your carrier
If you cannot find the setting on your phone or prefer to have your carrier handle it, call your carrier's customer service number. This number is usually on your bill, on the back of your SIM card, or on your carrier's website. Tell them you want to turn off call forwarding, and they will disable it on your account.
Some carriers also let you manage call forwarding through their website or mobile app. Log into your account, look for a Phone Settings or Call Management section, and find the call forwarding option. You should be able to turn it off or remove the forwarding number from there.
What happens when you turn off call forwarding
Once you turn off call forwarding, all incoming calls will ring on your phone as normal instead of going to the other number. If someone calls while your phone is off or you do not answer, the call will go to your voicemail as it did before you set up forwarding.
Turning off call forwarding does not affect your voicemail, text messages, or any other phone features. If your carrier was charging you a monthly fee for call forwarding (some carriers do, though many do not), that charge will stop appearing on your next bill.
If call forwarding turns back on by itself
Occasionally call forwarding will reactivate on its own, usually because a setting was accidentally changed or because your phone received a software update that reset some features. If this happens, go back to your phone's settings and turn it off again using the steps above.
If it keeps turning back on after you disable it multiple times, restart your phone and try again. If the problem continues, contact your carrier — they may have call forwarding set up on their end as well as on your phone, and both need to be turned off for it to stay off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off call forwarding delete my voicemail?
No. Turning off call forwarding does not affect voicemail. Calls that go unanswered will still go to voicemail as they normally do. Call forwarding only changes where calls go when you are available to answer them.
Can I turn off call forwarding without calling my carrier?
Yes, in most cases. Check your phone's settings first using the steps above for your phone type. If you find the call forwarding option, you can turn it off right there. You only need to call your carrier if you cannot find the setting on your phone or if your carrier set up forwarding on their end.
What if I turned on call forwarding but forgot the number I forwarded to?
Go to your phone's call forwarding settings and you should see the number listed there. If you still cannot find it, call your carrier and they can tell you what number is set up on your account. Once you know the number, you can turn off the forwarding or change it to a different number.
Does turning off call forwarding cost anything?
Turning it off is free. Some carriers charge a small monthly fee to have call forwarding available on your account, but that fee will stop once you disable the feature. Check your next bill to confirm the charge is gone.
Can I turn off call forwarding for only certain callers?
No. Call forwarding forwards all incoming calls to the number you set, or none at all. If you want to forward calls from specific people only, you would need to use a different feature like Do Not Disturb or a contacts-based rule, which your phone may support depending on the model.