Call forwarding stops when you turn it off in your phone settings or contact your carrier

Call forwarding is a feature that sends incoming calls to a different phone number — usually another device you own, or a number you've set up temporarily. To stop it, you need to know which method you used to turn it on, because the steps to turn it off depend on that. Most people can disable it in their phone's settings within a minute or two. If you set it up through your carrier instead, you'll need to contact them or use their online account.

The fastest way to find out which method you used is to check your phone's settings first. If you don't find call forwarding there, your carrier set it up, and you'll need to call them or log into your account online.

Key Takeaways

  • Call forwarding set up in your phone's settings can be turned off in the same place — usually under Phone Settings or Call Settings, depending on your device type.
  • If you don't see call forwarding in your phone settings, your carrier (like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile) set it up, and you'll need to contact them to turn it off.
  • On iPhone, look under Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding; on Android, check Settings > Phone > Advanced > Call Forwarding or a similar path depending on your phone model.
  • Carrier-based call forwarding can also be disabled by dialing a code like ##21# on some networks, though this varies by provider.

Turning off call forwarding on iPhone

Open Settings on your iPhone 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 gray, and call forwarding is now disabled.

If you don't see Call Forwarding in the Phone settings menu, your carrier set it up instead of your phone. In that case, skip to the carrier section below.

Turning off call forwarding on Android

The exact path varies depending on your phone's manufacturer and Android version, but the general route is: open Settings, tap Phone or Call Settings, then look for Call Forwarding or Call Divert. Tap it, and you should see options for Voice Call Forwarding. Select the option that says Off, Disable, or None.

Some Android phones put this under Settings > Advanced > Call Settings instead. If you can't find it after checking both paths, search "call forwarding" in your phone's Settings search bar — most Android phones have one at the top of the Settings app. If the search returns nothing, your carrier set it up, and you'll need to contact them.

Disabling call forwarding through your carrier

If call forwarding isn't in your phone's settings, your carrier activated it. You have two options: call your carrier's customer service line, or log into your account online and turn it off yourself.

To call your carrier, use the number on the back of your phone bill or SIM card. Tell them you want to disable call forwarding. They'll ask for your account number or the phone number the forwarding is set up on, then turn it off for you — this usually takes less than five minutes.

To do it online, log into your carrier's website or app. Look for a section called Phone Settings, Call Settings, or Account Settings. Find Call Forwarding and toggle it off. The exact location varies by carrier, but most have a search function in their account portal.

Using a code to disable call forwarding

Some carriers allow you to disable call forwarding by dialing a code directly from your phone. The most common code is ##21# — dial this number as if you're making a call, and your phone will send the command to your carrier. Your phone may show a message confirming that call forwarding has been disabled.

This method works on many networks but not all. If you dial ##21# and nothing happens, or if you get an error message, your carrier doesn't support this code. In that case, use the phone call or online account method instead.

What to do if call forwarding won't turn off

If you've turned off call forwarding in your settings but calls are still going to the other number, restart your phone. Power it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and power it back on. This clears your phone's connection to your carrier's network and often fixes settings that didn't take effect the first time.

If restarting doesn't work, contact your carrier. It's possible the forwarding is set up at the carrier level even though you don't see it in your phone settings, or there's a technical issue preventing the change from going through. Your carrier can check their system and disable it on their end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off call forwarding affect my voicemail?

No. Call forwarding and voicemail are separate features. Turning off call forwarding won't change where your voicemail goes or how it works. Your voicemail will continue to work the same way it did before.

Can I turn off call forwarding if I don't remember setting it up?

Yes. Even if you don't remember turning it on, you can turn it off using the same steps. Check your phone settings first, and if you don't find it there, contact your carrier. They can see what forwarding is set up on your account and disable it for you.

Does call forwarding use extra data or minutes?

Call forwarding itself doesn't use data, but the calls that get forwarded still count as minutes on your plan. If calls are being forwarded to another phone, those minutes come out of whichever plan the forwarded calls are going to, not your original phone.

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

You can turn it back on the same way you turned it off. Go to your phone settings or contact your carrier, and select the option to enable call forwarding. You'll need to enter the phone number you want calls forwarded to.