How to stop forwarding calls on your phone
The steps to cancel call forwarding depend on your phone type and carrier. On most smartphones, you can turn it off directly in your phone settings without contacting your carrier. If you set up forwarding through your carrier's website or by dialing a code, you'll need to reverse that same method. The fastest route is usually your phone's built-in settings, which takes under a minute.
Call forwarding can be set up in three different ways: through your phone's native settings, through your carrier's online account, or through dial codes that your carrier supports. Each method has its own cancellation process. Knowing which one you used matters, because turning off forwarding in settings won't work if you set it up through your carrier instead.
Key Takeaways
- Most phones let you turn off call forwarding in Settings under Phone or Call Settings, without contacting your carrier.
- If you set up forwarding by dialing a code like *21# or through your carrier's website, you must use that same method to turn it off.
- Turning off forwarding in your phone settings does not affect forwarding set up through your carrier's account.
- If you cannot find the setting or the forwarding persists after you turn it off, contact your carrier's customer service to check their account.
Cancel forwarding on iPhone
On iPhone, open Settings and tap Phone. Scroll down and tap Call Forwarding. If the toggle is on (green), tap it to turn it off. The forwarding will stop immediately. If you don't see a Call Forwarding option, your carrier may not support this feature in Settings, or forwarding may have been set up through your carrier's account instead.
If Call Forwarding is already off but calls are still forwarding, the forwarding was likely set up through your carrier's website or by dialing a code. Check your carrier's website or contact them directly. Some carriers also let you manage call forwarding through their mobile app.
Cancel forwarding on Android
On Android, the location varies by manufacturer and carrier. Open the Phone app and tap the three-dot menu (or look for Settings). Look for Call Settings, Call Forwarding, or Forwarding Options. Tap Call Forwarding and select Voice Call Forwarding or a similar option. You should see a toggle or radio button to turn it off. Tap it and confirm.
If you cannot find Call Forwarding in your Phone app settings, try opening your carrier's app or visiting their website. Some Android phones also let you access call forwarding through the main Settings app under Phone or Network settings, though the exact path depends on your phone model and carrier.
Cancel forwarding set up through your carrier
If you set up call forwarding by dialing a code, you can turn it off the same way. The most common code is ##21# (dial this, then press Call). This disables all call forwarding on your account. Other carriers use different codes — check your carrier's website or call their customer service to confirm the right code for your account.
You can also log into your carrier's website or app and look for Call Forwarding, Call Management, or a similar option under your account settings. Turn off the forwarding there. Changes made through your carrier's account usually take effect within a few minutes, though some carriers may take up to an hour.
What to do if forwarding won't turn off
If you turned off call forwarding in your phone settings but calls are still forwarding, check whether it was set up through your carrier instead. Log into your carrier's website or app and look for call forwarding settings there. You may need to turn it off in both places.
If forwarding persists after you've checked both your phone and your carrier's account, contact your carrier's customer service. Explain that you've turned off call forwarding in your settings and through their website, but it's still active. They can check your account and disable it on their end. Have your phone number and account information ready.
Forwarding vs. Do Not Disturb and other settings
Call forwarding is different from Do Not Disturb, which silences incoming calls but doesn't send them anywhere. Do Not Disturb on iPhone is in Settings under Focus or Do Not Disturb. On Android, it's usually in Settings under Notifications or Sound. Turning off Do Not Disturb won't affect call forwarding, and turning off call forwarding won't affect Do Not Disturb.
Some phones also have a Call Screening or Call Filter feature, which blocks or screens certain calls without forwarding them. These are separate from call forwarding and won't interfere with it. If you're trying to stop calls from reaching a specific number, check whether you've set up call screening or a block list instead.
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 your voicemail settings. If you want to turn off voicemail, that's a different setting in your phone or carrier account.
Can I turn off forwarding for only certain numbers?
Most phones and carriers don't offer selective forwarding cancellation — you either forward all calls or none. If you want to forward calls from only certain contacts, check your phone's Do Not Disturb or Focus settings, which let you allow calls from specific people while silencing others.
How long does it take for call forwarding to turn off?
If you turn it off in your phone settings, it stops immediately. If you turn it off through your carrier's website or by dialing a code, it usually takes a few minutes to an hour. If it hasn't stopped after an hour, contact your carrier.
What if I don't remember where I set up the forwarding?
Start by checking your phone's call settings. If it's off there but calls are still forwarding, log into your carrier's website or app and look for call forwarding options. If you still can't find it, call your carrier's customer service and ask them to check your account and disable any active forwarding.
Does canceling call forwarding delete my forwarding number?
Turning off call forwarding disables it, but most phones and carriers keep the forwarding number saved. If you turn forwarding back on later, it will use the same number. If you want to remove the number entirely, look for a Delete or Clear option in your call forwarding settings.