What call forwarding does and where to find it

Call forwarding sends incoming calls from your phone number to a different phone number you choose. When someone calls you, their call rings on the other number instead of your phone. You can forward all calls, or only calls that come in when you don't answer.

Call forwarding is a feature built into most phone services — whether you use a landline, mobile phone, or internet-based phone service. The steps to turn it on depend on which type of phone service you have and which phone you're using. Most people can set it up in under a minute without calling customer support.

Common reasons to use call forwarding include directing work calls to your cell phone while you're away from your desk, sending calls to a colleague when you're on vacation, or routing calls to a different location during business hours.

Key Takeaways

  • Call forwarding is a built-in feature on most phone services and can be turned on through your phone's settings, your carrier's website, or a simple code you dial.
  • On iPhone, use Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding; on Android, the location varies by manufacturer but is usually in Settings > Call Settings or Advanced Settings.
  • Mobile carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile let you manage call forwarding through their websites or apps, and some charge a small monthly fee while others include it free.
  • Landline and internet phone services (like Vonage or Ooma) typically offer call forwarding through their online account portal or by dialing a code like *72.
  • When you turn on call forwarding, calls stop ringing on your original phone and ring only on the forwarded number, so callers won't know the call was redirected.

iPhone call forwarding

On iPhone, open Settings, tap Phone, then tap Call Forwarding. Toggle it on, then enter the phone number where you want calls to go. The number must be a complete phone number including the area code. Once you confirm, a message appears saying "Call Forwarding is On" with the forwarded number displayed.

To turn call forwarding off, return to the same menu and toggle it off. Your phone will show a small arrow icon in the status bar at the top when call forwarding is active, so you can see at a glance that it's running.

If you have multiple phone lines through your carrier (for example, a personal line and a business line), each line can have its own forwarding number set independently.

Android call forwarding

On Android phones, the exact location of call forwarding varies by manufacturer. On most phones, open Settings, look for Call Settings or Advanced Settings, then find Call Forwarding. Some phones organize it under Calls or Phone instead.

Once you find it, you'll usually see options like "Forward All Calls," "Forward When Busy," "Forward When Unanswered," and "Forward When Unreachable." Select the type you want, enter the forwarding number, and save. The phone will confirm the setting is active.

If you can't find call forwarding in your phone's settings, contact your mobile carrier — they can tell you the exact menu path for your specific phone model, or they can set it up for you through their website or app.

Forwarding through your mobile carrier's website or app

Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and other major carriers let you manage call forwarding through their websites and mobile apps. Log into your account, look for a section called "Phone Settings," "Call Settings," or "Manage Services," and find the call forwarding option there.

Using your carrier's website or app has one advantage: you can turn call forwarding on or off without touching your phone, which is useful if you've lost your phone or if you want to manage settings for a family member's line. Some carriers also let you set up rules — for example, forward calls only during certain hours or only when your phone is off.

Check your carrier's pricing page to see whether call forwarding is included free or costs a small monthly fee. Most major carriers include basic call forwarding at no extra charge, but some charge $3 to $5 per month for advanced features like conditional forwarding.

Landline and internet phone call forwarding

If you have a traditional landline or an internet-based phone service like Vonage, Ooma, or MagicJack, call forwarding is usually managed through your online account portal. Log in, find the phone number you want to forward, and look for a "Call Forwarding" or "Call Routing" option. Enter the destination number and save.

Many landline and internet phone services also support dialing a code to turn call forwarding on or off without logging into your account. The most common code is *72 followed by the phone number (for example, *72-555-1234). After you dial it, you'll hear a confirmation tone. To turn it off, dial *73. These codes work on most services, but check your provider's documentation to confirm.

Some internet phone services charge a monthly fee for call forwarding, while others include it free. A few services limit how many numbers you can forward to, so check your plan details if you need to forward to multiple locations.

Conditional call forwarding — forward only when you don't answer

Instead of forwarding all incoming calls, you can set up conditional forwarding to send calls only when you don't pick up your phone. This is useful if you want to stay reachable but also want a backup number to catch calls you miss.

On iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding, but before you turn it on, look for options like "Forward When Unanswered" or "Forward When Unreachable." On Android, the same options usually appear in your call settings menu. You can typically set how many seconds the phone rings before the call forwards — usually between 5 and 30 seconds.

If your phone service doesn't offer conditional forwarding through the phone itself, your carrier's website or app may have it. Verizon calls this "Call Forward When Busy/No Answer," AT&T calls it "Call Forward on No Answer," and other carriers use similar names. The setup is the same: enter the forwarding number and choose how long to wait before forwarding.

What happens when call forwarding is on

When you turn on call forwarding, incoming calls ring on the forwarded number instead of your original phone. The person calling doesn't see any indication that their call was forwarded — they just see your original phone number on their caller ID, and the call rings wherever you sent it.

If the forwarded number is busy or doesn't answer, the call may go to voicemail on the forwarded number, or it may bounce back to your original voicemail, depending on your phone service. Test this by having someone call you after you turn on forwarding, so you know where calls end up.

While call forwarding is on, your original phone will not ring for incoming calls. If you turn it off and then turn it back on later, the setting stays saved, so you don't have to re-enter the number each time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the person calling me know their call was forwarded?

No. The caller sees your original phone number on their caller ID and hears your voicemail greeting if the call goes to voicemail. They have no way to know the call was redirected to another number unless you tell them.

Can I forward calls to an international number?

Yes, but your phone service may charge international rates for the forwarded call. Check your carrier's pricing for international calls before you set up forwarding to a number outside your country. Some carriers include international forwarding in their plan, while others charge per minute.

What if I forward calls but then turn off my original phone?

Call forwarding still works. The calls go to the forwarded number regardless of whether your original phone is on or off. This is why forwarding is useful when you're traveling or away from your desk — you don't need to carry your original phone.

Can I forward to multiple numbers at once?

Most standard call forwarding sends calls to one number only. However, some carriers and phone services offer "simultaneous ringing" or "ring all" features that ring multiple numbers at the same time. Check your carrier's website to see if this option is available on your plan.

How do I turn off call forwarding if I forgot the forwarding number?

On iPhone or Android, go back to the call forwarding menu and toggle it off — you don't need to know the number to disable it. If you're using a carrier's website or app, log in and turn it off there. If you're using a code like *73, dial that code to disable forwarding.