How call forwarding works and when to use 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 — or in addition to — your original phone. You stay reachable without holding the phone that's registered to your name.

This is useful when you're away from your desk, traveling, or want calls to reach you on a different device. It's also practical if you're screening calls, consolidating multiple phone lines, or forwarding work calls to your personal phone during off-hours. The person calling you doesn't need to know the forwarding is happening — they dial your regular number and reach you wherever you've sent the call.

Call forwarding is a feature built into most phone services. It doesn't require special apps or subscriptions beyond what you already pay for your phone line. Setup takes a few minutes and you can turn it on or off anytime.

Key Takeaways

  • Call forwarding is a standard feature on landlines, mobile phones, and VoIP services — check your provider's website or call their support line to confirm it's available on your account.
  • Most phones let you set up call forwarding through settings or by dialing a code like *72 on a landline, though the exact method depends on your phone type and carrier.
  • You can forward all calls, only unanswered calls after a set number of rings, or calls during specific times — the options vary by provider.
  • Forwarded calls may incur charges if you're forwarding to a long-distance or international number, so check your plan before setting it up.
  • Call forwarding stays active until you manually turn it off, so remember to disable it when you no longer need it.

Setting up call forwarding on a mobile phone

On an iPhone, open Settings, tap Phone, then Call Forwarding. Enter the number you want calls sent to and tap Enable. The phone will confirm the forwarding is active. To turn it off, return to the same menu and tap the toggle to disable it.

On an Android phone, the steps vary by manufacturer and carrier. Open Settings, look for Call Settings or Phone Settings, then find Call Forwarding or Call Divert. Enter the destination number and confirm. Some Android phones also let you set conditions — for example, forward calls only when you don't answer within a certain number of rings.

If you can't find call forwarding in your phone's settings, your carrier may require you to set it up through their website or customer app instead. Log into your account, look for a Phone Settings or Services section, and find Call Forwarding there. You can also call your carrier's customer service line — they can activate it for you over the phone.

Setting up call forwarding on a landline

Most landline providers offer call forwarding as a standard feature. The fastest way to activate it is to dial *72 from your landline phone, wait for a dial tone, then enter the number you want calls forwarded to and press #. Hang up. Your calls are now forwarding. To turn it off, dial *73 and press #.

If *72 doesn't work, your provider may use a different code. Check your phone bill, visit your provider's website, or call their customer service line to find the correct activation code. Some providers also let you manage call forwarding through their online account portal or a dedicated app.

A few landline providers charge a small monthly fee for call forwarding — usually $3 to $5 — while others include it free with your service. Check your current plan or ask your provider before setting it up so you know what to expect on your next bill.

Setting up call forwarding on a VoIP service

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services like Google Voice, Vonage, or Ooma typically let you manage call forwarding through their website or app. Log into your account, find the Call Forwarding or Call Routing section, enter the phone number you want to forward to, and save your changes. The forwarding usually activates within a few minutes.

Google Voice is free and lets you forward calls to up to five different phone numbers at once. You can also set rules — for example, forward calls from certain contacts to one number and everyone else to another. Log into voice.google.com, click Settings, then Forwarding and Voicemail to set it up.

With paid VoIP services, call forwarding is usually included in your monthly plan. Some services let you set up conditional forwarding — forward calls only when you're unavailable, or only during business hours — through their control panel. Check your service's help documentation or contact their support team to see what options are available.

Understanding conditional call forwarding options

Most phone services let you choose how calls are forwarded, not just whether they are. Unconditional forwarding sends every call to your chosen number immediately. Busy forwarding only sends calls to the other number if your line is already in use. No-answer forwarding sends calls to the other number if you don't pick up within a set number of rings — usually 4 to 6 rings, depending on your provider.

Some services also offer time-based forwarding, which lets you set different rules for different times of day. For example, you might forward calls to your mobile phone during business hours but to voicemail after 5 p.m. This requires setting up the rules through your provider's website or app, not through your phone's settings.

Check what your specific provider offers. Landlines often support busy and no-answer forwarding but not time-based rules. Mobile phones usually support all calls or no-answer forwarding. VoIP services tend to offer the most flexibility, including time-based and contact-specific rules.

Costs and things that can go wrong

Call forwarding itself is usually free or included in your phone plan. However, if you forward calls to a long-distance or international number, your provider may charge you for those forwarded calls the same way they charge for regular long-distance calls. Check your plan's rates before forwarding to a number outside your local area or country.

A common mistake is forgetting to turn off call forwarding when you no longer need it. Calls will keep forwarding until you manually disable it, which can mean missing important calls if the destination number is no longer active or if you've changed phones. Make a note to disable it or set a reminder on your calendar.

If you forward calls to a number that's busy or doesn't answer, the caller usually hears a busy signal or is sent to voicemail — they won't automatically reach your voicemail on the original number. If you want calls to reach your voicemail as a backup, set up no-answer forwarding with a ring count that gives you time to answer, rather than unconditional forwarding.

Turning off call forwarding

On an iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding and toggle it off. On Android, open Settings > Call Settings > Call Forwarding and disable it. On a landline, dial *73 and press #. With VoIP services, log into your account and disable forwarding in the settings menu.

If you're not sure whether call forwarding is currently active on your phone, you can check. On most phones, go to the call forwarding settings and look at the status. On a landline, dial *#72# to hear a recorded message telling you whether forwarding is on and where calls are being sent.

If you've set up forwarding through your provider's website or app and can't find the option to disable it, call their customer service line. They can turn it off for you immediately and confirm that calls are no longer being forwarded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I forward calls to multiple numbers at once?

Most mobile carriers and landline providers forward to one number at a time. Google Voice is an exception — it lets you forward to up to five numbers simultaneously, and all of them ring when someone calls. Some VoIP services also support multiple forwarding numbers. Check your specific provider's documentation.

Will the person calling me know their call is being forwarded?

No. The caller dials your regular number and doesn't see any indication that the call is going somewhere else. They may see a different number on their caller ID if the forwarded call is coming from a different location, but they won't know forwarding is active.

What happens to my voicemail when call forwarding is on?

If the forwarded number doesn't answer, the call goes to that number's voicemail, not yours. If you want calls to reach your original voicemail as a backup, use no-answer forwarding instead of unconditional forwarding, or set up a conditional rule that sends unanswered calls back to your main voicemail after a few rings.

Can I forward calls only during certain hours?

Time-based forwarding depends on your provider. VoIP services like Google Voice and Vonage usually support it through their online settings. Most mobile carriers and traditional landline providers do not offer time-based rules through their standard call forwarding feature, though some may have workarounds through their apps.

Do I pay for forwarded calls if they're long-distance?

If your plan charges for long-distance calls, you'll typically pay the same rate for forwarded calls as you would for regular calls to that number. Check your plan's long-distance rates before forwarding to a number outside your local calling area. Some unlimited plans include forwarded calls; others charge separately.