How to cancel call forwarding

Call forwarding stops working when you turn it off in your phone's settings or dial a code to disable it. The exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or a landline, and whether your carrier (like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile) set up the forwarding or your phone did. Most people can disable it in under a minute by opening Settings, finding the Phone app, and switching off the forwarding toggle.

The fastest method that works on almost any phone is to dial ##21# and press Call. This code tells your carrier to clear all forwarding rules at once, and you will see a confirmation message on screen. If that code does not work, try #21# instead — some carriers respond to one format or the other.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone users turn off call forwarding by opening Settings, tapping Phone, then Call Forwarding, and toggling it off.
  • Android users go to the Phone app settings, find Call Forwarding or Call Settings, and disable the feature.
  • Dialing ##21# and pressing Call works on most phones to cancel all forwarding immediately, regardless of phone type.
  • If forwarding is set up through your carrier rather than your phone, you may need to contact them directly to turn it off.
  • Call forwarding set by someone else on a shared account requires the account holder's permission to disable.

Turning off call forwarding on iPhone

On iPhone, call forwarding lives in the Phone app settings. Open Settings, scroll down and tap Phone, then tap Call Forwarding. You will see a toggle switch next to "Call Forwarding" — tap it to turn it off. The switch will turn gray when forwarding is disabled.

If you do not see Call Forwarding in the Phone settings, your carrier may have set it up on their end instead of through your phone. In that case, contact your carrier's customer service line (the number is usually on your bill or in their app) and ask them to disable call forwarding on your account. This typically takes a few minutes on the call.

Turning off call forwarding on Android

Android phones vary by manufacturer, but the path is similar across most devices. Open your Phone app, tap the three-dot menu (or settings icon), and look for Call Settings or Call Forwarding. Tap it, then find the option for Call Forwarding and tap it again. You should see options like "Always Forward", "Forward When Busy", or "Forward When Unanswered" — tap whichever one is currently on and select "Disable" or "Turn Off".

Some Android phones, especially Samsung models, put this setting in a different location. If you cannot find it in the Phone app, try opening Settings, scrolling to Apps, tapping Phone, then tapping Permissions or Advanced Settings. If you still cannot locate it, your carrier likely manages the forwarding, and you will need to contact them directly to have it removed.

Using a code to cancel forwarding on any phone

The fastest way to disable call forwarding on any phone — iPhone, Android, or landline — is to dial a code. Open your phone's dialer, type ##21#, and press Call or Send. This code tells your carrier to cancel all call forwarding rules immediately. You should see a message confirming the forwarding has been turned off.

If ##21# does not work, try #21# instead (with one # instead of two). Some carriers respond to one format or the other. After you dial either code, your phone will display a confirmation message on screen — if you see "Call Forwarding Deactivated" or similar text, the forwarding is off. The change takes effect immediately.

When your carrier controls call forwarding

Some carriers set up call forwarding through their network rather than through your phone's settings. This happens most often with business accounts, family plans, or when a carrier representative activated forwarding over the phone. If you cannot find call forwarding in your phone's settings, or if the toggle is grayed out and you cannot change it, your carrier is managing it.

Contact your carrier's customer service using the number on your bill, in their app, or on their website. Tell them you want to turn off call forwarding. They will ask which phone number it is forwarding to, confirm your identity, and disable it on their end. This usually takes a few minutes on the call, and the change takes effect immediately or within a few hours.

Turning off specific forwarding rules

Your phone may have different forwarding rules for different situations — one rule for when you do not answer, another for when the line is busy, and another that always forwards. If you want to keep some rules but turn off others, go back to your Phone settings and look for the individual options.

On iPhone, you will see "Call Forwarding" as a single toggle, but some carriers let you set up multiple rules through their app or website. On Android, you may see separate toggles for "Forward When Unanswered", "Forward When Busy", and "Always Forward" — you can turn off just the ones you do not want. If you see multiple rules and want to disable all of them, using the ##21# code is the simplest approach.

What to do if call forwarding will not turn off

If you have turned off call forwarding in your settings but calls are still forwarding to another number, the forwarding may be set up through your carrier's network rather than your phone. Try dialing ##21# to clear any carrier-level forwarding rules, then check your phone settings again to confirm the toggle is off.

If forwarding still continues, contact your carrier and ask them to confirm that no forwarding rules are active on your account. Provide them with the number calls are forwarding to — they can search their system for that number and remove any rules attached to it. If someone else on your account set up the forwarding and you do not have permission to change account settings, you will need the account holder to contact the carrier or change the settings themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off call forwarding affect voicemail?

No. Call forwarding and voicemail are separate features. Turning off forwarding means calls go to your phone instead of another number, but they will still go to voicemail if you do not answer. Voicemail settings are independent and remain unchanged.

Will my contacts know I turned off call forwarding?

No. Turning off call forwarding is invisible to people calling you. They will simply reach your phone instead of the number it was forwarding to. There is no notification sent to anyone.

Can I turn off forwarding for just one contact?

No. Call forwarding is an all-or-nothing setting — it either forwards all incoming calls or none. If you want some calls to go to another number and others to reach your phone, you would need to set up a rule through your carrier or use a third-party app, which is beyond standard phone settings.

What if I forgot which number my calls were forwarding to?

Check your phone's call forwarding settings — they usually display the forwarding number. If you cannot find it there, contact your carrier and give them your phone number. They can look up any active forwarding rules on your account and tell you where calls are going.

Does call forwarding use my phone's data or minutes?

Call forwarding does not use your data. When a call forwards, it uses the carrier's network, not your phone's connection. The forwarded call counts as a regular call on your plan, just like any other incoming call would.