How to cancel call forwarding depends on your phone type and carrier

Call forwarding is a feature that sends incoming calls to a different number — usually another phone, a voicemail box, or a business line. To turn it off, you stop the forwarding rule from your phone's settings or by calling your carrier. The exact steps change based on whether you have an iPhone, Android phone, or a landline, and whether you set up forwarding through your phone or through your carrier's network.

Most people can disable forwarding in under a minute using their phone's built-in settings. If you set it up through your carrier instead — or if you cannot find the setting — you can call your carrier's customer service line and ask them to remove it on their end.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone users turn off call forwarding in Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding, then toggle it off.
  • Android users go to Phone app > Settings > Call Settings > Call Forwarding, then select the forwarding type and choose "Disable" or "Turn Off".
  • If you set up forwarding through your carrier's network (not your phone), you must call your carrier to remove it.
  • Landline forwarding is controlled by your phone company and requires a call to their customer service line.
  • If you forget which number calls are being forwarded to, your carrier can tell you when you call to cancel.

Canceling call forwarding on iPhone

Open the Settings app and tap Phone. Scroll down and tap Call Forwarding. Toggle the switch to Off (it will turn from green to gray). That is all — your calls will now ring your iPhone instead of going to the forwarded number.

If you do not see the Call Forwarding option in Settings, your carrier may have set it up on their network instead of on your phone. In that case, skip to the carrier section below.

Canceling call forwarding on Android

Open the Phone app and tap the three-dot menu (or Settings, depending on your phone model). Select Settings or Call Settings. Look for Call Forwarding or Call Divert. Tap it, then select the type of forwarding you want to turn off — usually "Always Forward" or "Forward When Busy". Tap Disable or Turn Off, then confirm.

Android phones vary by manufacturer and carrier, so the exact menu names may differ. If you cannot find Call Forwarding in your phone's settings, try searching "call forwarding" in the Settings app's search bar. If it still does not appear, your carrier set it up on their network, and you will need to call them to remove it.

Canceling forwarding set up through your carrier

If you set up call forwarding through your carrier's website, app, or by calling them, you must contact them to turn it off. Your phone's settings will not have a forwarding option to toggle. Call your carrier's customer service number (usually on your bill or their website) and tell them you want to cancel call forwarding.

Have your phone number and account information ready. The representative will confirm which number your calls are being forwarded to, then remove the forwarding rule. This usually takes a few minutes. Ask them to confirm it is turned off before you hang up.

Canceling call forwarding on a landline

Landline call forwarding is managed entirely by your phone company, not by a device. Call your landline provider's customer service number and ask them to turn off call forwarding on your account. Tell them your account number and the phone number you want to stop forwarding.

Some landline providers also let you cancel forwarding by dialing a code from your landline phone — usually *73 or #73, depending on the provider. Try dialing the code and listening for a confirmation message. If it works, you will hear a tone or voice message saying forwarding is off. If the code does not work, call your provider instead.

What to do if you do not know where calls are being forwarded

If you turned on call forwarding but forgot which number you chose, or if someone else set it up on your phone, call your carrier. They can see which number is receiving your forwarded calls and will tell you before they remove the forwarding. This is especially useful if you suspect unauthorized forwarding — if a number you do not recognize is listed, your carrier can remove it immediately and help you secure your account.

After your carrier removes the forwarding, test it by calling your own number from another phone. If the call rings your phone instead of going elsewhere, the forwarding is off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my voicemail still work after I turn off call forwarding?

Yes. Call forwarding and voicemail are separate features. Turning off forwarding means calls ring your phone instead of going to another number, but unanswered calls will still go to your voicemail as usual.

Can I turn off forwarding for only certain callers?

No. Call forwarding forwards all incoming calls to the same number. If you want to route calls from specific people differently, you would need to use a different feature like Do Not Disturb or a contacts-based rule, depending on your phone type.

What if I turned on call forwarding and now my phone is not ringing at all?

Turn off call forwarding using the steps above. If your phone still does not ring after you disable forwarding, check that Do Not Disturb is off, that your ringer volume is up, and that your phone is not in airplane mode. If calls still do not come through, restart your phone or contact your carrier.

Do I need to contact my carrier to turn off forwarding, or can I do it on my phone?

If you set it up on your phone (through Settings), you can turn it off the same way. If your carrier set it up on their network, you must call them. When in doubt, check your phone's settings first — if you see a Call Forwarding option, use it. If not, call your carrier.