The basics of call forwarding

Call forwarding sends incoming calls from your phone number to a different phone — either temporarily while you're away or permanently to consolidate your lines. Most phone carriers let you set this up in minutes through your account settings, a phone menu, or a simple code you dial. The person calling you still reaches your original number; they don't need to know you've redirected the call elsewhere.

How it works depends on your phone type and carrier. Landline users typically dial a code or log into their carrier's website. Mobile users can usually toggle forwarding in their phone's settings or through their carrier's app. Some carriers charge a small monthly fee for call forwarding; others include it free with your plan.

The main trade-off is that the call uses minutes or data on whichever phone receives it. If you forward your work line to your personal cell, those calls count against your cell plan's minutes. Some people use call forwarding as a temporary solution — say, while traveling — and turn it off when they return.

Key Takeaways

  • Call forwarding sends your incoming calls to another phone number without the caller knowing, and setup takes just a few minutes through your carrier's website, app, or phone menu.
  • Landline forwarding usually costs nothing or a few dollars per month; mobile forwarding is often free but uses minutes or data on the receiving phone.
  • You can set up forwarding for all calls, only when you don't answer, or only during certain hours, depending on your carrier's options.
  • Turning off forwarding is just as simple as turning it on, so you can use it temporarily without any long-term commitment.

Setting up call forwarding on a mobile phone

On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Phone, then Call Forwarding. Toggle it on and enter the phone number where you want calls to go. Your phone will confirm the forwarding is active. On Android, the path varies by manufacturer and carrier, but usually lives in Phone settings under Call settings or Call forwarding. Some Android phones let you set forwarding directly; others require you to dial a code like *72 followed by the destination number.

If you can't find the setting in your phone's menu, your carrier's app or website is the next place to look. Most major carriers — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and others — let you manage call forwarding from your account dashboard. Log in, find the phone number you want to forward, and look for a Call Forwarding or Call Management option. You'll enter the destination number and choose whether to forward all calls or only calls you don't answer within a certain number of rings.

Test the forwarding by having someone call your original number from another phone. If the call rings through to your forwarded number, it's working. If nothing happens, check that you entered the destination number correctly and that forwarding is actually toggled on.

Setting up call forwarding on a landline

Landline call forwarding usually starts with a code you dial from your phone. The most common is *72 followed by the destination number, then #. After you hear a confirmation tone, hang up and the forwarding is active. To turn it off, dial *73 and press #. Some carriers use different codes, so check your carrier's website or call their customer service line if *72 doesn't work.

Alternatively, log into your carrier's online account — most landline providers have a web portal where you can manage your phone settings. Look for Call Forwarding, Call Management, or a similar option. You'll enter the phone number to forward to and choose your forwarding type: all calls, no-answer forwarding, or busy forwarding. Save your changes and the forwarding takes effect immediately.

If you're not sure which carrier handles your landline, check your phone bill. The company name and customer service number are printed at the top. Call them if you need help finding the forwarding feature or if the *72 code doesn't work on your line.

Choosing between different forwarding types

All-call forwarding sends every incoming call to your destination number, regardless of whether you answer. This is useful if you're away from home or your desk for an extended period and want all calls to reach you elsewhere. No-answer forwarding only redirects calls you don't pick up within a set number of rings — usually three to five. This is handy if you want to catch calls on your primary phone but don't want to miss anything if you're busy.

Busy forwarding kicks in only when your line is already in use. If you're on a call and someone else tries to reach you, that new call goes to your forwarded number instead of going to voicemail. This works best on landlines; most mobile phones don't support it because they can already handle multiple calls through call waiting.

Your carrier determines which types are available. Not every carrier offers all three options, and some charge different rates for each. Check your carrier's website or call their support line to see what's available on your account.

What happens to voicemail when you use call forwarding

Call forwarding and voicemail work independently. If someone calls your original number and you've set up all-call forwarding, the call goes to your forwarded number. If you don't answer there either, the call goes to voicemail on whichever phone answers it — usually the forwarded phone, unless that phone has its own voicemail turned off.

This can create confusion if you're not careful. Say you forward your work line to your cell phone. A caller reaches your work number, it rings your cell, you don't answer, and the call goes to your cell's voicemail — not your work voicemail. The caller hears your personal greeting instead of your work greeting. To avoid this, some people turn off voicemail on the forwarded phone or set up a separate greeting that explains the situation.

If you want calls to reach your work voicemail instead of your cell voicemail, ask your carrier about selective call forwarding or conditional forwarding. These let you forward only certain calls — say, calls from outside your company — while others still go to your original voicemail.

Temporary forwarding while you travel

Call forwarding is one of the simplest ways to stay reachable while you're away from your desk or home. Turn it on before you leave, point it to your mobile phone or another location, and turn it off when you return. There's no setup fee or contract — it's just a temporary redirect.

If you're traveling internationally and want to forward your U.S. number to a phone abroad, check with your carrier first. International forwarding sometimes costs more or requires advance notice. Some carriers charge per-minute rates for calls forwarded overseas. A cheaper alternative might be to use a voicemail-to-email service or a calling app like Google Voice, which can receive calls over Wi-Fi without using your carrier's international rates.

When you return, log back into your carrier's website or dial the code to turn forwarding off. Any calls to your original number will then ring only on that phone again.

Troubleshooting common call forwarding problems

If calls aren't forwarding, first check that forwarding is actually turned on. On a mobile phone, go back to Settings and confirm the toggle is switched on and the destination number is correct. On a landline, dial *72 again to re-enter the number. Typos in the phone number are the most common reason forwarding fails.

If forwarding is on but calls still aren't reaching the destination phone, the destination number itself might be the problem. Make sure the number is active and can receive calls. Try calling that number from another phone to confirm it works. If it does, contact your carrier's support line — there may be a technical issue on their end.

Some carriers temporarily disable call forwarding if they detect unusual activity on your account, as a security measure. If you've recently changed your password or updated your account, call your carrier to confirm forwarding is still allowed. They can re-enable it if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the person calling me know I've forwarded my calls?

No. The caller dials your original number and hears it ring, but the call is silently redirected to your forwarded phone. They have no way of knowing the call went somewhere else unless you tell them or they recognize the voicemail greeting on the forwarded phone.

Can I forward my calls to multiple phones at once?

Most carriers don't support simultaneous forwarding to more than one number. However, some offer simultaneous ring or ring all features that ring multiple phones at the same time until someone answers. Check your carrier's website to see if this is available on your account.

Will I be charged for calls that are forwarded to me?

The person calling you is not charged extra. However, the phone receiving the forwarded call uses its own minutes or data. If you forward your work line to your personal cell, those calls count against your cell plan's minutes. Landline-to-landline forwarding usually doesn't incur extra charges beyond your base service fee.

Can I set up call forwarding to forward only calls from certain people?

Standard call forwarding forwards all calls (or all unanswered calls) to one number. If you want to forward only calls from specific contacts, you'll need a more advanced feature like selective call forwarding, which some carriers offer. Alternatively, you can use a calling app like Google Voice to manage different numbers separately.

What if I want to forward calls only during business hours?

Most basic call forwarding doesn't include scheduling. However, some carriers offer time-based forwarding or let you set it up through their app with time restrictions. Check your carrier's website or call their support line to see if this option is available. If not, you'll need to manually turn forwarding on and off at the start and end of each business day.