The simplest way to forward calls depends on your phone type and service provider

Call forwarding lets your phone send incoming calls to a different number automatically. The setup takes minutes and works on most cell phones and landlines. You can forward all calls, only calls you miss, or calls during specific times — the options depend on whether you have a smartphone, a basic phone, or a landline service.

The fastest route is usually through your phone's built-in settings if you have a smartphone. If you have a landline or basic phone, you'll contact your service provider directly. Some providers charge a small monthly fee for call forwarding; others include it free with your plan.

Key Takeaways

  • Smartphones have call forwarding built into settings and require no service provider involvement — you can turn it on or off anytime.
  • Landline and basic phone users need to contact their service provider by phone or online account to set up call forwarding.
  • Most carriers charge between $0 and $5 per month for call forwarding, though many plans include it at no extra cost.
  • You can forward all incoming calls, only unanswered calls after a set number of rings, or calls during specific hours.
  • The forwarded-to number can be another cell phone, a landline, or a business line — any phone number you can receive calls on.

Setting up call forwarding on an iPhone

On an iPhone, call forwarding lives in the Phone app settings. Open Settings, tap Phone, then tap Call Forwarding. Toggle it on, and you'll be prompted to enter the phone number where you want calls to go. The phone will confirm the number before it activates.

Once it's on, you'll see a small arrow icon in the status bar at the top of your screen whenever call forwarding is active. This tells you calls are being redirected. You can turn it off the same way — just toggle it back off in Settings. There's no charge from Apple, though your carrier may have its own fee depending on your plan.

Setting up call forwarding on an Android phone

Android phones vary by manufacturer, but the process is similar. Open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu or settings icon, then look for Call Settings or Call Forwarding. You may see options like "Forward unanswered calls" or "Forward all calls." Select the type you want, enter the destination number, and save.

Some Android phones let you set conditions — for example, forward calls only when you're unavailable or only after a certain number of rings. Check your specific phone's menu; Samsung, Google Pixel, and other brands place these settings in slightly different spots. Your carrier may also offer additional forwarding options through their own app or website.

Setting up call forwarding on a landline

Landline call forwarding is managed by your phone service provider, not your phone itself. Call your provider's customer service number (usually on your bill) and ask them to activate call forwarding. You'll give them the number where you want calls sent, and they'll set it up on their end — usually within minutes.

Some providers let you manage this through your online account instead of calling. Log in, find the phone services or call settings section, and look for call forwarding options. You can typically turn it on or off anytime without calling back. Costs vary: some providers include it free, while others charge $3 to $5 per month.

Call forwarding options: all calls, unanswered calls, or busy calls

Most services offer three main types of forwarding. Forward all calls sends every incoming call to your chosen number immediately — useful if you're away from your phone entirely. Forward unanswered calls (sometimes called "no answer" forwarding) rings your phone first, and if you don't pick up after a set number of rings, it sends the call elsewhere. Forward busy calls activates only when your line is already in use.

On smartphones, you typically set up one forwarding destination and choose which type applies. On landlines, your provider may let you set different numbers for different scenarios. For example, you might forward unanswered calls to voicemail but forward busy calls to your office. Ask your provider what combinations they support.

What happens to voicemail when call forwarding is on

When you set up call forwarding, incoming calls go to the new number before they reach your voicemail. If the person calling doesn't reach anyone at the forwarded number, they'll either get that phone's voicemail or hear a busy signal — they won't automatically reach your voicemail.

If you want callers to reach your voicemail after the forwarded number doesn't answer, you need to set the forwarded-to number to ring a certain number of times before the call returns to your phone and then goes to voicemail. This works best on smartphones and some landline services. Ask your provider or check your phone's settings to see if you can adjust the number of rings before forwarding kicks in.

Turning call forwarding off and troubleshooting

To stop call forwarding, go back to the same settings menu where you turned it on and toggle it off. On a smartphone, this takes seconds. On a landline, call your provider or log into your account and disable it. Once it's off, all calls come back to your original phone number.

If calls aren't forwarding after you've set it up, check that call forwarding is actually enabled — look for the arrow icon on your smartphone or confirm the status in your account online. Make sure you entered the destination number correctly, including the area code. If the problem persists, restart your phone (smartphone) or contact your service provider (landline). Some carriers have temporary outages or require a service refresh before forwarding works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I forward calls to multiple numbers at once?

Most carriers don't support simultaneous forwarding to multiple numbers. You can forward to one number, and if that person doesn't answer, the call goes to voicemail. Some business phone systems offer "call distribution" or "ring groups" that send calls to multiple phones at the same time, but this requires a business plan, not standard consumer call forwarding.

Will the person receiving the forwarded call see my number or the forwarded-to number?

They'll see your original number on their caller ID. Call forwarding is transparent to the person calling — they don't know the call was redirected. This is true for both smartphones and landlines.

Does call forwarding work internationally?

Yes, but costs vary. You can forward to an international number, but your carrier may charge international rates for each forwarded call. Check your plan before setting this up. Some carriers include international forwarding; others charge per minute. It's cheaper to use a messaging app like WhatsApp or Telegram when you're abroad.

What if I want to forward calls only during work hours or weekends?

Smartphones don't have built-in scheduling for call forwarding. You'd need to manually turn it on and off. Some landline providers offer time-based forwarding through their account portal or by calling customer service — ask if your provider supports it. Business phone systems often include this feature automatically.

Can I forward calls if I'm on a pay-as-you-go or prepaid plan?

It depends on your carrier. Most prepaid plans support call forwarding, but some charge a monthly fee even on prepaid accounts. Check your plan details or contact your provider before setting it up. The feature itself is usually free to activate; the cost comes from any monthly service charge your carrier applies.