The basics of moving calls from one phone to another

Call forwarding and call transfer are two different things, and which one you need depends on what you're trying to do. Call forwarding automatically sends incoming calls from one phone number to another phone number — useful if you want calls meant for your home line to ring on your cell phone instead. Call transfer is what you do during an active call to move the person on the line to a different phone or extension — the kind of thing a receptionist does when they say "hold while I transfer you."

Most people setting this up at home are looking for call forwarding, which your phone provider can activate in minutes. If you're managing calls at a small business or office, you might need both. The setup differs depending on whether you have a landline, mobile phone, or internet-based phone service.

Key Takeaways

  • Call forwarding sends all incoming calls to a different number automatically; call transfer moves an active call to another phone during the conversation.
  • Landline call forwarding is usually activated by dialing a code like *72, while mobile phones use settings in the phone app or your carrier's website.
  • Internet-based phone services like Vonage or Ooma let you set forwarding rules in your online account dashboard.
  • You can set up conditional forwarding so calls only forward when you don't answer, or forward to multiple numbers in sequence.
  • Call transfer during an active call requires your phone system to support the feature — most modern systems do, but the button or code varies by phone type.

Setting up call forwarding on a landline

If you have a traditional landline through your phone company, call forwarding is usually a feature you can turn on yourself without calling customer service. The most common method is to dial *72 from your landline phone, then dial the number where you want calls forwarded. After you hear a confirmation tone, hang up. To turn it off, dial *73.

Some phone companies use different codes — AT&T, Verizon, and regional carriers may vary — so check your phone bill or your provider's website for the exact code. If you can't find it, calling your provider's customer service line takes about five minutes and they'll walk you through it. You can also log into your online account with most major carriers and set forwarding there, which gives you more control over when it's active.

One thing to know: when call forwarding is on, the person calling you still sees your original number on their caller ID. They don't know the call is being forwarded. If the forwarded number is long distance or international, you may be charged for those minutes depending on your plan.

Setting up call forwarding on a mobile phone

Mobile phones handle call forwarding through your carrier's network, not through the phone itself. On most carriers, you can dial *71 followed by the number you want to forward to, then press call. To turn it off, dial #71. However, this varies by carrier — T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, and smaller carriers each have their own codes.

The easier route for most people is to use your carrier's website or app. Log into your account, find the call settings or phone management section, and look for "call forwarding" or "call settings." You can usually set it up there in seconds and see exactly which number is active. This method also lets you set conditional forwarding — for example, forward calls only when you don't answer, or only when the line is busy, or after a certain number of rings.

If you're not sure which carrier codes work for your phone, text your carrier's customer service number or call them. They can confirm the code and activate it for you over the phone if you prefer not to do it yourself.

Call forwarding with internet-based phone services

If you use an internet phone service like Vonage, Ooma, Google Voice, or a similar provider, call forwarding is managed through your online account dashboard, not through phone codes. Log in, find the settings or preferences section, and look for "call forwarding" or "call routing." You'll see a field where you can enter the phone number you want calls sent to, and you can usually turn it on and off with a toggle switch.

These services often give you more options than traditional carriers. You might be able to set different forwarding rules for different times of day, forward to multiple numbers in sequence (so if the first number doesn't answer, it tries the second), or route calls based on who's calling. Some services let you record a custom message that plays before the call is forwarded, or send calls to voicemail instead of another number.

Check your service's help section or support page for specifics — the layout and options vary by provider. Most have live chat or phone support if you get stuck.

Transferring an active call to another phone

Call transfer during an active conversation works differently from call forwarding. You're not setting up an automatic rule — you're manually moving a live call from one phone to another while you're on it. This is common in offices where a receptionist answers and then transfers you to the right department.

On most modern phones, you press a button labeled "transfer" or "xfer," dial the number or extension you want to send the call to, and then either hang up or press transfer again to complete the handoff. Some phones let you speak to the person you're transferring to first before handing off the caller. The exact steps depend on your phone system — if you're using a desk phone at work, ask your IT department or check the phone's manual. If you're using a smartphone, the process varies by phone type and carrier.

On an iPhone, you can use the "add call" feature to dial a second number, then press "merge calls" to combine them, or press the first call to switch between the two. On Android, the process is similar but the button locations differ. If your phone doesn't support transfer, you can always conference the two people together instead, or simply give one person the other's number to call directly.

Conditional forwarding and advanced options

Most carriers and internet phone services let you set up rules for when forwarding is active. Busy forwarding sends calls to another number only when your line is already in use. No-answer forwarding waits for a set number of rings (usually 3 to 5) before forwarding. Selective forwarding lets you choose which callers get forwarded and which don't — useful if you want calls from your boss to reach your cell phone but calls from unknown numbers to go to voicemail.

If you want to forward to multiple numbers in sequence, some services support that too. You might forward to your cell phone first, and if you don't answer in 20 seconds, it tries your work number, and if that doesn't answer, it goes to voicemail. This requires your phone service to support "sequential forwarding" or "rollover forwarding" — check with your provider to see if it's available and how to set it up.

Internet phone services usually make these options easiest to manage because everything is in one dashboard. Traditional carriers may require you to call customer service or use their website, but most offer the same features.

Troubleshooting common forwarding problems

If calls aren't forwarding when you expect them to, first check that forwarding is actually turned on. Dial the activation code again or log into your account to confirm the status. If it shows as active but calls still aren't going through, the forwarded number might be wrong — double-check the digits, including the area code and any leading 1 for long distance.

If the forwarded number is busy or unreachable, calls may go to voicemail instead of ringing through. Some carriers have a setting that lets you choose what happens in this case — they can try again, go to your voicemail, or try a backup number. Check your account settings or call your provider.

If you're forwarding to an international number, make sure your plan includes international calling, or you may be charged per minute. Some carriers charge for forwarding itself, though most don't — check your bill or ask customer service if you're unsure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I forward my home phone to my cell phone for free?

Most carriers don't charge extra for call forwarding itself, but if you're forwarding to a long-distance or international number, you may be charged for those minutes depending on your plan. Forwarding to a local number or another number on the same carrier is usually free. Check your carrier's website or call them to confirm what applies to your account.

What's the difference between call forwarding and call waiting?

Call forwarding sends incoming calls to a different number automatically. Call waiting lets you know when a second call is coming in while you're already on a call, so you can switch between them. They're separate features and you can have one, both, or neither active.

If I forward my calls, will the person calling see my number or the forwarded number?

They'll see your original number on their caller ID. The forwarding happens on the carrier's network, so the caller doesn't know their call was redirected. If you answer on the forwarded number, they'll still see your original number displayed.

Can I set up forwarding so calls only go through at certain times?

Traditional landlines and mobile carriers usually don't offer time-based forwarding through their standard features. Internet phone services like Google Voice, Vonage, and Ooma often do — you can set different rules for business hours, evenings, weekends, or specific times. Check your service's settings to see what's available.

What happens to voicemail if I have call forwarding 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 voicemail instead, you can set up no-answer forwarding with a longer ring time, or turn off forwarding and use call waiting or call transfer instead.