How to forward calls to an answering service
Step-by-step call forwarding for iPhone, Android, landlines and business phone systems: how to turn it on, check it and turn it off, and which kind an answering service needs.
Call forwarding sends calls made to your number on to another number, so they ring there instead. To forward calls to an answering service, you either dial a short code from the phone you're forwarding, change a setting on the phone, or change where your business phone system sends calls. You can forward every call, only the calls nobody answers, or, on most business phone systems, only calls outside office hours.
Key takeaways
- On a cell phone, the quickest way is a dial code. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon each publish their own, so use your carrier's.
- iPhones and Android phones also have a call forwarding setting, but it usually forwards every call. Forwarding only unanswered calls is done with a dial code.
- On a business phone system, check which number you're forwarding. Forwarding your own extension leaves the main number your residents dial ringing as before.
- Turning forwarding off uses its own code or setting. Always test with a call from a different phone.
What is call forwarding?
Call forwarding is a feature of your phone service that passes incoming calls to another number. Your number doesn't change: callers dial it as they always have, and the call rings wherever you've forwarded it.
There are three kinds:
- All calls (also called unconditional forwarding): every call goes straight to the other number. Your phone doesn't ring.
- When nobody picks up (conditional forwarding): your phone rings first, and the call moves on if it goes unanswered, if the line is busy, or if the phone is off or out of signal. Each condition is usually set up separately.
- On a schedule: calls forward only at the times you choose, such as after hours. Most business phone systems can do this. Most cell phones can't.
How do I forward calls on an iPhone?
Apple's built-in setting forwards every call:
- Open Settings, tap Apps, then tap Phone.
- Tap Call Forwarding and turn it on.
- Tap Forward To and enter the number to forward to.
A forwarding icon appears in the status bar while it's on. On a phone with two lines, choose the line first. These steps are from Apple's iPhone guide (opens in a new tab); on older versions of iOS, Phone sits directly under Settings.
The setting only appears if your carrier supports it. On Verizon, use the dial codes below instead. To forward only the calls you don't answer, use your carrier's dial codes as well, and turn off Live Voicemail (under the same Phone settings), or unanswered calls may go to voicemail instead of forwarding.
How do I forward calls on Android?
The menus differ by phone maker and carrier. The two most common versions:
Samsung Galaxy, per Samsung's guide (opens in a new tab):
- Open the Phone app, tap the three dots, then Settings.
- Tap Supplementary services, then Call forwarding.
- Choose Always forward, Forward when busy, Forward when unanswered or Forward when unreachable.
- Enter the number and tap Enable.
Google Pixel, per AT&T's Pixel guide (opens in a new tab):
- Open the Phone app, tap the menu, then Settings.
- Tap Calling accounts, then your carrier's line, then Call forwarding.
- Choose Always forward (or a condition), enter the number and tap Turn on.
On some versions the menu says Calls instead of Calling accounts. If you don't see call forwarding at all, your carrier handles it: use the dial codes below.
How do I forward a cell phone with dial codes?
Dial codes work on any cell phone, iPhone or Android, and they're the only way on some carriers to forward just the calls you don't answer. You dial the code with the number to forward to, then press Call. In the codes below, replace NUMBER with the full number you're forwarding to.
AT&T, per AT&T's guide (opens in a new tab):
| Forward | Dial |
|---|---|
| All calls | *21*NUMBER# |
T-Mobile, per T-Mobile's short codes (opens in a new tab):
| Forward | Dial |
|---|---|
| All calls | **21*NUMBER# |
| When unanswered | **61*NUMBER# |
| When busy | **67*NUMBER# |
| When unreachable (phone off or no signal) | **62*NUMBER# |
Verizon, per Verizon's guide (opens in a new tab):
| Forward | Dial |
|---|---|
| All calls | *72NUMBER |
| When unanswered | *71NUMBER |
If your carrier runs on one of these networks (Cricket on AT&T, Metro on T-Mobile, Visible on Verizon, for example), check its own support pages for its codes before you dial. To forward only unanswered calls on AT&T, use the phone's setting above or ask AT&T.
How do I forward a landline or office phone?
On most traditional landlines, dial *72 followed by the number to forward to, and wait for the confirmation tone. If *72 is rejected, some providers use *720 or 72# instead.
Forwarding only when the line is busy or unanswered varies by provider, and it's sometimes a paid add-on. Ask your provider for "forward on busy" and "forward on no answer". The same goes if none of the codes work: call forwarding may need to be switched on for your account.
If your "landline" is a digital voice service from a cable or internet company, the same star codes often work, and most of these companies also let you set forwarding in their web portal or app. If it's a business voice service with an admin portal, follow the steps for a business phone system below.
How do I forward calls from a VoIP system?
Business phone systems (RingCentral, Nextiva, Zoom Phone, Dialpad and the like) forward calls in their app or admin portal, not with dial codes. Decide first which number you're forwarding.
Your own desk line. Sign in to the app as yourself and look for Call Forwarding, Call Rules or Call Handling under your profile. This only moves calls dialed straight to your extension.
Your main business number. This is usually the one you want, and it usually needs an administrator sign-in. The main number points at an auto attendant (the "press 1 for maintenance" menu), a ring group or call queue, or a schedule that routes calls by time of day. Change where that sends calls:
- All calls: point the main number at the number you're forwarding to.
- After hours only: leave the business-hours destination as it is, and set the closed or after-hours destination to the forwarding number.
- When nobody picks up: set the overflow, no-answer or timeout destination on the ring group or queue, often next to a "ring for N seconds" setting.
If you can't find these settings, you're probably signed in as a standard user. Some systems call an outside destination an "external number" or "off-net number". If your marketing number is a call-tracking number, change its destination in the call-tracking dashboard as well.
How do I turn call forwarding off?
Use the matching "off" code or setting for however you turned it on.
| Phone | Turn off |
|---|---|
| iPhone setting | Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Forwarding, turn it off |
| Samsung Galaxy | Phone > Settings > Supplementary services > Call forwarding, tap the active option, then Disable |
| AT&T | #21# |
| T-Mobile | ##21# for all calls · ##61# unanswered · ##67# busy · ##62# unreachable · ##002# everything at once |
| Verizon | *73 |
| Most landlines | *73 (or *730 if *720 turned it on) |
| Business phone system | Put back the original destination, or switch off the forwarding rule |
To check whether forwarding is on, look for the forwarding icon in your phone's status bar, or call your number from another phone and see where it rings.
Which kind of forwarding does an answering service need?
That depends on when you want the service to answer:
- Around the clock: forward all calls.
- After hours only: forward on a schedule, if your phone system can. Most business phone systems can. On a cell phone, which usually can't, either forward unanswered calls, or turn all-call forwarding on when you close and off when you open.
- Overflow: forward when nobody picks up. Your team gets the first chance at every call, and the service catches the rest. At night nobody picks up, so overflow also covers after hours, though callers wait through the full ring time first.
If your phone system offers both, you can forward after hours and when nobody picks up: the service answers every call while you're closed, and the calls your team misses while you're open.
Forwarding after hours is a low-risk way to start. With CoreReach, the setup page gives you the exact codes or portal steps for your carrier or phone system, with your CoreReach number already filled in. Our help center covers each step of going live and forwarding your number (opens in a new tab). Whichever kind you choose, test it: call your business number from a different phone, during the day and after hours, and check it reaches who you expect.
Frequently asked questions
Does call forwarding work when my phone is off?
Forwarding set with a dial code happens in your carrier's network, so all-calls forwarding still works with the phone off. For unanswered-call forwarding, also set "when unreachable", which covers a phone that's off or out of signal.
Does call forwarding cost extra?
On cell phones it's usually part of the plan. On traditional landlines it's sometimes a paid add-on, and the codes do nothing until it's switched on.
Why isn't my call forwarding working?
The usual causes: a code meant for a different carrier, forwarding not switched on for a landline account, Live Voicemail catching calls on an iPhone, or forwarding a desk extension instead of the main number. Test from a phone outside the office.
Can I forward calls only after hours from a cell phone?
Usually not on a schedule. Forward unanswered calls instead, so calls nobody picks up at night reach the service, or switch all-call forwarding on when you close and off when you open.
How do I turn off call forwarding on an iPhone?
Go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Forwarding and turn it off. If you set it with a dial code, use your carrier's "off" code, such as #21# on AT&T, ##21# on T-Mobile, or *73 on Verizon.