{"id":9846,"date":"2022-07-11T11:27:18","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T18:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gazelle.com\/thehorn\/?p=9846"},"modified":"2026-04-09T14:09:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T21:09:26","slug":"how-to-set-up-call-forwarding-on-iphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gazelle.com\/thehorn\/2022\/07\/11\/how-to-set-up-call-forwarding-on-iphone\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Set up Call Forwarding on Your iPhone"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most important things phones allow us to do is to remain connected across various locations, time zones and devices. The evolution of cell phones<\/a> has quickly created improved convenience and features, all at our fingertips. From browsing the internet to purchasing an item in another country to staying in touch with our long-distance colleagues and family, cell phones play a giant role.<\/p>\n

Today, smartphones<\/a> like iPhones have more capabilities than ever and allow us to run an entire business with their features alone. One of these features that helps with communication and productivity is call forwarding. Worth noting before we get started: call forwarding applies only to voice calls – text messages are not forwarded, regardless of your settings. Keep reading to learn how to set up call forwarding on an iPhone and how it gives you more flexibility.<\/p>\n

What Is Call Forwarding?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Call forwarding, also known as call diversion, is a phone feature that lets you forward or redirect your calls to another phone number, like a landline, home, office, or another mobile phone<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Many businesses use this feature to send calls to a different number for employees who travel for extended periods. That can help them stay productive and connected. Businesses can also use it to forward calls going to an office directly to a cell phone to reach a particular person more easily.<\/p>\n

When you turn on call forwarding, incoming calls go straight to your alternate number and your mobile phone won’t ring. Once you turn call forwarding on, it remains active until you disable it. It’s worth mentioning that call forwarding applies only to voice calls<\/a> – text messages are not forwarded to the alternate number.<\/p>\n

Smartphones like iPhones have call forwarding built into the operating system. On iOS 18 and later<\/strong>, you can find it under Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Forwarding<\/strong>. On iOS 17 or earlier<\/strong>, the path is Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding<\/strong>. Remember that your iPhone has to be within cellular network range<\/a> to set up forwarding, or the feature won’t activate correctly.<\/p>\n

Standard call forwarding supports one destination number at a time per condition, and most carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile support standard USSD codes. Verizon customers use *72<\/strong> to forward all calls, *92<\/strong> for missed calls, and *73<\/strong> to disable forwarding. For conditional forwarding – like when a call goes unanswered, the line is busy, or your phone is unreachable – the codes **61*<\/strong>, **67*<\/strong>, and **62*<\/strong> (in that order) followed by the destination number and #<\/strong> are usually supported across carriers<\/a>. If you’re traveling internationally, it’s also worth checking out how to make your device ready for international travel<\/a> before you go.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

Benefits of Setting up Call Forwarding\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Call forwarding can be helpful in a few ways. Whether you’re trying to stay within your call minutes limit for the month or want to save your phone’s battery, you can use call forwarding to make these easier. You could even expect an important business call and want to forward it to your landline for better reception. Here are some other benefits of setting up call forwarding.<\/p>\n

Always Stay Connected<\/h3>\n

Because you no longer have to stay in one location to take or make phone calls, mobile phones and call forwarding make it easy for you to be on the go without worrying if you’ll miss an urgent or important call. As an employee, you can leave the office for the day or stay in contact with clients as you run a quick errand.<\/p>\n

If you run into traffic on your way to work, you can forward your business calls to your cell phone until you make it to the office – this feature makes it easy to always remain ready to take a customer or colleague’s call. You can even forward your calls to a co-worker’s phone if you plan on taking a vacation<\/a>. Remember that standard call forwarding supports only one destination number at a time per condition, so you’ll want to choose your forwarding number carefully.<\/p>\n

If you forget your cell phone at home, you can call your network carrier or visit their website to find a call forwarding page that lets you redirect your calls to another mobile phone or landline near you. If you’ll have to leave the house but know a loved one will be calling your house phone, you can move the call to your cell phone instead. Just remember that call forwarding applies only to voice calls – text messages will not be forwarded to your alternate number.<\/p>\n

Avoid Phone Tag and Increase Availability<\/h3>\n

Call forwarding can increase availability for you and your staff. For example, if you’re not in your office at the time of a call, it will probably go to voicemail, and by the time you get back to your caller they may get busy on their end and cause a game of phone tag<\/a> where you continuously miss each other’s calls. Recovering a deleted voicemail<\/a> is also possible if you need to retrieve a missed message.<\/p>\n

With mobile phones like iPhones that have call forwarding, you can immediately direct your calls to your cell phone, so you can remain available even if you’re not physically sitting at your desk. On iOS 18 and later, you can find this setting under Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Forwarding. If your iPhone is running iOS 17 or earlier, go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding instead – this ability helps you stay in touch with your clients in time and gives convenience for them.<\/p>\n

Make It Easier to Travel<\/h3>\n

The convenience of taking calls anywhere stretches to salespeople, construction workers, estate agents and any other profession where you’ll have to travel for business or spend more time away from your desk than at it. You can also benefit from this if you’re going on vacation to another country and want to make it easier for people to stay in touch with you at your new location. One important thing to note: you have to be within range of your cellular network to set up call forwarding, or the feature won’t activate. Call forwarding gives you the freedom to travel without missing any calls or messages \u2014 and pairing it with a waterproof phone<\/a> can make your travels even more worry-free.<\/p>\n

Reduce Long-Distance Calls<\/h3>\n

Using call forwarding makes it easier for clients in other states or countries to connect with you if you have a home office and do business around the world. Instead of making a long-distance call, your clients and business partners can call your local number and immediately get forwarded to your direct line.<\/p>\n

For smaller or newer businesses<\/a>, this feature also makes it easier to expand your company’s presence and decrease the likelihood of missed calls, which can help your business become more efficient and improve your customer service. You can also take advantage of conditional forwarding options – for example, forwarding calls when there’s no answer, when your line is busy, or when your phone is unreachable – giving you even more control over how and when calls reach you.<\/p>\n

Establish Call Forwarding on Your iPhone\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Turning call forwarding on or off on your iPhone<\/a> is a quick process. Before setting your iPhone to forward calls, you have to be within cellular network range – if you’re out of range when setting it up, your calls won’t be forwarded.<\/p>\n

Let’s talk about how the call forwarding iPhone setup process works:<\/p>\n

On iOS 18 or later:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Open the Settings app.<\/li>\n
  2. Tap “Apps.”<\/li>\n
  3. Tap “Phone.”<\/li>\n
  4. Tap “Call Forwarding.”<\/li>\n
  5. Confirm the toggle swipes to the right to indicate the feature is on.<\/li>\n
  6. Tap “Forward To.”<\/li>\n
  7. Enter the phone number where you want your calls redirected.<\/li>\n
  8. Use the back button to save your changes – if you force-close the Settings app<\/a>, it might reset your information – and confirm the destination number is correct.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    On iOS 17 or earlier:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Open the Settings app.<\/li>\n
    2. Scroll until you see “Phone,” then tap it.<\/li>\n
    3. Tap “Call Forwarding.”<\/li>\n
    4. Confirm the toggle swipes to the right to indicate the feature is on.<\/li>\n
    5. Tap “Forward To.”<\/li>\n
    6. Enter the phone number where you want your calls redirected.<\/li>\n
    7. Use the back button to save your changes and confirm the destination number is correct.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Let’s look at how to turn off call forwarding on your iPhone:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Open the Settings app.<\/li>\n
      2. Navigate to “Phone” (on iOS 18+, go to Apps > Phone).<\/li>\n
      3. Tap “Call Forwarding.”<\/li>\n
      4. Swipe the toggle to the left to disable it.<\/li>\n
      5. Use the back button to save your changes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        If you need to go through your network carrier, there’s an alternative way to turn call forwarding on and off using USSD codes dialed directly from your phone<\/a>. Remember that codes can vary slightly by carrier.<\/p>\n

        To turn on unconditional call forwarding (all calls):<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Check with your network carrier for any specific requirements or instructions.<\/li>\n
        2. For most carriers (including AT&T, T-Mobile, and their MVNOs<\/a>), dial *72<\/strong> followed by the phone number where you want to forward your calls. Verizon customers also use *72<\/strong> for all-call forwarding.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          To turn off unconditional call forwarding:<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. For most carriers, dial *73<\/strong> from your cell phone. Verizon customers also use *73<\/strong> to disable forwarding.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Conditional call forwarding codes (standard across most carriers):<\/strong><\/p>\n