Call forwarding is built into almost every phone. You don’t need an app or a new phone plan. You dial a short code once, and from then on the calls you don’t pick up go wherever you’ve told them to go: a colleague, an answering service or a receptionist.
This guide covers the codes for mobiles and landlines in Australia, the US, Canada and the UK, how to check what’s switched on, and how to fix it when it doesn’t work.
Forward only the calls you miss
There are two kinds of forwarding:
- Unconditional sends every call away. Your phone never rings. That’s useful on holidays, but not for everyday business.
- Conditional rings your phone first and only forwards the calls you don’t take. This is the one most businesses want.
Conditional forwarding has three separate triggers, and each one is switched on separately:
| Trigger | When it forwards | Code |
|---|---|---|
| No answer | Your phone rings out | **61*number# |
| Busy | You’re already on a call, or you decline it | **67*number# |
| Unreachable | Your phone is off or has no signal | **62*number# |
Dial each code, replacing number with the number you’re forwarding to, and press call. You’ll see a message on screen confirming it’s on. Use the full number in international format, for example +61412345678, or the local format your carrier expects.
Tip: there’s also a combined code, **004*number#, that sets all three at once. On some phones and networks it reports success but doesn’t actually take effect, so we recommend dialling the three codes one at a time.
Australia
Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and most mobiles
All three major networks, and the brands that run on them, use the standard codes above:
- No answer:
**61*number# - Busy:
**67*number# - Unreachable:
**62*number# - Turn everything off:
##002#
Telstra’s default ring time before a no-answer forward is 15 seconds. To change it, add two stars and the number of seconds before the final hash, for example **61*number**25# for 25 seconds. Most networks accept 5 to 30 seconds in steps of 5.
Telstra landlines
Fixed lines use a single star and different codes:
- No answer:
*61number#, cancel with#61# - Busy:
*24number#, cancel with#24#
Other landline and NBN phone providers often use their own codes or a setting in their app or web portal. If the codes don’t work, search your provider’s help pages for “call forward no answer”.
United States and Canada
Verizon
Verizon uses its own codes instead of the standard ones:
- Forward when busy or not answered: dial
*71followed by the 10-digit number, then press call - Forward every call:
*72and the number - Turn forwarding off:
*73
AT&T, T-Mobile and most other carriers
These use the standard codes. Put a 1 before the 10-digit number:
- No answer:
**61*1number# - Busy:
**67*1number# - Unreachable:
**62*1number# - Turn them off:
##61#,##67#and##62#, or##002#for everything
Some carriers and prepaid plans don’t allow forwarding. If the codes fail, call your carrier and ask them to turn on “conditional call forwarding”.
United Kingdom
EE, Vodafone, O2, Three and the brands that use their networks all use the standard codes: **61*, **67* and **62*, followed by the full number and #. ##002# turns all forwarding off.
iPhone and Android settings
On an iPhone, Settings → Phone → Call Forwarding only offers unconditional forwarding, which forwards every call. To forward only missed calls, use the dial codes above.
Most Android phones have conditional options in the Phone app, under Settings → Calls → Call forwarding. The names vary by brand, but look for “when busy”, “when unanswered” and “when unreachable”.
Check what’s switched on
Dial these and press call to see where each type of forwarding currently goes:
*#61#no answer*#67#busy*#62#unreachable*#21#all calls
Test it properly
Test each trigger from another phone:
- No answer: call your number and let it ring out.
- Busy: call your number and press decline.
- Unreachable: switch on flight mode and call your number.
If all three reach the right place, you’re done.
If it isn’t working
- Calls still go to voicemail. Your voicemail may be grabbing the call first. Dial
##002#to clear all forwarding, then set the three codes again. - “Connection problem or invalid MMI code.” Check that you’ve included every star and hash, and try the number in a different format (with or without the country code).
- It works for missed calls but not when you’re busy. Each trigger is separate. Dial
**67*number#again. - Nothing works. Some plans block forwarding. Call your carrier and ask them to switch on conditional call forwarding to the number you want.