Guide
Call forwarding codes for AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon
On AT&T and T-Mobile, dial **61*1 plus the 10-digit number, then **15# to forward calls you don't answer after about 15 seconds, and **67*1 plus the number, then # to forward busy or declined calls. ##002# turns both off. On Verizon, *71 plus the number forwards busy and unanswered calls, and *73 turns it off. Always test from another phone.
You don't need a new phone number, a phone system or an office line to stop losing calls. Every major U.S. carrier lets you forward the calls you don't answer to another number, whether that's a partner's cell, an answering service or an AI receptionist. It takes a short code dialed from your own phone. Here are the codes, what each one does, and how to make sure it actually works before a customer finds out it doesn't.
First, pick the kind of forwarding you want
There are two kinds, and for a working owner the difference matters.
Conditional forwarding
Your phone rings first. Only calls you don't answer, decline or can't take because you're on another call move on. This is what most owners want: you still pick up when you can, and nothing falls through when you can't.
Forward all calls
Every call goes straight to the other number and your phone doesn't ring. Useful on a vacation week or a day you're stuck on a big install, but easy to forget you turned on.
AT&T and T-Mobile codes
AT&T, T-Mobile and many carriers that run on their networks use the same standard codes. Replace NUMBER with the 10-digit number you're forwarding to, with no spaces or dashes. The 1 in front of it is the U.S. country code.
| What you want | Dial this | Turn it off |
|---|---|---|
| Forward when you don't answer | **61*1NUMBER**15# | ##61# |
| Forward when you're busy or tap decline | **67*1NUMBER# | ##67# |
| Forward every call | **21*1NUMBER# | ##21# |
| Turn off all conditional forwarding at once | ##002# |
The number after the second ** in the no-answer code is how many seconds your phone rings before the call moves on. Roughly five seconds per ring is a good way to think about it, so 10 is about two rings, 15 about three, and 25 about five. Many carriers accept values in steps of five up to 30.
Rule of thumb: set up both the no-answer code and the busy code. Then, when you see a call you can't take, tapping decline sends it on right away instead of making the caller wait out the rings.
Verizon codes
Verizon uses shorter star codes. Dial them followed by the 10-digit number you're forwarding to.
| What you want | Dial this | Turn it off |
|---|---|---|
| Forward busy, declined and unanswered calls | *71NUMBER | *73 |
| Forward every call | *72NUMBER | *73 |
With Verizon's no-answer forwarding, Verizon sets the ring count, typically somewhere around four to six rings. If that feels long for a customer standing in water, tap decline when you see a call you can't take and it forwards immediately.
Codes can vary on prepaid plans, smaller carriers and some business accounts. If a code doesn't work, your carrier's support line can confirm the right one for your plan.
Set it up in five minutes
- Write down the number you're forwarding to. Ten digits, no spaces.
- Dial the code from your business cell, the phone customers call. Press call like a normal call. You'll usually hear a short confirmation tone or see a message on screen.
- Add the busy code too on AT&T and T-Mobile, so declined calls forward right away.
- Test it from another phone (next section). Don't skip this.
- Save the off code in your contacts under something like "Forwarding OFF" so you can find it fast.
Test it before a customer does
Forwarding that silently fails is worse than no forwarding, because you'll think you're covered. Borrow a phone that isn't yours, or use a family member's, and run these checks:
- Let it ring out. The call should move on after about the number of rings you chose.
- Call while you're on another call. It should forward instead of going to voicemail.
- Tap decline. It should forward right away.
- Answer one normally. Make sure your phone still rings first and you can pick up.
- Check where it landed. Confirm the message, booking or voicemail at the other end actually reached you.
Watch out: dial codes over the regular cellular network when you can. On some phones, dialing a forwarding code while on Wi-Fi calling doesn't register. If a test fails, turn Wi-Fi calling off, dial the code again, and retest.
Where to forward to
Forwarding is just the pipe. What matters is who or what answers at the other end. A partner or spouse who picks up works until they're busy too. An answering service puts a person on the line, usually billed by the minute or the call. An AI receptionist answers every forwarded call the same way, usually for a flat monthly price. The tradeoffs are laid out in AI receptionist vs answering service vs voicemail, and the habits that make any option work are in how to never miss a service call without hiring a receptionist.
Common problems and quick fixes
| What happens | Likely cause | Try this |
|---|---|---|
| You hear an error tone right after dialing the code | A typo, or the plan doesn't allow forwarding | Re-dial carefully; if it fails again, ask the carrier to enable conditional forwarding |
| Calls still go to your voicemail | Only one of the codes took, or voicemail answers before the forward | Set both no-answer and busy codes, or shorten the ring time on the no-answer code |
| Your phone doesn't ring at all anymore | Forward-all is on instead of conditional forwarding | Turn it off (##21# or *73) and set up the no-answer code instead |
| Callers wait too long before the forward | The ring time is set high, or Verizon's fixed ring count | Use a shorter value in the no-answer code, or tap decline on calls you can't take |
| Forwarding stopped working after a phone swap | Settings sometimes reset with a new SIM or a plan change | Dial the codes again and retest |
Around days off and vacations
Conditional forwarding can stay on all the time, since your phone still rings first. Forward-all is the one to plan around. If you're taking a week off, dial forward-all on your last evening so your phone stays quiet, and put the off code on your calendar for the morning you're back. The first call of your first day back is a bad time to discover your phone never rings.
If more than one person carries the business phone on different days, write the on and off codes on a card that lives with the phone, along with the number calls forward to. Whoever has the phone that week can check the setting in ten seconds instead of guessing.
Office phones and business apps
If your business number lives in a cloud phone app or an office phone system rather than a cell plan, the carrier codes above won't apply. Look in that system's settings for "forward when unanswered" or a "no answer" rule, set the ring time, and point it at the forwarding number. The same testing steps apply. For trade-specific after-hours setups, the trade pages show how calls are typically handled in each line of work.
Common questions
Will forwarding my missed calls change my business number?
No. Conditional forwarding happens inside your carrier's network. Customers keep dialing the same number that's on your truck and your Google listing, and your phone still rings first. Only the calls you don't pick up move on to wherever you point them.
Does call forwarding cost extra?
Often not on standard plans, but it depends on your carrier and plan. Some plans count forwarded calls as minutes used, and some prepaid or business plans restrict forwarding. Check your plan details or ask your carrier before you rely on it for business calls.
Why did my forwarding code fail?
The usual causes are a missing digit or prefix, a plan that blocks forwarding, or dialing the code over Wi-Fi calling on some phones. Try again on the cellular network, check every character, and if it still fails, ask your carrier whether conditional forwarding is enabled on your line.
What happens to my voicemail when I forward missed calls?
Conditional forwarding replaces voicemail for the calls it covers, because the unanswered call goes to the forwarding number instead of your mailbox. Turn forwarding off and voicemail picks up missed calls again. Some carriers also let you restore voicemail with a separate code, so check yours if it doesn't come back.
Can I forward calls only at night or on weekends?
Carrier codes are on or off, not scheduled, so you'd dial the on code at the end of the day and the off code in the morning. Some phone systems and business apps support schedules. Many owners simply leave no-answer forwarding on all the time, since their phone still rings first.