Call forwarding codes are the short star and hash sequences you dial on your phone to send calls somewhere else: all of them, or only the ones you don’t answer. They’re how most small business owners send calls to a second phone, a colleague, an answering service or an AI receptionist without changing their number. The catch is that the codes are different on every carrier, and a lot of the lists online mix them up.
Below are the forwarding codes for the big three US carriers, taken from each carrier’s own support pages (checked in October 2026), plus how to test them and the gotchas that trip people up. Carriers change things, so if a code doesn’t work, check your carrier’s support site or call them.
Two kinds of forwarding
- Unconditional forwarding sends every call straight to the other number. Your phone doesn’t ring at all.
- Conditional forwarding only forwards calls you don’t pick up: no answer, line busy, or phone off or out of signal. Your phone rings first, and if you don’t answer, the call moves on.
For most business owners, conditional forwarding is the one you want. You still get to answer when you can, and nothing is lost when you can’t.
Verizon call forwarding codes
| What it does | Dial |
|---|---|
| Forward all calls | *72 then the 10-digit number |
| Forward only unanswered or busy calls | *71 then the 10-digit number |
| Turn forwarding off | *73 |
Verizon’s support pages say conditional forwarding kicks in after 3 to 6 rings, that star codes may not work outside Verizon’s coverage, and that you can only forward to an active US 10-digit number. Call forwarding is available on all plans, usually with no monthly fee, but if your plan doesn’t include unlimited minutes, forwarded calls are billed as normal minutes.
T-Mobile call forwarding codes
| What it does | Turn on | Turn off |
|---|---|---|
| Forward all calls | **21*1 + number # | ##21# |
| Forward when you don’t answer | **61*1 + number # | ##61# |
| Forward when your phone is off or has no signal | **62*1 + number # | ##62# |
| Forward when you’re on another call | **67*1 + number # | ##67# |
| Reset all forwarding to default | ##004# | |
Replace “number” with the 10-digit number you’re forwarding to, so forwarding unanswered calls to 555-123-4567 would be **61*15551234567#. T-Mobile also lets you set how long your phone rings before an unanswered call forwards, from 5 up to 30 seconds in 5-second steps, by adding the seconds at the end: **61*15551234567**20# forwards after 20 seconds. T-Mobile doesn’t allow forwarding to international numbers.
AT&T call forwarding codes
| What it does | Dial |
|---|---|
| Forward all calls | *21* then the 10-digit number, then # |
| Turn forwarding off | #21# |
Wait a few seconds after dialing for the confirmation tone. AT&T’s support pages say forwarding has to be set from the phone itself, not online, that it takes priority over your AT&T voicemail, and that forwarded calls are billed for the length of the call, with long distance or roaming charges possible depending on your plan. We couldn’t find conditional (no-answer or busy) codes on AT&T’s own pages, so we haven’t listed the ones floating around online. On a smartphone, check the call forwarding options in your phone’s settings, or ask AT&T to set up no-answer forwarding for you.
What about other carriers?
Prepaid brands and smaller carriers that run on the big three networks often use the same codes, but not always. UScellular is now part of T-Mobile, so check T-Mobile’s instructions. Business VoIP systems, Google Voice and similar services don’t use codes at all; you set forwarding in the app or web dashboard.
How do you check forwarding is working?
- Set it up, then wait for the confirmation tone or message.
- Call your number from a different phone. For conditional forwarding, let it ring out without answering.
- Check where the call ends up, and that the caller’s number shows correctly at the other end.
- Turn it off with the off code and test again, so you know you can undo it.
Gotchas to watch for
- Your voicemail stops catching calls. Forwarding usually overrides it, so messages go wherever you forwarded to.
- Minutes may count twice. On limited plans, a forwarded call can use minutes even though you never answered it.
- Busy destinations give callers a busy signal. Forward to something that can take more than one call at a time if you can.
- Remember to turn it off. It’s easy to forget you set unconditional forwarding and wonder why your phone has gone quiet.
Where should business calls forward to?
Forwarding to a second phone just moves the problem if that person is also busy. Forwarding missed calls to something that always answers means every caller gets a response. Ansdale, which is ours, is an AI receptionist built to sit on the end of conditional forwarding: it answers in your business name, books appointments into your calendar and sends urgent calls back to you, from $49 a month. Our guide to call forwarding for contractors covers setups like simultaneous ring and call windows.
Questions people ask
What is the code to forward calls on Verizon?
Dial *72 followed by the 10-digit number to forward all calls, or *71 followed by the number to forward only unanswered or busy calls. Dial *73 to turn forwarding off.
What is the T-Mobile code for forwarding unanswered calls?
Dial **61*1 followed by the 10-digit number and #. Turn it off with ##61#. You can set the ring time by adding ** and 5 to 30 seconds before the final #.
How do I forward calls on AT&T?
AT&T’s support pages give *21* followed by the 10-digit number and # to forward all calls, and #21# to turn it off. For no-answer forwarding, use your phone’s settings or ask AT&T.
What is conditional call forwarding?
Forwarding that only applies when you don’t answer, your line is busy, or your phone is off or out of signal. Your phone rings first, and unanswered calls move on to the other number.
Leave a Reply