Call Forwarding: What It Is and How to Use It

Call forwarding redirects incoming calls from your phone number to another phone number. You can usually set up call forwarding in the Phone app or device settings, but the available controls depend on your carrier and phone.

What Is Call Forwarding?

Call forwarding is a phone feature that sends incoming calls to another number you choose. The forwarded call may ring a mobile phone, landline, or another valid number supported by your carrier.

People searching “what is forward call” are usually asking about this automatic redirection. Call forwarding is different from transferring an active call: forwarding happens when someone calls your number, while a transfer moves a call that you have already answered.

The caller normally dials your original number. Your phone service then redirects the incoming call according to the forwarding option you selected.

How to Forward Calls

To call forward, first decide which incoming calls should be redirected and confirm the full destination number. General steps are:

1. Open the Phone app or the calling section of your device settings.
2. Look for Call Forwarding, Calling Accounts, Calls, or a similarly named setting.
3. If your phone shows more than one mobile line, select the line that receives the calls you want to forward.
4. Choose whether to forward every call or only calls received under certain conditions.
5. Enter the destination number in the format requested by the phone or carrier.
6. Save or enable the setting.
7. Call your original number from another phone to confirm that forwarding works as expected.

If no forwarding control appears, your carrier may manage the feature differently or may not support it for your line. Do not enter a calling code found in an unverified guide, because carrier codes are not universal.

How to Forward a Call on iPhone

On a supported iPhone, open Settings and look in the phone or calling settings for Call Forwarding. The exact location can differ by iOS version, carrier, region, and whether the iPhone uses more than one line.

1. Open Settings.
2. Find the settings for Phone or calling features.
3. Select Call Forwarding if it appears.
4. Turn forwarding on and enter the destination number.
5. Return to the previous screen so the setting can be saved or activated.
6. Make a test call to your original number from another phone.

If Call Forwarding is missing, unavailable, or does not stay enabled, contact your carrier’s official support. Some carriers control forwarding through their network instead of displaying the standard iPhone switch.

How to Forward a Call on Android

On many Android phones, call-forwarding controls are inside the Phone app. Labels and menu locations vary among device manufacturers, Android versions, carriers, calling apps, and mobile lines.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Open its menu or settings.
3. Look for Calls, Calling Accounts, Supplementary Services, or Call Forwarding.
4. Select the correct mobile line if the phone has more than one.
5. Choose the type of forwarding you want.
6. Enter the destination number and enable or save the setting.
7. Test the result by calling your original number from another phone.

If you cannot find the option, use the search box in device settings to search for “call forwarding.” A missing option may mean that the carrier manages call forwarding separately.

What Types of Call Forwarding Are Available?

The types of call forwarding describe when an incoming call should be redirected. A phone or carrier may offer all, some, or none of these options:

• Unconditional forwarding: Every incoming call is sent to the destination number without first ringing your original phone.
• Busy forwarding: A call is redirected when your original line is busy.
• Unanswered forwarding: A call is redirected when you do not answer it.
• Unreachable forwarding: A call is redirected when your phone cannot be reached, such as when it has no network connection.

These labels may appear differently on your phone. Read the description beside each option before enabling it, especially if you want your original phone to ring first.

How Do You Turn Off Call Forwarding?

Turning off call forwarding stops future incoming calls from being redirected under the disabled rule. Disable each active forwarding type if your phone lists unconditional, busy, unanswered, and unreachable forwarding separately.

1. Return to the call-forwarding controls in the Phone app or device settings.
2. Select the mobile line whose forwarding you want to change.
3. Turn off the active forwarding switch or disable each enabled forwarding condition.
4. Save the change if the screen provides a save control.
5. Call your original number from another phone and confirm that it rings normally.

If calls still go elsewhere, check every forwarding condition and any other calling service that may redirect calls. Contact the carrier’s official support if the device shows forwarding as off but the network continues to redirect calls.

What Should You Do If Call Forwarding Does Not Work?

If call forwarding does not work, check the destination number, network connection, phone settings, and carrier support before trying again.

• Confirm that the destination number is complete and uses the format requested by your phone or carrier.
• Check that your phone has a working connection to the carrier network when you enable or disable forwarding.
• Make sure you changed the correct mobile line on a phone with more than one line.
• Review every forwarding condition; unconditional forwarding and conditional forwarding use separate settings on some phones.
• Restart the Phone app or the device, then check whether the setting remains enabled.
• Make a test call from another phone instead of relying only on the symbol or status shown on your screen.
• Ask your carrier’s official support whether call forwarding is supported and how it is managed for your specific line.

When contacting support, describe what happens during a test call and whether the forwarding control is missing, unavailable, or failing to save. That information helps distinguish a device-setting problem from a carrier-network problem.