How to Set Up Call Forwarding on iPhone

To set up call forwarding on an iPhone, open Settings, select Apps, select Phone, and then select Call Forwarding. Turn Call Forwarding on, enter the destination number, and return to the previous screen to save the setting.

What should you check before turning on call forwarding?

Call forwarding sends incoming voice calls from your iPhone line to another phone number. The feature is provided by your wireless carrier, so the available controls and forwarding rules can vary by carrier and account.

Before you turn on call forwarding on an iPhone, have the complete destination number ready. Check every digit carefully. If the number requires a country or area code when dialed from your cellular line, include it in the format accepted by your carrier.

• Make sure the iPhone has active cellular service when you change the setting.
• Confirm that the destination phone can receive calls.
• If the iPhone uses more than one cellular line, identify which line should forward its calls.
• Check with the account owner if carrier settings are restricted or managed by someone else.

Keep both phones nearby if possible. That makes it easier to test the iPhone call forwarding setup immediately.

How do you set up call forwarding on an iPhone?

On a current iPhone software version, use the Phone settings to enable call forwarding. The exact screen can differ when a carrier manages forwarding outside the Settings app.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Select Apps.
3. Select Phone.
4. Select Call Forwarding.
5. If asked, choose the cellular line you want to manage.
6. Turn on Call Forwarding.
7. Select Forward To and enter the destination phone number.
8. Return to the previous screen. The iPhone should retain the number automatically.

On an older iPhone software version, Phone may appear directly on the main Settings screen instead of under Apps. In that case, select Settings, Phone, and Call Forwarding.

After you turn on call forwarding on the iPhone, allow a moment for the carrier network to register the change. Do not assume the setup worked until you test an incoming call.

How can you check whether iPhone call forwarding is active?

Open Settings, Apps, Phone, and Call Forwarding. If the switch is on and the intended destination number appears under Forward To, the iPhone is configured to request forwarding for that cellular line.

A test call provides the clearest confirmation that the carrier network accepted the setting.

1. Leave the destination phone available to receive a call.
2. Use a different phone to call the iPhone number that you forwarded.
3. Confirm that the destination phone rings.
4. Answer the call and check that audio works in both directions.

If the iPhone has two cellular lines, test the number assigned to the line you changed. A successful test on one line does not confirm forwarding on the other line.

How do you change or turn off call forwarding on an iPhone?

To change the call forwarding number on an iPhone, return to Settings, Apps, Phone, Call Forwarding, and Forward To. Replace the existing destination number, return to the previous screen, and make another test call.

To turn off call forwarding on an iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Apps, then Phone.
3. Select Call Forwarding and choose the correct cellular line if prompted.
4. Turn off the Call Forwarding switch.
5. Call the iPhone from another phone and confirm that the iPhone rings normally.

Disabling the switch removes forwarding through that Settings control. If forwarding was activated through a carrier-specific method, you may also need to disable it through that same method.

What should you do if the Call Forwarding option is missing?

A missing Call Forwarding option does not prove that the iPhone is faulty or that forwarding is unavailable. Some carriers do not expose the standard iPhone switch and instead require an account tool, carrier app, or carrier-specific dialing procedure.

1. Confirm that the cellular line is turned on and connected to the carrier network.
2. Restart the iPhone, then check Settings, Apps, Phone again.
3. Open Settings, General, and About. Wait briefly in case the iPhone offers a carrier settings update.
4. Install an available iPhone software update, then check the Phone settings again.
5. Ask the wireless carrier which activation method applies to your specific line and account.

Do not rely on an unofficial dial code found in a general search result. Dialing procedures are carrier-dependent, and a code that works for one network or forwarding type may not work for another.

How do you troubleshoot iPhone call forwarding?

If calls do not forward, first reopen Call Forwarding and verify that the switch is on, the correct cellular line is selected, and every digit in the destination number is correct. Then turn Airplane Mode on briefly, turn it off, wait for cellular service to return, and test again.

• Calls still reach the iPhone: Turn forwarding off, restart the iPhone, enable it again, and repeat the incoming-call test.
• The destination number is rejected: Reenter the complete number in the format required by the carrier. Ask the carrier whether that type of destination is allowed.
• The setting will not load: Move to an area with reliable cellular service and try again. Wi-Fi alone may not be enough for the carrier to register the change.
• Forwarding remains active after the switch is off: Restart the iPhone and test again. If calls still forward, the carrier may have an active network-level rule that must be removed by the carrier-specific method.
• Only one line behaves correctly: Check and test each cellular line separately.

If repeated tests fail, contact the wireless carrier. Tell the carrier which line is affected, whether the Call Forwarding switch appears, what destination format you entered, and what happened during the test call.