Which kind of forwarding to use
Always
Every call goes to FrontDesk Talk and your phone never rings. Use it when you want the AI to answer everything, or at night and on weekends.
No answer
Your phone rings first. If you don’t pick up, the call moves to FrontDesk Talk. This is the setup most owners start with.
Busy
If you’re already on a call or you decline one, the caller goes to FrontDesk Talk instead of voicemail.
Unreachable
If your phone is off, out of battery, or has no signal, calls still get answered.
Our advice for Microsoft Teams Phone: Send unanswered calls to your FrontDesk Talk number, so your Teams devices ring first. For your main number, point the auto attendant’s after hours call flow, or a call queue’s timeout, to an external phone number.
Step by step
Open call settings
In Teams, select Settings and more next to your profile picture, then Settings, then Calls.
Choose how to forward
Under Call handling and forwarding, forward all calls, or set a different response for calls you don’t answer.
Enter your FrontDesk Talk number
Choose a new number as the destination and enter your FrontDesk Talk number.
Check the Calls app
The status at the bottom of the Calls app shows your current forwarding. Microsoft notes it can also say Forward to when Also ring is on, so check Settings if you’re not sure.
Good to know
- Admins can set this for any user in the Teams admin center: Users, Manage users, pick the user, then the Voice tab. Under Call answering rules, choose Be immediately forwarded, or use If unanswered with a ring time.
- Microsoft says unanswered calls go to voicemail after 30 seconds if nobody changes the call answering rules.
- Forwarding to outside numbers needs the calling policy setting for call forwarding and simultaneous ringing to external phone numbers. Microsoft says it’s on by default.
- For the main number, set the auto attendant’s after hours call flow to Redirect call, then External phone number. Call queues can redirect on timeout, on overflow, or when no agents are available.
- Busy calls follow your unanswered rule only if your admin sets Busy on busy during calls to use unanswered settings, or lets users decide.
- On a Teams SIP desk phone, Microsoft lists *33* followed by the number to forward every call, *34* to forward on timeout, and *32* to reset.
- If you don’t see forwarding options, Microsoft says you likely don’t have a voice license.
- Menus and settings can change. If a step doesn’t match, contact the provider.
Menus and settings can vary by plan. If one doesn’t work, call your carrier.
Test it
- Call your business number from a different phone, like your cell.
- You should hear your FrontDesk Talk greeting instead of a ring or voicemail.
- Hang up and watch for the Talk Note by text and email.
Turn it off
In the Calls app, select the forwarding status at the bottom and choose Don’t forward. That turns off forwarding and simultaneous ring.
Before you cancel FrontDesk Talk, turn off forwarding so calls go back to your phone.
Questions
Does an auto attendant need extra licenses to reach an outside number?
Microsoft says the auto attendant’s resource account needs a Teams Phone Resource Account license. With Microsoft Calling Plan numbers it also needs pay as you go funding or Communications Credits. Operator Connect needs nothing more, and Direct Routing needs a voice routing policy.
Will FrontDesk Talk see the caller’s number?
Microsoft says auto attendant and call queue transfers to an outside number show the original caller’s number for Calling Plan and Operator Connect numbers. For other setups, make a test call and check your Talk Note.
Will my callers know the call was forwarded?
No. They dial your usual number and hear your receptionist. Nothing sounds different on their end.
Would porting my number be better?
Forwarding is quickest. Porting moves your number to us so you can drop the old line. Read the porting guide.
Sources, checked October 2026: Microsoft Support: Call forwarding, call groups, and simultaneous ring in Microsoft Teams; Microsoft Learn: Configure call forwarding and delegation settings; Microsoft Learn: Route inbound calls in Microsoft Teams; Microsoft Learn: Set up an auto attendant; Microsoft Learn: Set up a call queue; Microsoft Learn: Voice applications prerequisites and licensing.
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