The company that runs the line you want to forward. For a cell phone, that’s your mobile carrier.
10 digits, area code first. Spaces, dots, and brackets are fine.
Mobile
AT&T
AT&T: 5 codes.
Always
Unconditional forwardingEvery 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.
Turn on**21*your number#Add your number above to copy or dial this code.No answer
Conditional, no replyYour phone rings first. If you don’t pick up, the call moves to FrontDesk Talk. This is the setup most owners start with.
Turn on**61*your number#Add your number above to copy or dial this code.Busy
Conditional, busyIf you’re already on a call or you decline one, the caller goes to FrontDesk Talk instead of voicemail.
Turn on**67*your number#Add your number above to copy or dial this code.Unreachable
Conditional, not reachableIf your phone is off, out of battery, or has no signal, calls still get answered.
Turn on**62*your number#Add your number above to copy or dial this code.Everything off
Turns off every kind of forwarding at once.
To turn it off: Dial ##002# and press Call. That turns off every kind of forwarding at once.
Dial from the line you want to forward. Some business lines and landlines play a second dial tone after the star code: wait for it, then dial the number. iPhones don’t dial star or pound codes from a link, so copy the code and paste it into the keypad. Codes can vary by plan. If one doesn’t work, call your carrier.
Full AT&T guideForwarding is a few keypresses, once you know the code
Call forwarding sends the calls for your number to a different number: a second phone, a teammate, or an answering service. On most mobile phones and many business lines you turn it on by dialing a short code with the other number inside it, then pressing Call.
The hard part is that carriers use different codes, and the ones you find on forums are often for another network. This lookup uses the codes from each carrier’s own support pages, fills in your number, and shows you how to turn forwarding off again.
How to use the call forwarding codes
1
Pick your carrier
Choose the company that provides the line you want to forward. For a cell phone, that is your mobile carrier, not the company that made the phone.
2
Type the number to forward to
Enter the 10-digit number where calls should go. Every code updates with your number in place.
3
Dial it from the line you are forwarding
Copy or dial the code on that phone and wait for the confirmation. Then call your number from a different phone to test it.
Unconditional vs conditional forwarding
Unconditional forwarding, often called always, sends every call away and your phone never rings. Conditional forwarding only kicks in when something happens: you don’t answer, you’re already on a call, or your phone is off or out of signal. Conditional forwarding lets you keep answering when you can and still catch the calls you can’t.
Why the codes look so different
AT&T and T-Mobile use the standard GSM codes. Two stars turn a kind of forwarding on, two pound signs turn it off, and the number in the middle says which kind: 21 for always, 61 for no answer, 67 for busy, 62 for unreachable. Verizon and most landlines use older star codes, like *72 to turn forwarding on and *73 to turn it off.
Forwarding is not porting
Forwarding leaves your number with your current carrier and points its calls somewhere else. You undo it by dialing a code. Porting moves the number itself to a new provider, which takes days and paperwork. Forwarding is quicker to set up and easy to reverse, which is why most businesses start there.
How to know it worked
A confirmation tone, a message on screen, or a quick ring at the other number usually means the code was accepted. The only real test is a call: ring your number from a different phone and see where it goes. Test again after you turn forwarding off.
Or let FrontDesk Talk handle it
Forward your calls to a receptionist that always answers
Point your number at FrontDesk Talk with the codes above and keep your number. It answers 24/7, takes several calls at once, sends urgent calls to your cell, and sends you a Talk Note after each call. Setup takes a few minutes.
Questions
What is the code to forward calls on my phone?
It depends on your carrier. AT&T and T-Mobile use **21* plus the number and # to forward every call, and **61* for calls you don’t answer. Verizon uses *72 plus the number for every call and *71 for unanswered calls. Pick your carrier above to see all of them.
How do I turn call forwarding off?
Every on code above has an off code next to it. On AT&T and T-Mobile, ##002# turns off every kind of forwarding at once. On Verizon and most landlines, *73 turns it off.
Do I dial a 1 before the number?
Use the 10-digit number with the area code first. The lookup strips spaces and punctuation for you, and if you paste a number that starts with 1, it drops the extra digit.
Can I tap the code to dial it?
On many Android phones, yes: Dial opens your keypad with the code filled in. iPhones don’t open star and pound codes from a link, so copy the code, open the keypad, and paste it, or dial it by hand.
Why didn’t the code work?
Make sure you dialed from the line you want to forward. Codes can vary by plan, and some business lines only allow certain kinds of forwarding from an online account. If it still fails, ask your carrier which forwarding features your line has.
Does call forwarding cost extra?
Most plans include it, but some carriers count forwarded calls against your minutes if your plan isn’t unlimited. Your carrier can tell you for sure.
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