Guides

Call forwarding guides

Carrier-by-carrier call forwarding: the codes that turn it on, the ones that turn it off, what forwarded calls cost, and what forwarding cannot do.

Reviewed by Sujan ThapaliyaLast updated August 19, 2026

Call forwarding sends incoming calls to another number instead of ringing your handset. Most US carriers use *72 plus the destination number to forward everything and *73 to stop, but the conditional codes, the costs and the confirmation behaviour differ by carrier. These guides cover them one at a time.

What is the difference between unconditional and conditional forwarding?

Unconditional forwarding moves every call, and your handset never rings — which is why people set it, forget it, and later cannot explain where their calls went. Conditional forwarding rings your phone first and moves only the calls you do not answer, or only the ones that arrive while you are busy or out of coverage.

Four kinds of forwarding, and the behaviour that distinguishes them.
Type	Does your phone ring?	Typical code
Unconditional	No. Every call goes straight to the other number.	*72 on most US carriers
No answer	Yes, then moves if you do not pick up.	71 on Verizon; 61* on GSM networks
Busy	Only if the line is already engaged.	67 on GSM networks
Unreachable	Only when the phone is off or out of coverage.	62 on GSM networks

How do I turn call forwarding off?

On most US carriers, dialling *73 clears both unconditional and conditional forwarding, and on GSM networks ##002# clears every forwarding rule at once. Two things go wrong: people hang up before the confirmation tone plays, and people cancel unconditional forwarding without realising a conditional rule is still set underneath it.

Why do forwarded calls still cost money?

Because the carrier is placing the second leg of the call on your behalf. If your plan does not include unlimited minutes, a forwarded call is billed as though you answered it — including when it is forwarded to a landline. On a line taking real volume that is a bill nobody planned for, and it is the usual reason a business stops using forwarding as a routing tool.

When should a business stop using forwarding?

As soon as it needs any of four things carrier forwarding cannot do: a schedule, more than one destination, a record of what happened, or the same number answered by more than one person. That is the point where routing belongs in a phone platform rather than in a star code.

Call forwarding

Guides in this section

Verizon call forwarding: every code, and how to turn it off

On a Verizon wireless line, dial *72 followed by the 10-digit destination number to forward every incoming call, or *71 followed by the number to forward only the calls you do not answer. Dial *73 to turn forwarding off. Forwarded calls are billed as if you answered them.

Frequently asked questions

Does call forwarding also forward text messages?

No. Forwarding moves voice calls only; texts stay on the original line. This surprises almost everyone who forwards a line to hand it over to a colleague.

Can I forward my number to an international destination?

Usually not. Most US carriers block forwarding to international numbers. Routing the number through a phone platform that supports international termination is the way around it.

Does forwarding work if my phone is switched off?

Unconditional forwarding does, because the network never tries the handset. Conditional rules depend on which condition you set: an unreachable rule fires when the phone is off, a no-answer rule cannot.

Why does my phone say forwarding is on when I did not set it?

Either a conditional rule was set once and never cleared — voicemail itself is usually implemented as a conditional forward — or someone with access to the handset set one. Dial the cancel code, then check again from another phone.

Sources

Combating Spoofed Robocalls with Caller ID Authentication — Federal Communications CommissionThe STIR/SHAKEN framework, the attestation levels carriers sign calls with, and the mandate requiring providers to authenticate caller ID.
47 U.S.C. § 227 — Restrictions on the use of telephone equipment — Cornell Legal Information InstituteThe Telephone Consumer Protection Act itself — the consent requirements, calling-hours limits, and private right of action.
ITU-T Recommendation E.164 — The international public telecommunication numbering plan — International Telecommunication UnionThe international number format, the 15-digit maximum, and how country codes and national numbers compose.

Or run the phone system that does not need star codes

Routing rules, voicemail, recording and reporting against numbers you own, priced on what you use.

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