Heading off on a trip, carrying a second phone for a while, or want every call to land on your office number instead? You don’t need your carrier’s app or a call to customer service — your iPhone can redirect incoming calls on its own. iOS has a built-in Call Forwarding switch for blanket forwarding, and every major carrier also supports classic star codes that give you finer control, like forwarding only the calls you don’t pick up. Here’s how to set it all up, and how to switch it off again.
Turn on call forwarding in Settings
This is the simplest method — it forwards every incoming call to one number.
- Open Settings and tap Phone.
- Tap Call Forwarding.
- Turn the Call Forwarding switch on.
- Tap Forward To, enter the number that should receive your calls, then go back.
A small phone-with-arrow icon appears in the status bar while forwarding is active. To disable it later, return to the same screen and toggle the switch off. On iPhones with two active lines, the setting is per line: go to Settings → Cellular, choose the line, then configure forwarding for it. While you’re tidying up the Phone settings, it’s also worth knowing which built-in iPhone apps you can delete if you want a leaner Home screen. Apple’s iPhone User Guide documents every Phone setting if you want the full reference.
Use carrier codes for conditional forwarding
The Settings toggle is all-or-nothing. For conditional rules — forward only when you’re busy, don’t answer, or have no signal — dial your carrier’s GSM feature codes in the Phone app, exactly like a phone number, then press call:
- Forward all calls: *21*destination number#
- Forward when you don’t answer: *61*destination number#
- Forward when unreachable (phone off or no signal): *62*destination number#
- Forward when your line is busy: *67*destination number#
Type the destination number in international format, without spaces. To check what’s currently active, dial *#21# (or *#61#, *#62#, *#67# for the conditional ones) — your carrier replies with the status. To cancel everything, dial ##004#. One exception: Verizon uses *72 to activate and *73 to cancel on some plans, so check Verizon’s call forwarding FAQ if the standard codes get no response.
If it still doesn’t work
Call forwarding is a carrier feature, not just an iPhone one. If the Call Forwarding row is missing from Settings → Phone, your plan may not include it — some prepaid and MVNO plans block it. Make sure your iPhone runs the latest iOS and restart it; a pending carrier-settings update can hide the option (open Settings → General → About and you’ll be prompted if one is waiting). On dual-SIM iPhones, double-check you configured the right line. And if calls forward but texts don’t follow, that’s expected: only voice calls are redirected. Traveling and handing your phone to someone at a hotel desk? You can temporarily disable Face ID on iPhone for extra peace of mind.
Frequently asked questions
Does call forwarding cost extra?
It depends on your plan. Most major US carriers include basic forwarding, but forwarded minutes can count against your allowance — and roaming charges may apply abroad. Check your carrier’s terms before relying on it on a trip.
Will my text messages and FaceTime calls forward too?
No. Forwarding only redirects cellular voice calls. SMS, iMessage, and FaceTime keep arriving on your iPhone. If you want messages on another device, set up message sync between iPhone and Mac instead.
Conclusion
That’s the whole playbook: one toggle in Settings for blanket forwarding, or a handful of star codes for conditional rules. Set it up before you travel, test it with a call from another phone, and remember to switch it off when you’re back — that little status-bar icon is your reminder.
