How to set up call forwarding to your answering service

This guide shows you exactly how to set up a call forwarding answering service on your business phone. Whether you're using Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, RingCentral, Google Voice, or any of the 30+ other carriers and VoIP systems below, the setup takes about two minutes.

You'll need:

• Your business phone or web phone account
• The forwarding number from your answering service (in Upfirst, this is the phone number listed in your dashboard)

That's it. Let's get you forwarded.

What a call forwarding answering service actually does

A call forwarding answering service is a phone number you point your business line at. Instead of going to voicemail, every call rings into the service and gets answered by a human or AI receptionist.

You keep your existing number. Your customers don't see anything change. The only difference is that someone (or something) is now picking up.

If you're using Upfirst, the answering service is an AI phone assistant that greets the caller, takes a message, and sends you a text summary. If you're using a traditional answering service, it's a human virtual receptionist doing roughly the same job. If you haven't picked one yet, our best AI answering service comparison and live answering service pricing comparison walk through the major options.

The call forwarding answering service model works the same way regardless of which provider you choose. The forwarding setup is identical. What changes is who (or what) picks up the call.

Pick the right type of forwarding

Before you dial any codes, decide which type of forwarding fits your business.

Immediate (unconditional) sends every call straight to the answering service. Your phone never rings. Use it if you don't want to take calls yourself.

No-answer rings your phone first and forwards only if you don't pick up after a few rings. Use it if you want to answer when you can and let the service handle the rest.

Busy forwards calls when you're already on a call. Pair it with no-answer so you never miss anything.

Scheduled forwards only during set hours, like nights and weekends. Most mobile carriers don't support this directly. If your carrier has no schedule setting, you have to enable forwarding manually at the end of your workday and disable it the next morning. VoIP providers like RingCentral, Vonage, and Zoom Phone usually let you set a schedule inside their dashboard.

Upfirst answers any call you forward to it, so the timing is controlled on your end, not ours.

If you're not sure which to pick, start with no-answer forwarding. You stay reachable, and anything you miss gets caught.

Important: turn off Live Voicemail on iPhone first

If you use an iPhone, Live Voicemail will intercept calls before they reach your answering service. Turn it off before you set up forwarding. The same applies to most third-party phone answering apps: if they're set to auto-answer, disable that feature so calls can flow through to your service.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Phone.
3. Tap Live Voicemail.
4. Toggle it off.

You only need to do this once.

Call forwarding answering service setup by carrier

Find your carrier or phone system below and follow the steps. Examples use 9545552171 as the destination number. Replace it with your actual answering service number.

Mobile carriers

Verizon

Dial *72 followed by your forwarding number, then press call.

Example: *729545552171

To disable, dial *73.

AT&T

Dial **21* followed by your forwarding number, then #, then press call.

Example: **21*9545552171#

To disable, dial #21#.

T-Mobile

Dial **21* followed by your forwarding number, then #, then press call.

Example: **21*9545552171#

To disable, dial #21#.

Sprint

Sprint accounts now run on T-Mobile, but legacy Sprint numbers still use star codes.

Dial *72 followed by your forwarding number, then press call.

To disable, dial *73.

Boost Mobile

Dial *72 followed by your forwarding number, then press call.

To disable, dial *73 or *720.

Mint Mobile

Dial **21*1 followed by your 10-digit forwarding number, then #, then press call.

Example: **21*19545552171#

To disable, dial ##21#.

Cricket Wireless

Dial **21* followed by your forwarding number, then #, then press call.

To disable, dial ##21#.

Consumer Cellular

Dial **21* followed by your forwarding number, then #, then press call.

To disable, dial ##21#.

Xfinity Mobile

Dial *72 followed by your forwarding number, then press call.

To disable, dial *73.

Other mobile carriers (Metro by T-Mobile, US Cellular, Straight Talk, Tracfone, Simple Mobile, Walmart Family Mobile, Google Fi, Republic Wireless, Ting Mobile, FreedomPop, Optus)

Most of these use one of two patterns:

• Star codes: *72 to enable, *73 to disable.
• GSM codes: **21*# to enable, ##21# to disable.

Try star codes first. If they don't take, try GSM codes. Google Fi, Republic Wireless, and Ting use their account dashboard or app instead of dial codes.

Landlines

Dial *72 followed by your forwarding number, then press call.

Example: *729545552171

To disable, dial *73.

If your landline runs through a cable provider like Spectrum or Xfinity, set forwarding through the provider's online portal.

VoIP and web phone systems

VoIP services don't accept star codes. You configure forwarding inside the provider's web dashboard.

RingCentral

1. Log in to your RingCentral account.
2. Click your profile icon and select Settings.
3. Go to Phone System, then Call Handling & Forwarding.
4. Under Call Forwarding, enter your forwarding number.
5. Save.

Vonage

1. Log in to your Vonage account.
2. Click Account, then My Services.
3. Under Call Forwarding, click Edit.
4. Enter your forwarding number.
5. Save.

Google Voice

Google Voice has an extra step because it filters calls aggressively.

1. In your answering service, turn off spam blocking. In Upfirst, this is under Settings, then Call Filtering.
2. Log in to Google Voice on a computer.
3. Click the gear icon and add a new linked number.
4. Enter your forwarding number and choose Verify by phone.
5. Answer the verification call inside your answering service and enter the code in Google Voice.
6. Create a forwarding rule that sends all calls to your forwarding number.
7. In Google Voice settings, turn off "Show my Google Voice number as caller ID."

Dialpad

1. Log in to your Dialpad account.
2. Click your profile icon and select Settings.
3. Go to Calls in the left sidebar.
4. Under Call Forwarding, enter your forwarding number.
5. Save.

OpenPhone (Quo)

1. Open OpenPhone in the web or desktop app.
2. Go to Phone Number Settings.
3. Find Forward Calls or Call Flows.
4. Enter your forwarding number.
5. Save.

Nextiva

1. Log in to your Nextiva account.
2. Click your profile icon and select Settings.
3. Go to Phone Numbers under the Admin tab.
4. Click the number you want to forward.
5. Under Call Forwarding, enter your forwarding number.
6. Save.

8x8

1. Log in to your 8x8 account.
2. Click your profile icon and select Admin Console.
3. Go to Users and pick the user you want to forward.
4. Under Call Forwarding, enter your forwarding number.
5. Save.

Grasshopper

1. Log in to your Grasshopper account.
2. Click Settings in the left menu.
3. Select Call Forwarding under Business Settings.
4. Enter your forwarding number.
5. Save.

Zoom Phone

1. Log in to your Zoom account.
2. Click Phone System in the left menu.
3. Select Users & Rooms and choose your profile.
4. Under Call Handling, click Edit next to Call Forwarding.
5. Enter your forwarding number.
6. Save.

Cisco Webex Calling

1. Log in to Webex Calling.
2. Click your profile icon and select Settings.
3. Under Calling, go to Call Forwarding.
4. Enter your forwarding number.
5. Save.

GoTo Connect

1. Log in to GoTo Connect.
2. Click Settings in the left menu.
3. Select Call Handling under Phone Settings.
4. Enter your forwarding number under Call Forwarding.
5. Save.

Ooma Office

1. Log in to Ooma Office.
2. Click Settings in the top-right corner.
3. Select Call Forwarding.
4. Enter your forwarding number.
5. Save.

magicJack for Business

1. Log in at magicjack.com.
2. Click Settings in the top-right corner.
3. Select Call Forwarding.
4. Enter your forwarding number.
5. Save.

Avaya Cloud Office

1. Log in at Avaya.com.
2. Click your profile icon and select Settings.
3. Go to Phone System, then Call Forwarding.
4. Enter your forwarding number.
5. Save.

Microsoft Teams Phone

1. Open Microsoft Teams.
2. Click your profile picture and select Settings.
3. Go to Calls.
4. Under Call Forwarding, click Edit.
5. Enter your forwarding number.
6. Save.

Freedom Mobile

In your account:

1. Sign in to your Freedom Mobile account.
2. Go to My Account.
3. Turn on Call Forwarding.
4. Enter your forwarding number.
5. Save.

Or by dial code:

Dial *21* followed by your forwarding number, then #, then press call. To disable, dial #21#.

Rogers

In MyRogers:

1. Log in to MyRogers.
2. Choose the phone you want to manage.
3. Click Configure Your Current Features.
4. Select the Forwarding tab.
5. Enter your forwarding number and save.

Or by dial code:

Dial *21* followed by your forwarding number, then #, then press send. Wait for confirmation beeps. To disable, dial ##21#.

Bell

Dial *72 (or 1172 on a rotary phone). Listen for three beeps and a dial tone. Enter your forwarding number.

If someone answers your forwarding number, keep the line open for at least 5 seconds. If there's no answer or a busy signal, hang up after 3 seconds and repeat the steps to activate.

For Home Hub 3000 modem users, dial *72, enter your forwarding number followed by #, and listen for the confirmation message.

To disable, dial #73 (or 1173 on a rotary phone).

Verizon OneTalk

In the OneTalk admin portal:

1. From the OneTalk Overview page, click Manage Lines and Devices.
2. Select the line you want to forward.
3. Click User Features, then Call Forwarding, then Always.
4. Toggle the switch to green next to your line.
5. Click Add Number and enter your forwarding number.
6. Submit.

Or by dial code from the OneTalk phone:

Dial *72, then your forwarding number including the area code. Wait for the confirmation tone. To disable, dial *73.

CRM phones and integrated dialers (HubSpot Calling, Follow Up Boss, Zoho PhoneBridge, CallRail, Weave, GoDaddy Conversations, Copper, Corvum, MightyCall, JustCall, Phone.com, NumberBarn, CloudTalk, Aircall)

These platforms each include their own phone system. The forwarding setup is similar across all of them: log in, find the number you want to forward, set the destination to your answering service number, and save.

Search your platform's help center for "call forwarding," or contact their support if you can't find the setting.

Don't see your carrier or system here?

Contact your carrier or phone system provider and ask for "unconditional call forwarding to an external number." If you're an Upfirst customer, email support@upfirst.ai and we'll walk you through it.

Test your call forwarding answering service setup

Before you rely on the new setup, run this short test:

1. Call your business number from a different phone. Confirm the answering service picks up.
2. Leave a test message. Confirm you get the call summary by text or email.
3. Call again from a third number to test simultaneous calls. A modern service like Upfirst handles unlimited simultaneous calls so callers never get a busy signal.
4. Check your dashboard. Verify the call shows up with the right caller ID and timestamp.

If anything looks wrong, disable forwarding (*73 on most carriers) and check the steps again.

Common call forwarding problems

Most failed setups come down to one of these.

The code didn't take. Try again with just the 10-digit number, no country code, no hyphens. If star codes don't work, try GSM codes (**21*#).

Calls still ring your phone. You enabled forwarding but tested from your own number. Calls from your own line sometimes bypass forwarding. Test from a different phone.

Calls go to your voicemail instead of the service. Either forwarding didn't activate, or no-answer forwarding fires after voicemail kicks in. Lower your voicemail ring count or switch to immediate forwarding.

iPhone calls aren't forwarding. Live Voicemail is probably still on. Go to Settings, Phone, Live Voicemail and toggle it off.

Caller ID looks wrong on inbound calls. Some answering services display their own number on caller ID. Most let you pass through the original caller's ID inside the dashboard or via CNAM.

FAQs

Does call forwarding cost extra?

On most U.S. mobile plans, immediate forwarding is free. A few carriers charge a per-minute rate because the call is technically routed twice. Check your plan details. VoIP services usually include forwarding at no extra cost.

Can I forward calls to a virtual receptionist or AI receptionist?

Yes. The forwarding number from a virtual receptionist or AI service works the same as any other phone number. Dial the activation code, enter the forwarding number, and your calls route to the service.

How do I disable call forwarding?

On most carriers, dial *73 and press call. On GSM-style carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Mint, Cricket), dial ##21#. Inside a VoIP dashboard, find the Call Forwarding setting and toggle it off.

What if my carrier isn't listed?

Try the universal patterns first: *72 to enable on most U.S. carriers, or **21*# on GSM-style networks. If neither works, contact your carrier and ask for unconditional call forwarding to an external number. If you want a refresher on what is call forwarding, we cover the underlying mechanics there.

Will my customers know I'm using an answering service?

That depends on the service. With a call forwarding answering service like Upfirst, the AI introduces itself naturally instead of pretending to be a person. Callers know they're talking to an AI, ask clearer questions, and get faster answers.

How long does forwarding take to activate?

Star codes activate instantly. VoIP and smartphone settings save in a few seconds. Carrier dashboard changes can take 5 to 10 minutes to propagate. Test before you rely on it.

Can I forward only after-hours?

Most mobile carriers don't support scheduled forwarding. You have two options. First, manually toggle forwarding on at the end of your workday and off the next morning. This is what most owners on Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile end up doing. Second, if you use a VoIP provider like RingCentral, Vonage, or Zoom Phone, set a schedule inside their dashboard. The answering service answers any call you forward to it, so the timing is controlled on your end.

Setup takes about two minutes once you have your forwarding number. If you're still evaluating a call forwarding answering service, the Upfirst pricing page shows what's included on each plan. You can start a free trial without entering a credit card.