What is call forwarding? Meaning, types, and how to set it up

What does call forwarding mean?

Call forwarding is a phone feature that redirects incoming calls from one number to another. Someone calls your office line, but you're not at your desk. Instead of ringing out or going to voicemail, the call gets sent to your cell phone, a coworker, or an answering service.

The call forwarding meaning is straightforward: your calls follow you. The caller dials your main number, and the phone system routes it wherever you've told it to go. They don't need a second number. They just call the one they already have.

Most carriers and VoIP providers include call forwarding as a standard feature. You can turn it on from your phone's settings or by dialing a short code.

How does call forwarding work?

Here's what happens when someone calls a number with forwarding turned on:

1. The caller dials your main number.

2. Your phone system checks your forwarding settings.

3. Instead of ringing your desk phone, the system routes the call to the number you chose.

4. You answer on your cell phone, home phone, or another device.

The caller doesn't notice anything different. The redirect happens in the background, and to them it feels like a normal call.

Common call forwarding codes

Most carriers let you turn on call forwarding by dialing a star code from your phone's keypad.

*72: Activate call forwarding (all calls)

*73: Deactivate call forwarding

*71: Activate forwarding when busy or no answer

These codes work on most major U.S. carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Some providers use different codes, so check with yours if they don't work. We have step-by-step guides for 40+ carriers and phone systems if you need specific instructions.

Types of call forwarding

Not all call forwarding works the same way. There are five common types, and which one you use depends on what you need.

Unconditional forwarding sends every incoming call to another number, no matter what. Your phone never rings. Use this when you're away for the day and want all calls going to your cell or an after-hours service.

Conditional forwarding only redirects calls under certain conditions. Maybe your line is busy, or you don't pick up within a set number of rings. This is the most common setup for small businesses.

Sequential forwarding rings multiple numbers in a set order until someone picks up. Your desk phone rings first, then your cell, then a backup number. For a deeper look at how this works, see our guide on sequential ringing.

Simultaneous forwarding (also called simultaneous ring) rings several numbers at the same time. The first person to answer gets the call. This works well for small teams where anyone can help.

Time-based forwarding routes calls to different numbers based on the time of day. During business hours, calls go to your office. After 5 p.m. and on weekends, they go to your cell or an answering service.

How to set up call forwarding with your carrier

Setup usually takes less than a minute. Here's how to get started with the most popular carriers:

• AT&T: Dial *72, enter the forwarding number, press #. Full AT&T guide

• Verizon: Dial *72, enter the forwarding number, wait for the confirmation tone. Full Verizon guide

• T-Mobile: Dial **21* followed by the number and #. Full T-Mobile guide

• iPhone: Go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding and toggle it on. Full iPhone guide

• Google Voice: Open settings, click Calls, and add a forwarding number. Full Google Voice guide

Need a different carrier? Browse the full list of call forwarding guides.

Forward calls to an answering service

The most common reason business owners set up call forwarding is to make sure every call gets answered. Instead of sending callers to voicemail, you forward to an answering service that picks up, takes a message, and texts you the details.

With Upfirst, you set up forwarding with your carrier using the steps above. When a call comes in and you can't answer, Upfirst picks up, greets the caller by your business name, and handles the conversation. You get a text summary afterward. Setup takes about two minutes. Try it free.

Benefits of call forwarding

Never miss after-hours calls. Most small businesses close at 5, but customers call at 7. Forwarding sends those calls to your cell or an answering service so you capture the lead instead of losing it to a competitor.

Route calls to the right person. Forwarding rules let you send sales calls to one person and support questions to another. No more transferring callers around or asking them to repeat their issue. Learn more about call routing options.

Keep your personal number private. You can publish your business number everywhere and forward calls to your personal phone. The caller never sees your real number.

How to forward calls from your phone

Watch this step-by-step walkthrough for setting up call forwarding on Android and iPhone:

Ready to stop missing calls? See how Upfirst's answering service works with call forwarding to keep your business connected around the clock. Start your free trial.

FAQs about call forwarding

Should I have call forwarding on or off?

If you run a business, keep it on. Missed calls cost you customers. Set up conditional forwarding so calls only redirect when you're unavailable. Your desk phone rings first, and your cell or answering service catches anything you miss.

Is call forwarding safe?

Yes. Call forwarding is a standard carrier feature with no security risk when you set it up yourself. Make sure no one else has access to your phone settings or carrier account. If you notice calls being forwarded without your knowledge, contact your carrier right away.

Can call forwarding be tracked?

Your phone carrier keeps records of forwarded calls, including the forwarding number and call duration. These appear in your call detail records (CDRs). If you use a service like Upfirst, you also get a log of every call with a summary of what was discussed.