How to Activate Call Forwarding: A Comprehensive Guide for Smartphones and Landlines

Call forwarding, also known as call diversion, is a telecommunications feature that allows you to redirect incoming calls to another phone number. This can be incredibly useful in various situations, such as when you’re traveling, working remotely, in a meeting, or simply unavailable to answer your primary phone. Instead of missing important calls, you can have them automatically forwarded to a mobile phone, a colleague’s number, or even a voicemail service. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps of activating call forwarding on various devices, including smartphones (both Android and iOS) and landlines, ensuring you never miss a crucial call again.

Why Use Call Forwarding?

Before diving into the activation process, it’s important to understand the benefits of using call forwarding:

* **Never Miss Important Calls:** This is the primary reason. Whether you’re in a meeting, traveling internationally, or simply away from your phone, call forwarding ensures you receive those vital calls.
* **Improved Customer Service:** For businesses, call forwarding allows you to seamlessly redirect calls to available staff members, improving customer response times and overall service.
* **Work-Life Balance:** Forwarding work calls to a personal device during off-hours can help maintain work-life balance, allowing you to stay connected when necessary but also disconnect when needed.
* **Disaster Recovery:** In the event of a power outage or other emergency, call forwarding can redirect calls to a backup location, ensuring business continuity.
* **Simplified Communication:** If you have multiple phone numbers, call forwarding can consolidate communication to a single device.

Understanding Call Forwarding Types

There are different types of call forwarding, each serving a specific purpose:

* **Unconditional Call Forwarding:** All incoming calls are immediately forwarded to the designated number, regardless of whether you are available or not. This is the simplest and most common type.
* **Conditional Call Forwarding:** This type allows you to forward calls based on specific conditions:
* **Call Forwarding No Answer:** Calls are forwarded only if you don’t answer within a certain number of rings.
* **Call Forwarding Busy:** Calls are forwarded only if your line is busy.
* **Call Forwarding Unreachable:** Calls are forwarded only if your phone is unreachable (e.g., turned off or out of service area).
* **Selective Call Forwarding:** Some providers offer the ability to forward calls from specific numbers only. This is less common than the other types but can be useful for managing calls from important contacts.

How to Activate Call Forwarding on Android Smartphones

Activating call forwarding on an Android smartphone is generally straightforward, but the exact steps may vary slightly depending on your device manufacturer (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.) and Android version. Here’s a general guide:

**Method 1: Using the Phone App (Most Common)**

1. **Open the Phone App:** Locate and open the default phone application on your Android device. This is typically the app you use to make and receive calls.
2. **Access Settings:** Tap the three dots (menu icon) usually located in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. This will open a menu with various options. Look for and select “Settings”. Some phones may use a gear icon instead of three dots.
3. **Find Call Forwarding:** Within the Settings menu, look for an option related to “Calls”, “Calling Accounts”, or “Supplementary Services”. Tap on the appropriate option to proceed. The exact wording may differ depending on your phone model and Android version. You might need to tap on “Calling accounts” and then select your SIM card if you have a dual SIM phone.
4. **Select Call Forwarding:** In the “Calls” or “Supplementary Services” menu, you should find an option specifically labeled “Call Forwarding”. Tap on it.
5. **Choose Forwarding Type:** You will now see the different call forwarding options available: “Always Forward”, “Forward when Busy”, “Forward when Unanswered”, and “Forward when Unreachable”.
* **Always Forward:** Select this option to forward all incoming calls immediately.
* **Forward when Busy:** Select this option to forward calls only when you are already on another call.
* **Forward when Unanswered:** Select this option to forward calls if you don’t answer after a certain number of rings.
* **Forward when Unreachable:** Select this option to forward calls if your phone is turned off, has no signal, or is otherwise unreachable.
6. **Enter Forwarding Number:** Tap on the call forwarding type you want to activate. A prompt will appear asking you to enter the phone number you want to forward your calls to. Enter the full phone number, including the country code if necessary.
7. **Enable Call Forwarding:** After entering the forwarding number, tap “Enable”, “Turn On”, or a similar button to activate call forwarding. The specific wording may vary depending on your device.
8. **Confirmation:** Once activated, you should see an icon in the notification bar indicating that call forwarding is enabled. This icon typically looks like a phone with an arrow pointing away from it.

**Method 2: Using USSD Codes (Universal Method)**

USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) codes are special codes that you can dial on your phone to access certain features, including call forwarding. This method works on most Android phones, regardless of manufacturer or Android version.

* **Unconditional Call Forwarding:** Dial `*21*[Forwarding Number]#` (e.g., `*21*1234567890#`) and press the call button. You should receive a confirmation message indicating that call forwarding has been activated.
* **Call Forwarding No Answer:** Dial `*61*[Forwarding Number]#` (e.g., `*61*1234567890#`) and press the call button.
* **Call Forwarding Busy:** Dial `*67*[Forwarding Number]#` (e.g., `*67*1234567890#`) and press the call button.
* **Call Forwarding Unreachable:** Dial `*62*[Forwarding Number]#` (e.g., `*62*1234567890#`) and press the call button.

Replace `[Forwarding Number]` with the actual phone number you want to forward your calls to. Remember to include the country code if necessary. After dialing the code and pressing call, wait for a confirmation message. If you do not receive one, try again or check with your mobile carrier to ensure the feature is available and properly configured.

**Deactivating Call Forwarding on Android**

To deactivate call forwarding, you can use either the Phone App settings or USSD codes:

**Using the Phone App:**

1. Follow steps 1-4 from the activation instructions above to access the Call Forwarding settings.
2. Tap on the call forwarding type you want to disable (e.g., “Always Forward”).
3. Tap “Disable”, “Turn Off”, or a similar button to deactivate call forwarding.
4. The call forwarding icon in the notification bar should disappear, indicating that call forwarding is no longer active.

**Using USSD Codes:**

* **Deactivate All Call Forwarding:** Dial `#21#` and press the call button.
* **Deactivate Call Forwarding No Answer:** Dial `#61#` and press the call button.
* **Deactivate Call Forwarding Busy:** Dial `#67#` and press the call button.
* **Deactivate Call Forwarding Unreachable:** Dial `#62#` and press the call button.

Again, you should receive a confirmation message after dialing the code. If you don’t, try again or contact your mobile carrier.

## How to Activate Call Forwarding on iPhones (iOS)

The process of activating call forwarding on an iPhone is generally consistent across different iOS versions. Here’s how to do it:

1. **Open the Settings App:** Locate and open the “Settings” app on your iPhone. This is the app with the gear icon.
2. **Tap on “Phone”:** Scroll down in the Settings menu and tap on “Phone”.
3. **Select “Call Forwarding”:** In the “Phone” menu, find and tap on “Call Forwarding”.
4. **Toggle the Call Forwarding Switch:** On the Call Forwarding screen, you’ll see a toggle switch next to “Call Forwarding”. Slide the switch to the right to turn it on. The switch will turn green when activated.
5. **Enter the Forward To Number:** Once you turn on the Call Forwarding switch, a new option called “Forward To” will appear below it. Tap on “Forward To”.
6. **Enter the Forwarding Number:** Enter the phone number you want to forward your calls to in the provided field. Make sure to include the country code if necessary.
7. **Return to the Phone Menu:** After entering the number, tap the back arrow in the upper left-hand corner of the screen to return to the “Phone” menu. The number you entered will now be displayed next to “Forward To”.
8. **Confirmation:** You should see a call forwarding icon in the status bar (the top of your screen) indicating that call forwarding is active. This icon looks like a phone with an arrow pointing away from it.

**Deactivating Call Forwarding on iPhone**

Deactivating call forwarding on an iPhone is even simpler:

1. **Open the Settings App:** Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
2. **Tap on “Phone”:** Scroll down and tap on “Phone”.
3. **Select “Call Forwarding”:** Tap on “Call Forwarding”.
4. **Toggle the Call Forwarding Switch:** Slide the Call Forwarding switch to the left to turn it off. The switch will turn gray when deactivated.
5. **Confirmation:** The call forwarding icon in the status bar will disappear, indicating that call forwarding is no longer active.

## How to Activate Call Forwarding on Landlines

Activating call forwarding on a landline phone varies depending on your service provider (e.g., Verizon, AT&T, Comcast Xfinity) and the type of service you have (traditional landline or VoIP). However, the general process involves using specific access codes dialed from your landline phone.

**General Steps for Landline Call Forwarding**

1. **Locate the Activation Code:** Contact your landline service provider or consult your service documentation to find the correct activation code for call forwarding. Common codes include:
* `*72` (Most Common)
* `72#`
* `1172`
* `*720` (For certain types of call forwarding)
2. **Dial the Activation Code:** Pick up your landline phone and dial the activation code followed by the phone number you want to forward your calls to. For example, if the activation code is `*72` and you want to forward calls to 123-456-7890, you would dial `*721234567890`.
3. **Wait for Confirmation:** After dialing the code and number, wait for a confirmation tone or message. This indicates that call forwarding has been successfully activated. You might hear a dial tone, a series of beeps, or a recorded message.
4. **Test the Call Forwarding:** To ensure call forwarding is working correctly, have someone call your landline number. The call should be automatically forwarded to the number you specified.

**Deactivating Call Forwarding on Landlines**

1. **Locate the Deactivation Code:** Again, consult your service provider’s documentation or contact them directly to find the correct deactivation code for call forwarding. Common codes include:
* `*73` (Most Common)
* `73#`
* `1173`
* `*730` (For certain types of call forwarding)
2. **Dial the Deactivation Code:** Pick up your landline phone and dial the deactivation code. For example, if the deactivation code is `*73`, you would dial `*73`.
3. **Wait for Confirmation:** Listen for a confirmation tone or message indicating that call forwarding has been deactivated.
4. **Test the Call Forwarding:** Have someone call your landline number again. The call should now ring directly on your landline phone, not the forwarded number.

**Specific Provider Instructions (Examples):**

* **Verizon Landline:** To activate unconditional call forwarding, dial `*72` followed by the forwarding number. To deactivate, dial `*73`.
* **AT&T Landline:** Similar to Verizon, dial `*72` followed by the forwarding number to activate unconditional call forwarding and `*73` to deactivate.
* **Comcast Xfinity Voice:** The codes might differ. Check the Xfinity website or contact customer support for the correct codes for your region.

**Important Notes for Landlines:**

* **VoIP Services:** If you have a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) landline service, call forwarding may be managed through your online account or a dedicated app provided by your service provider. Check their documentation for specific instructions.
* **Long Distance Charges:** Depending on your service plan, you may incur long-distance charges for calls forwarded to numbers outside your local calling area. Check with your provider to understand the potential costs.
* **Feature Availability:** Call forwarding may not be available on all landline plans. Contact your service provider to confirm availability and any associated fees.

## Troubleshooting Call Forwarding Issues

If you’re experiencing problems with call forwarding, here are some common troubleshooting steps:

* **Verify the Forwarding Number:** Double-check that you have entered the correct forwarding number. Even a single digit error can prevent call forwarding from working.
* **Check Your Service Plan:** Make sure that call forwarding is included in your service plan. Some providers offer it as a premium feature that requires an additional subscription.
* **Contact Your Service Provider:** If you’ve tried the steps above and call forwarding still isn’t working, contact your mobile or landline service provider for assistance. They can troubleshoot the issue and ensure that your account is properly configured.
* **USSD Code Errors:** If using USSD codes on Android, ensure you’re dialing the correct code and that your carrier supports USSD code activation for call forwarding. Network congestion can sometimes prevent USSD codes from working correctly, so try again later.
* **iPhone Software Update:** In rare cases, issues with iOS can affect call forwarding. Ensure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS.
* **Landline Dial Tone:** On landlines, make sure you have a clear dial tone before dialing the activation code. A weak or intermittent dial tone can prevent the code from being recognized.

## Conclusion

Call forwarding is a versatile and valuable feature that can help you stay connected in various situations. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily activate and deactivate call forwarding on your smartphone or landline. Remember to consult your service provider’s documentation for specific instructions and codes relevant to your device and service plan. With call forwarding properly configured, you can ensure that you never miss an important call again, whether you’re traveling, working remotely, or simply unavailable to answer your primary phone.