Is Your Phone Forwarding Calls? A Simple Guide to Checking

Have you ever suspected your calls might be going somewhere else? Call forwarding, while a useful feature, can sometimes be enabled without your knowledge. Whether you’re concerned about privacy or just want to ensure you’re receiving all your calls, knowing how to check for call forwarding is essential. This guide will walk you through the steps to determine if call forwarding is active on your phone, covering both mobile and landline devices.

Understanding Call Forwarding

Call forwarding (also known as call diversion) is a telephone feature that allows you to redirect incoming calls to another phone number. It can be set up for various reasons: when you’re busy, unavailable, or want calls sent to a different device. While useful, it’s also important to be aware of its settings on your own phone.

Checking for Call Forwarding on Mobile Phones

Checking for call forwarding on your mobile device is usually quite straightforward. The exact steps might vary slightly depending on your operating system (Android or iOS) and your phone carrier, but the core process remains similar.

For Android Devices

1. Open the Phone App: Launch the default phone application on your Android device.
2. Access Settings: Tap the three vertical dots (menu icon) usually located in the top-right corner of the screen. Select ‘Settings’ from the dropdown menu.
3. Find Call Settings: Scroll down in the settings menu and look for an option related to ‘Calls’ or ‘Call Settings’. This may be under ‘Supplementary Services’, ‘More Settings’, or something similar.
4. Check Call Forwarding: In the call settings, you should see an option labeled ‘Call Forwarding’ or ‘Call Diversion’. Tap on it.
5. Review Forwarding Options: You’ll be presented with a list of forwarding options, such as ‘Always Forward’, ‘Forward when Busy’, ‘Forward when Unanswered’, and ‘Forward when Unreachable’. Tap on each to see if a number is entered next to any of them.
6. Disable Forwarding (If Needed): If a number is present, and you don’t want calls forwarded, tap on the option and select ‘Disable’ or ‘Turn Off’. Confirm any prompts to save changes.

For iOS (iPhone) Devices

1. Open the Settings App: Launch the settings application on your iPhone.
2. Go to Phone Settings: Scroll down and tap on ‘Phone’.
3. Find Call Forwarding: In the phone settings, find and tap on ‘Call Forwarding’.
4. Check if it’s Enabled: If the toggle next to ‘Call Forwarding’ is green, it means call forwarding is enabled.
5. Review the Forwarding Number: Tap on ‘Call Forwarding’ to see the number your calls are being redirected to.
6. Disable Forwarding (If Needed): If you want to turn off call forwarding, toggle the switch next to ‘Call Forwarding’ to the off position (grey).

Checking for Call Forwarding on Landline Phones

Checking for call forwarding on a landline phone is typically done by dialing specific codes. Here’s how it usually works:

Using Codes

1. Lift the Receiver: Pick up the receiver of your landline phone.
2. Listen for a Dial Tone: Make sure you hear a clear dial tone.
3. Enter a Deactivation Code: Depending on your service provider, the code to check for call forwarding is usually *#61#, *#67#, *#21#, or *73. Try them one at a time. The code might vary depending on the local service provider; if these codes do not work, try checking the providers help documents.
4. Listen for a Confirmation Message: If the feature was enabled, the phone will typically respond with a tone or message stating that forwarding is turned off or that it is not active. If the feature was not enabled, you’ll also get a message to confirm its inactivity.
5. Check all Codes: Try each of these codes to check if a specific type of forwarding was enabled.

Checking with Your Provider

If using codes doesn’t work or if you’re unsure, contact your landline service provider. They can verify if call forwarding is active on your line and assist in turning it off.

Troubleshooting

• No Call Forwarding Option: If you can’t find a call forwarding option in your mobile settings, it might be a feature that is managed by your carrier. Contact them to inquire or change the settings.
• Unknown Codes: Landline codes vary; if those provided don’t work, refer to your phone service provider’s documentation.
• Suspicious Activity: If you find unexpected call forwarding, take action to secure your account with your mobile or landline provider.

Conclusion

Regularly checking for call forwarding can help you stay on top of your phone settings and ensure your calls are reaching you directly. Following these steps will help you easily detect and manage call forwarding on your mobile and landline phones, providing greater control over your communication. If you have any concerns, reach out to your service provider for further assistance.