How to Forward Your Calls to Another Number (2025)

Every missed call is a lost sale. If you’re running a service business, learning how to forward your calls to another number can mean the difference between booking a new customer and losing them to a competitor. Sound familiar? According to recent small business data, most callers who reach voicemail won’t leave a message or try again. That’s real money walking out the door.

Call forwarding automatically redirects incoming calls from one number to another, such as your mobile phone, a coworker’s extension, or an answering service. The caller experiences no difference—they simply reach someone who can help. This prevents missed calls and lost business opportunities for service-based companies.

What Is Call Forwarding?

Call forwarding is a phone feature that automatically redirects incoming calls from one number to another. Instead of a call ringing at your desk, it gets sent to your mobile, a coworker’s extension, an answering service, or even an AI-powered phone agent. The caller doesn’t know it’s forwarded. They just hear ringing and then a voice picks up.

There are several types of call forwarding, and the differences matter. Unconditional forwarding sends every call to another number—no exceptions. Conditional forwarding only activates under specific circumstances, like when a line is busy, unanswered after a set number of rings, or unreachable (like when your phone is off). Most modern phone systems, whether carrier-based or VoIP, support all of these options. Knowing which type fits your needs helps you route calls correctly.

How to Forward Your Calls on Major Carriers and Devices

The exact steps vary depending on your carrier, device, and phone system. But the core process is surprisingly simple. Below you’ll find instructions that cover the most common scenarios a business owner would face.

Using Star Codes on Carrier Networks

Most U.S. carriers support star codes (also called USSD codes) that you dial directly from your phone’s keypad. These work on both landlines and cell phones. No app or online portal needed.

• Activate unconditional forwarding: Dial *72, then the 10-digit number you want calls forwarded to, and press the call button. Wait for a confirmation tone or message.
• Deactivate unconditional forwarding: Dial *73 and press call. You’ll hear a confirmation that forwarding has been turned off.
• Forward when busy: Dial *90 followed by the destination number on some carriers, or use *67 variations depending on the provider.
• Forward when unanswered: Dial *92 followed by the destination number (carrier-dependent).

Keep in mind that codes differ between Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Check your carrier’s support page for the precise codes. And here’s the thing: call forwarding on carrier networks typically incurs airtime charges for the forwarded leg. It’s not truly “free” even if the feature itself has no monthly fee.

Forwarding Calls on iPhone

If you’re on an iPhone, the built-in settings make this straightforward. Open Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding, toggle it on, and enter the number you want calls sent to. One catch: this option only shows up if your carrier supports it through the device’s settings menu. Some carriers (particularly those using CDMA networks) require you to use star codes instead.

Here’s what to know: when call forwarding is active on an iPhone, your phone won’t ring at all. Every single call goes directly to the forwarded number. There’s no “ring my phone first, then forward” option in the native settings. For conditional forwarding, you’ll need to go through your carrier or use a third-party business phone system.

Forwarding Calls on Android

Android devices offer similar functionality, though the menu path varies by manufacturer. Generally, you’ll go to Phone app > Settings (three dots) > Calls > Call Forwarding. From there, you can choose between “Always forward,” “Forward when busy,” “Forward when unanswered,” or “Forward when unreachable.” Each option lets you enter a different destination number.

Android gives you more control than iPhone’s native settings. But here’s the catch: reliability depends heavily on your carrier. Some carriers override the device-level settings entirely, so if forwarding isn’t working, try the star code method instead.

Forwarding on VoIP and Business Phone Systems

If your business uses a VoIP phone system, call forwarding is handled through a web dashboard or admin portal. Not through star codes. This approach is far more flexible. You can set time-based rules (forward after 5 PM), location-based rules (forward when out of the office), or even skills-based routing (send plumbing calls to one team and HVAC calls to another).

Business phone systems also let you forward to multiple numbers at once or one after another. For example, ring your desk phone first, then your mobile, then a backup line. That’s impossible with basic carrier forwarding.

Why Simple Call Forwarding Falls Short for Service Businesses

Here’s the reality. Basic call forwarding solves one narrow problem: getting a call from point A to point B. But for a service business handling dozens or hundreds of calls per day, it creates new headaches immediately.

First, there’s no intelligence behind the routing. A forwarded call doesn’t know whether the destination person is available, qualified to answer that question, or even awake. According to SchedulingKit’s research on missed calls and revenue loss, small businesses lose thousands monthly from calls that technically “get answered” but produce bad outcomes, like being sent to voicemail after forwarding fails.

Second, forwarded calls leave no trail. You don’t get transcripts, summaries, or lead capture. The call happens, and unless someone manually logs it, that interaction vanishes. For businesses trying to grow, that lack of visibility is a serious problem. Industry data from CallSetter shows the average small business loses over $100,000 annually from mismanaged calls.

Third, forwarding doesn’t scale. Once you’ve got more than a handful of employees or locations, managing forwarding rules across individual phones becomes a nightmare. Someone changes a setting, forgets to turn it off, and suddenly customers in Phoenix are reaching a technician in Dallas who has no idea why they’re getting the call.

What Businesses Actually Need Beyond Forwarding

Modern service businesses need more than redirection. They need a system that handles the entire call lifecycle: routing, answering, capturing information, booking appointments, and following up. That’s the gap between a carrier feature and a business communication platform.

• Intelligent routing: Calls go to the right person or department based on time of day, caller history, or topic, not just a single forwarded number.
• After-hours coverage: Calls outside business hours get answered, not just forwarded to a voicemail box no one checks.
• Lead capture: Every call generates a record with caller details, conversation notes, and next steps.
• Multi-channel follow-up: If a call isn’t answered, an automated text or email goes out immediately.

According to Fit Small Business, most small businesses operate with fewer than 20 employees. That means there simply aren’t enough people to monitor forwarded lines around the clock. Automation isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.

Best Practices for Setting Up Call Forwarding

Whether you’re using basic carrier forwarding or a full business phone system, these practices will help you avoid common pitfalls.

Test Before You Go Live

Always call your own number after setting up forwarding. Verify the right destination picks up, audio quality is acceptable, and there’s no awkward delay. You’d be surprised how many businesses set up forwarding and never actually test it. A study on the cost of missed calls found that failed forwarding setups rank among the top avoidable causes of call loss.

Set Conditional Rules, Not Blanket Forwarding

Unless you genuinely never want your primary line to ring, use conditional forwarding instead of unconditional. Forward on no-answer after four rings, or forward only during specific hours. Blanket forwarding means you lose the ability to answer calls yourself when you’re available. That defeats the purpose for most businesses.

Keep Records and Review Regularly

Document which numbers forward where, and review the setup monthly. Employees leave. Roles change. A forwarding rule that made sense in January might be sending calls to someone who left the company in March. Build a simple spreadsheet or, better yet, use a system with a visual call flow builder. You’ll see all routing logic in one place.

Plan for the Destination Being Unavailable

What happens if the forwarded number doesn’t answer either? Without a fallback, the caller hits voicemail or, worse, gets nothing. According to Ainora’s missed call research, most customers who reach voicemail simply hang up and call the next business. Always configure a secondary fallback, whether that’s another team member, a voicemail with a callback commitment, or an AI agent.

How SalesCaptain Helps

Basic call forwarding gets the call to another phone. SalesCaptain’s call flow builder makes sure every call gets handled. Regardless of when it comes in or who’s available.

With SalesCaptain’s drag-and-drop Call Flows, you can design the exact path every incoming call follows. Route callers by department, time of day, or caller type. Set up IVR menus so customers self-select where they need to go. And if no human is available? SalesCaptain’s AI Phone Agent picks up, answers FAQs, books appointments, qualifies leads, and blocks spam. All with natural-sounding voice that callers often can’t distinguish from a real person.

Every call is automatically transcribed and summarized through AI Summaries and Transcriptions. Your team gets a complete record without manual note-taking. Missed a call anyway? The system sends an instant text-back through the AI Chat Agent, keeping that lead warm until someone can follow up. All of this feeds into the Unified Inbox, where calls, texts, webchat messages, and social DMs live in one place.

Because SalesCaptain is built specifically for service businesses like HVAC companies, dental practices, law firms, and salons, it doesn’t require technical expertise to set up. There’s a free Startup plan for single-location businesses, and paid plans start at $159/month per location with AI calls at $0.12/minute. Compared to hiring even a part-time receptionist, the math is simple.

Key Takeaways

Understanding how to forward your calls to another number is a fundamental skill for any business owner. Star codes like *72 and *73 handle the basics on most carriers. iPhone and Android settings provide device-level control. For conditional forwarding, VoIP and business phone systems give you far more flexibility than carrier-native features.

However, forwarding alone doesn’t solve the real problem: making sure every caller gets a great experience and becomes a tracked lead. Service businesses need intelligent routing, after-hours AI coverage, automatic transcription, and multi-channel follow-up. Basic forwarding was designed for an era when one person needed their calls sent to one other phone. That’s not how modern businesses operate.

The smartest move is to pair your forwarding knowledge with a system that handles the full call lifecycle. From the first ring to the booked appointment. That’s where the revenue impact actually shows up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does call forwarding also forward text messages?

No. Standard carrier call forwarding only redirects voice calls. Text messages (SMS and MMS) still go to the original number. If you need both calls and texts routed to a single place, you’ll need a business phone system or unified communication platform that manages both channels together.

Can I forward calls to another number if I don’t have my phone with me?

Yes. You can activate call forwarding remotely by logging into your carrier’s website or app. Or by calling your voicemail system from another phone and changing settings there. Some carriers also let you manage forwarding through their customer service line. VoIP systems make this even easier since everything is controlled through a web dashboard.

How much does call forwarding cost?

The feature itself is typically free on most carriers. However, forwarded calls consume airtime minutes on your plan. And if you’re forwarding to a long-distance or toll number, additional per-minute charges may apply. On VoIP systems, forwarding costs are usually bundled into your monthly subscription with no extra per-call fees.

Why do callers get a busy signal after I activate call forwarding?

This usually happens when the forwarded-to number is already on a call. Or when there’s a forwarding loop (number A forwards to B, which forwards back to A). It can also occur if your carrier’s forwarding service is temporarily unavailable. Check that the destination number is correct and not itself set up to forward calls elsewhere.

What’s the difference between call forwarding and call routing?

Call forwarding is a simple redirect: calls go from one number to one other number. Call routing is more sophisticated. It uses rules, menus, schedules, and logic to send calls to different destinations based on conditions. A business phone system with call routing can handle things like “send calls to the sales team during business hours, and to an AI agent after 6 PM.” Basic forwarding can’t do that.