How call forwarding works and what your options are
Call forwarding sends incoming calls from your phone number to a different phone — either temporarily while you're away or permanently if you're switching devices. The method depends on what kind of phone service you have and whether you want to keep your original number or use a new one.
Most phone carriers offer call forwarding as a built-in feature you can turn on through your phone's settings or by calling your carrier. Some people use a separate service or app instead, which can be useful if your carrier doesn't offer forwarding or if you want more control over which calls go where.
Key Takeaways
- Call forwarding through your carrier is usually free and takes minutes to set up through your phone settings or a quick call to customer service.
- You can forward calls to a landline, another mobile phone, or a voicemail number, and most carriers let you turn forwarding on and off as needed.
- If you're switching to a new phone permanently, you may be able to keep your old number by requesting a number transfer (called porting) from your new carrier.
- Third-party apps and services offer call forwarding too, but they typically require the caller to dial a new number or work only for calls made through the app itself.
- Forwarding calls costs nothing with most carriers, but international forwarding or calls to certain numbers may incur charges depending on your plan.
Setting up call forwarding on your phone
On an iPhone, open Settings, tap Phone, then Call Forwarding. Enter the phone number where you want calls sent and tap Enable. The phone will make a test call to confirm the number works. On Android, the steps vary by manufacturer and carrier, but usually you go to Phone or Dialer, tap the menu icon (three dots or lines), select Settings, then Call Forwarding or Call Settings, and enter the destination number.
Some carriers also let you set up call forwarding through their website or app. Log into your account, find the phone settings or call management section, and look for an option labeled Call Forwarding, Call Redirect, or Follow Me. You'll enter the number where calls should go and save the change.
If you can't find the option in your phone settings, call your carrier's customer service number (usually on your bill or their website). They can turn on call forwarding for you over the phone and confirm it's working. This takes a few minutes and requires you to provide the destination number.
Forwarding calls when you're temporarily away
If you're traveling or away from your phone for a few days or weeks, you can turn on call forwarding to send calls to another phone you'll have with you. This keeps callers from reaching voicemail and lets you stay reachable without changing your number.
Turn on forwarding before you leave, and turn it off when you return. Most carriers don't charge for this, though calls forwarded to an international number may cost extra depending on your plan. Check your carrier's website or call them to confirm whether international forwarding is included in your plan or will add charges.
You can also set up conditional forwarding, which sends calls to another number only when your phone is off, out of service, or you don't answer. This is useful if you want to keep your phone on but may support calls still reach someone if you're unavailable. The exact steps depend on your carrier and phone type, so ask your carrier how to set this up.
Keeping your number when you switch phones or carriers
If you're moving to a new phone or a new carrier and want to keep your current phone number, you need to request a number port (also called number transfer). This is different from call forwarding — it moves your number to the new carrier so calls go directly to your new phone, not forwarded from the old one.
To port your number, contact your new carrier and ask them to start the porting process. They'll ask for your account number, PIN, and the phone number you want to move. Your old carrier will be notified and has a set number of days (usually three to five business days) to approve the transfer. During this time, both carriers may have your number, so calls could go to either phone.
Once the port is complete, your old carrier will disconnect service on that number, and it will ring only on your new phone. You won't need call forwarding anymore because the number itself has moved. There is usually no charge for porting, though some carriers may charge a small fee — ask before you start the process.
Using third-party apps and services for call forwarding
Apps like Google Voice, Skype, and Vonage offer call forwarding as part of their service. With Google Voice, you get a new phone number, and you can set it to forward calls to up to five different phones. Callers dial your Google Voice number, and the call rings on whichever phones you've set up for forwarding.
These services work differently from carrier call forwarding. Instead of forwarding your existing number, they give you a new number or let you use an existing number through their app. Calls made through the app or to the new number will forward as you've set up, but calls to your original carrier number won't use these services unless you've also set up carrier forwarding.
Third-party services are useful if your carrier doesn't offer call forwarding, if you want more detailed call logs and control, or if you need a separate business line. Most offer a free tier with basic forwarding, though advanced features like call recording or custom voicemail greetings may require a paid plan.
What happens to voicemail and text messages
Call forwarding sends incoming calls to another phone, but it doesn't automatically forward voicemail or text messages. If a caller reaches voicemail on the forwarded call, the message goes to your original phone's voicemail, not the phone receiving the forwarded call.
Text messages sent to your original number will arrive on your original phone only, not on the phone receiving forwarded calls. If you need texts to reach you on a different phone, you'll need to set up a separate text forwarding service or ask your carrier if they offer SMS forwarding as an option.
Some carriers let you check voicemail from any phone by dialing your own number and entering your PIN, so you can retrieve messages even if they're stored on your original phone. Check your carrier's voicemail options to see what's available.
Costs and limitations of call forwarding
Most carriers include call forwarding at no extra cost. However, if you forward calls to an international number or to a premium number (like a 900 number), you may be charged per minute or per call. Check your carrier's pricing page or call them to confirm what's included in your plan.
Call forwarding works only when your original phone has service. If your phone is turned off, in airplane mode, or outside of service coverage, calls won't forward — they'll go to voicemail instead. Some carriers offer a feature that forwards calls when your phone is off, but this isn't universal.
If you forward calls to a phone on a different carrier, the receiving phone will see the call as coming from your original number, not from the person calling you. This is useful for privacy but means the receiving phone's caller ID will show your number, not the actual caller's number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I forward calls to multiple phones at the same time?
Most carrier call forwarding sends calls to one number at a time. However, some carriers and third-party services like Google Voice let you forward to multiple numbers simultaneously, so the call rings on all of them until someone answers. Check with your carrier or explore third-party options if you need this feature.
Will the person calling me know their call is being forwarded?
No. The caller sees your original number on their caller ID and hears your voicemail greeting if the call isn't answered. They won't know the call was forwarded to another phone unless you tell them.
What if I forward calls but then turn off the destination phone?
If the phone receiving the forwarded call is off or out of service, the call will go to that phone's voicemail instead of your original voicemail. To avoid this, turn off call forwarding before powering down the destination phone, or make sure the destination phone stays on and in service.
Can I set up call forwarding to forward only certain calls?
Some carriers offer conditional forwarding, which forwards calls only when your phone is off, busy, or you don't answer within a set number of rings. Third-party apps often have more detailed filtering options, letting you forward calls from specific contacts or block certain numbers. Ask your carrier what conditional options they support.
Do I need to pay to forward calls internationally?
Forwarding itself is usually free, but the receiving phone may incur international calling charges if it's outside your home country. The person calling you won't pay extra — the charges explore to the phone receiving the forwarded call. Confirm with your carrier whether international forwarding is included in your plan.