How to Set Up Call Forwarding on Android

Call forwarding sends incoming calls from your Android phone to another number, such as a work line, a second phone or a colleague. You can forward every call or only the calls you miss. This guide covers the settings route in the Phone app, the dial-code route, and how to confirm forwarding is active and undo it.

Before you start

Call forwarding is a mobile network service, not a feature that runs on the phone itself. When you turn it on, the phone sends the request to your carrier, and the carrier redirects the calls. That has a few practical consequences:

• The phone needs mobile network signal while you change the setting. Without it, the change can fail or show an error.
• Your plan must include call forwarding. Most plans do, but some carriers restrict it or charge for forwarded calls. Check your carrier's terms, especially for forwarding to international numbers or while roaming.
• Have the destination number ready in full. Add the country code if it is in another country.
• If your phone has two SIM cards or an eSIM plus a SIM, forwarding is set separately for each line. Decide which line you want to forward.
• Some carriers manage forwarding only through their own app, online account or support line. If the phone settings below don't work, use one of those instead.

Step-by-step instructions

Android doesn't have one universal menu path. Labels and locations depend on the phone maker, the Phone app version and sometimes the carrier. The steps below describe the usual layout. If your screens look different, open the Settings app and search for "forwarding".

Option 1: Use the Phone app settings

• 1. Open the Phone app that came with your device, the one you use to dial calls.
• 2. Tap the three-dot menu and choose Settings.
• 3. Find call forwarding. In Google's Phone app it is usually under Calling accounts, where you pick your SIM and then tap Call forwarding. On Samsung phones it is usually under Supplementary services and then Call forwarding. Other brands often place it under Calls, Advanced settings or a SIM-specific menu.
• 4. If asked, choose Voice call. Some phones list video call forwarding separately.
• 5. Pick the condition you need. Always forward sends every call. When busy forwards calls while you are on another call or decline one. When unanswered forwards calls you don't pick up. When unreachable forwards calls while your phone is off or has no signal.
• 6. Enter the destination number and tap Turn on, Enable or Update. Wait while the phone contacts the network. A confirmation or the updated number should appear.
• 7. To undo it, return to the same screen, select the condition and tap Turn off or Disable.

When Always forward is on, the conditional options are usually unavailable, because no call reaches the phone to be busy or unanswered. If you only want missed calls forwarded, leave Always forward off and set the other three conditions.

Option 2: Use dial codes

Many GSM-based networks accept standard forwarding codes typed in the dialer, then sent with the call button. They work regardless of the phone brand, but not every carrier supports them, and some carriers use their own codes. Replace NUMBER with the full destination number.

• Forward all calls: **21*NUMBER#
• Forward when busy: **67*NUMBER#
• Forward when unanswered: **61*NUMBER#
• Forward when unreachable: **62*NUMBER#
• Check the status of forwarding all calls: *#21#
• Cancel forwarding all calls: ##21#
• Cancel all forwarding of every type: ##002#

On a dual-SIM phone, the dialer may ask which SIM to use. The code applies only to that line. Be careful with ##002#: on many networks voicemail itself works as a no-answer or unreachable forward to your voicemail number, so cancelling everything can switch voicemail off. If that happens, your carrier can tell you how to restore it.

Check the output

A confirmation on screen means the network accepted the request. To be sure calls actually reach the right place, run a quick test:

• Reopen the call forwarding screen or dial *#21#. The active number should be listed under the condition you set.
• Ask someone to call your number, or call it from another phone. With Always forward, your Android phone should not ring and the destination number should.
• To test busy forwarding, decline the incoming call. On many networks a declined call counts as busy.
• To test unreachable forwarding, switch on airplane mode and call again.
• Look at the status bar. Some phones show a forwarding icon while it is active, but not all do, so don't rely on the icon alone.

Know the limits before you rely on it. Call forwarding redirects voice calls only; text messages are not forwarded. Whether the destination phone sees the original caller's number or yours depends on the carrier. Call quality depends on both networks involved, and forwarded calls may be billed as outgoing calls from your line.

Common problems and next steps

The call forwarding option is missing or greyed out. Make sure you are using the phone's original dialer, since many third-party dialer apps don't include network call settings. Check that a SIM is inserted and active. If the option still isn't available, your carrier may only allow forwarding through its own app or support.

You see a network, SIM or invalid MMI code error. The phone couldn't get an answer from the carrier. Move to a spot with mobile signal and try again. On some phones and networks the settings can't be read over Wi-Fi alone, so try with mobile data or Wi-Fi calling turned off. Recheck the number format and the code. If the error persists, ask your carrier whether forwarding is enabled on your plan.

Calls still ring on your phone. You probably set a conditional option, not Always forward, or set it on the other SIM. Check the status on each line and adjust the condition.

You can't turn forwarding off. Try the matching cancel code, or ##002# to clear all forwarding, keeping in mind the voicemail caveat above. If the setting doesn't change, the carrier can remove it from their side.

Forwarding works at home but not abroad. Roaming partners don't always support forwarding, and charges can apply for each forwarded call. Set it up before you travel and confirm roaming terms with your carrier.