How to Turn Off Call Forwarding

Call forwarding sends incoming calls to another number, such as a second phone, an office line or voicemail. To stop it, you can use your phone's settings, a short dial code or the app or service where the forwarding rule was created. This guide covers each route and shows how to confirm that forwarding is really off.

Before you start

On a mobile line, call forwarding is a carrier service. The rule is stored on your carrier's network, not only on the handset. When you disable forwarding in phone settings or with a dial code, your phone sends a request to the network, so it needs a working mobile connection. Forwarding set up in a calling app, a business phone system or your carrier account is stored by that service. Removing forwarding in one place does not remove it in another.

• Make sure the SIM is active and the phone has mobile signal. Wi-Fi alone may not be enough for the request to reach the network.
• On a dual-SIM phone, find out which line is forwarding calls. Each SIM has its own forwarding settings.
• Write down the current forwarding number if you might want to restore it later.
• Know the main forwarding types: always (unconditional), when busy, when unanswered and when unreachable. A phone can have several rules active at once.

Step-by-step instructions

Option 1: Use a dial code (most GSM-based networks)

Most GSM-based mobile networks accept standard codes that you dial in the Phone app. The phone sends them to the network instead of placing a call, so they work on both iPhone and Android. Carriers can change or block individual codes, so treat the list below as the common standard, not a guarantee.

• ##21# turns off unconditional forwarding (all calls forwarded).
• ##67# turns off forwarding when busy.
• ##61# turns off forwarding when unanswered.
• ##62# turns off forwarding when unreachable, for example when the phone is off or has no signal.
• ##004# turns off all conditional forwarding (busy, unanswered and unreachable).
• ##002# removes all forwarding rules at once.

• 1. Open the Phone app and go to the keypad.
• 2. Type the code exactly as shown, including both # symbols at the start.
• 3. Press the call button.
• 4. Wait for the network's on-screen message. It should say that the service was deactivated or erased.

Note: many carriers route missed calls to voicemail through conditional forwarding. Using ##002# or ##004# can therefore also stop voicemail from picking up. If you only want to stop forwarding to another number, start with ##21#. Many landlines and some networks that do not use GSM codes use *73 to cancel forwarding instead. Check your carrier's support information to confirm which code applies.

Option 2: iPhone settings

• 1. Open Settings.
• 2. On iOS 18 and later, tap Apps, then Phone. On earlier versions, tap Phone.
• 3. Tap Call Forwarding.
• 4. Turn off the Call Forwarding switch and wait for the setting to save.
• If Call Forwarding does not appear, your carrier may not offer this setting on the phone. Use a dial code or contact the carrier instead.

Option 3: Android settings

Menu names vary by manufacturer, Phone app and Android version, so the labels below are typical examples, not exact paths.

• 1. Open the Phone app and tap the three-dot menu, then Settings.
• 2. Look for a section named Calls, Calling accounts, Supplementary services or More settings.
• 3. If asked, choose the SIM that is forwarding calls.
• 4. Tap Call forwarding, then Voice call if that option appears.
• 5. Wait for the phone to load the current rules from the network.
• 6. Open each active rule (always, when busy, when unanswered, when unreachable) and choose Turn off or Disable.

Option 4: Calling apps and business phone systems

If forwarding was set up in an internet calling app, a video-calling platform with phone numbers or a company phone system, turn it off in that app's call settings or ask the system administrator. Dial codes and phone settings only control carrier forwarding on the SIM, so they do not affect these services.

Check the output

On most GSM-based networks, you can check status codes the same way you dial deactivation codes. *#21# shows the status of unconditional forwarding. *#67#, *#61# and *#62# show busy, unanswered and unreachable forwarding. The network's reply should say that the service is not active, or show which number calls are still forwarded to. On Android, the forwarding icon that some phones show in the status bar should also disappear.

For a practical check, call your number from another phone. If unconditional forwarding was the issue, your phone should now ring. Also decline a call or let it ring out to confirm that unanswered calls go where you expect, such as voicemail or nowhere.

Common problems and next steps

• Connection problem or invalid MMI code error: check that you have mobile signal and retype the code carefully. Your network may not support that code. Try the settings menu or your carrier's support instead.
• The forwarding menu is greyed out or keeps loading: the phone cannot read the settings from the network. Wait for a stronger signal, make sure the SIM is active and try again. Restarting the phone or toggling airplane mode can help.
• Calls are still forwarded after turning it off: another rule may still be active, such as forwarding when busy or unreachable. Check each status code, or use ##004# for conditional rules. On a dual-SIM phone, check the other SIM as well.
• Calls are forwarded only when the phone is off or has no signal: that is unreachable forwarding. Turn it off with ##62# or the matching settings option.
• Voicemail stopped answering missed calls: an all-rules code probably removed the conditional forwarding to voicemail. Ask your carrier how to restore voicemail forwarding for your line.
• Forwarding comes back or cannot be changed: the rule may be controlled from your carrier account, a business plan or a calling app. Remove it there, or ask the carrier or account administrator to cancel it.