How to Turn Off Call Forwarding on iPhone

Before you start

Call forwarding is a carrier service. Your iPhone sends the request to your mobile network, and the network applies the change. Your phone needs a working cellular connection while you change the setting. If the phone has no signal, the change may fail or take a long time to finish.

• Know which line you want to change if your iPhone uses two SIMs or eSIMs.
• Check whether your carrier shows Call Forwarding in iPhone Settings. Some carriers do not, and on those networks forwarding is managed with dial codes, the carrier's app or your online account.
• If someone else set up forwarding, such as a workplace administrator or the account holder on a family plan, they may need to remove it from the carrier side.

Step-by-step instructions

Use this method if your carrier supports forwarding controls on the iPhone. The menu path depends on your iOS version.

• Open Settings.
• On iOS 18 and later, tap Apps, then tap Phone. On iOS 17 and earlier, tap Phone directly.
• If you use two lines, choose the line you want to change.
• Tap Call Forwarding.
• Turn off the Call Forwarding switch.
• Wait until the switch stops showing a progress indicator before you leave the screen. This is when the carrier has accepted the change.

This change is reversible. To forward calls again later, turn the switch back on and enter the destination number.

If Call Forwarding is missing from the Phone settings, your carrier probably manages it through its network. Many GSM carriers accept standard codes that you dial in the Phone app's keypad. Each code ends with the call button:

• ##21# cancels unconditional forwarding, which sends every call elsewhere.
• ##002# cancels all forwarding types, including forwarding when the line is busy, when you don't answer, or when the phone is unreachable.

Support for these codes varies by carrier. Some carriers use their own codes. If a code returns an error or does nothing, follow your carrier's instructions or contact its support.

Check the output

The most reliable test is to call your iPhone from another phone. If forwarding is off, your iPhone should ring. The call should not go to the other number. Test while your iPhone has a signal, because unanswered or unreachable calls can still go to voicemail.

On many GSM networks, you can also dial *#21# and press call to see the status of unconditional forwarding. The reply comes from the carrier, so its wording and level of detail vary. Some carriers do not support this status check.

Common problems and next steps

Calls still go to another number after you turn off the switch: The switch only controls unconditional forwarding. Conditional forwarding, for example when you are busy or don't answer, can stay active on the network. Try the code that cancels all forwarding, or ask your carrier to remove every forwarding rule on your line.

Voicemail stopped working after you cancelled all forwarding: Carriers often route calls to voicemail through conditional forwarding. Cancelling all forwarding can disconnect voicemail too. Contact your carrier to restore it, or use its voicemail setup code.

Your Mac or iPad rings instead of your iPhone: That is not call forwarding. It is the Calls on Other Devices feature. You can find it in the same Phone settings section as Call Forwarding. Turn it off there, either for all devices or for specific ones.

The switch is greyed out, keeps spinning or turns itself back on: Check that you have cellular service, and restart the iPhone. Also check whether forwarding is locked on the account by a business plan or the account holder. If the problem continues, your carrier can view and clear forwarding rules on its side.