Call forwarding sends your incoming calls to another number — and you may not realize it's on

Call forwarding is a carrier feature that redirects incoming calls from your iPhone to a different phone number. Once it's active, anyone who calls you reaches that other number instead. The problem: you can turn it on through your iPhone settings, but you might forget it's running, or someone with access to your phone could enable it without your knowledge. If you notice calls aren't reaching you, or you suspect someone has redirected your calls, you need to turn it off.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you set it up yourself or need to disable it after someone else turned it on. Both routes take less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • Call forwarding is turned on and off through your iPhone's Phone settings, not through your carrier's website or app.
  • Go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding and toggle it off; if a number appears there, that's where your calls have been going.
  • If call forwarding is already on and you don't recognize the forwarded number, change your iPhone passcode when ready.
  • Turning off call forwarding stops the redirection right away — you don't need to contact your carrier or wait for changes to take effect.
  • Check your iPhone's Settings > Phone > Call Waiting to see if that feature is also on, since both can affect which calls reach you.

Where to find call forwarding in your iPhone settings

Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Phone, then scroll down and tap Call Forwarding. You'll see a toggle switch next to "Call Forwarding" — if it's green and turned to the right, call forwarding is currently on. Below the toggle, you'll see the phone number your calls are being sent to.

If the toggle is already off (gray, pointing left), call forwarding is not active on your device. If it's on and you don't recognize the number listed, that's a sign someone may have changed your settings without permission.

How to turn call forwarding off

With Call Forwarding open in your Settings app, tap the green toggle switch to turn it off. The switch will turn gray and move to the left. That's all you need to do — the change takes effect when ready, and your calls will start reaching your iPhone again instead of being redirected.

You don't need to restart your phone, contact your carrier, or wait for the change to process. If you were missing calls while it was on, they'll now come through normally.

What to do if you find an unfamiliar forwarding number

If you turn off call forwarding and see a phone number you don't recognize listed as the forwarding destination, someone accessed your phone settings without your permission. This is a sign that your device security may be compromised.

Change your iPhone passcode when ready. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode on older models), tap Change Passcode, and enter a new six-digit or longer code that no one else knows. If you use the same passcode on other devices or accounts, change those too. After you've secured your passcode, review your other iPhone settings — check whether Siri is enabled on the lock screen, whether unknown apps have been installed, or whether iCloud settings have been altered.

If you share your iPhone with someone and they set up call forwarding as a prank or to monitor your calls, this is a good moment to have a conversation about device privacy and reset boundaries around who can access your phone.

The difference between call forwarding and call waiting

Call forwarding sends all incoming calls to a different number. Call waiting is different — it lets you know when a second call is coming in while you're already on a call, and lets you switch between them. Call waiting doesn't redirect your calls; it just alerts you that someone else is trying to reach you.

Both features are in your Phone settings, and both can be turned on or off independently. If you're not receiving calls at all, check both settings. If call waiting is on but call forwarding is off, you should be receiving all your calls normally — the issue is likely something else, like Do Not Disturb mode or a problem with your carrier service.

Why someone might turn on call forwarding without permission

Call forwarding is sometimes enabled by someone who has physical access to your phone and knows your passcode. A partner monitoring your calls, a family member trying to intercept messages, or someone who borrowed your phone and wanted to redirect calls to themselves are all scenarios that happen. Because the feature is buried in Settings rather than prominently displayed, you might not notice it's on for days or weeks.

If you share your iPhone with a family member or partner, consider using a passcode they don't know, or enabling Face ID or Touch ID so only you can unlock the phone. If you suspect someone is monitoring your calls, that's also a sign to think about whether you feel safe in that relationship — and to reach out to a trusted person or a domestic safety organization if you need support.

How to prevent unauthorized changes to your call forwarding

The strongest protection is a passcode no one else knows. If you currently use a straightforward four-digit code or share it with others, change it now. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode), tap Change Passcode, and create a longer, random code — six digits or more is better than four.

You can also turn on Face ID or Touch ID so your phone unlocks only when you look at it or use your fingerprint. This prevents someone from using your phone even if they see your passcode being entered. Additionally, if you use iCloud, make sure two-factor authentication is turned on for your Apple ID — this adds a second layer of protection if someone tries to access your account from another device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off call forwarding affect my voicemail?

No. Voicemail is a separate carrier feature. Turning off call forwarding means calls will ring your iPhone instead of being sent elsewhere, but if you don't answer, they'll still go to voicemail as usual. Voicemail settings are controlled by your carrier, not by your iPhone's Call Forwarding toggle.

Can I turn off call forwarding without knowing the passcode?

No. You need to unlock your iPhone to access Settings and change call forwarding. If you've forgotten your passcode, you'll need to use Find My iPhone to erase the device and set it up again, or take it to an Apple Store with proof of purchase.

Does call forwarding work if my iPhone is turned off?

Yes. Call forwarding is a carrier-level feature, so it works even when your iPhone is off or out of service. The calls are redirected by your carrier's network, not by your phone itself. This is why it's important to turn it off if you don't want calls going elsewhere.

What if I turned on call forwarding and now I can't remember the number I forwarded to?

Go back to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding. The number is displayed right there under the toggle. If you need to change it, turn off the toggle, then turn it back on — you'll be prompted to enter a new forwarding number.

Can I set up call forwarding to go to multiple numbers?

No. iPhone's built-in call forwarding sends all calls to a single number. If you want calls to ring multiple devices at once, you'd need to use a different approach, like setting up call forwarding on your carrier's website or using a third-party app — but the simplest option is to keep your iPhone with you and let calls ring there directly.