The fastest way to cancel call forwarding depends on your phone type

Call forwarding stops working the moment you turn it off in your phone's settings or dial the right code. On most phones, you can disable it in under a minute without calling your carrier. The exact steps differ between iPhone, Android, and older phones, but the principle is the same: you either use the Settings app or dial a code that tells your carrier to stop redirecting calls.

If you set up call forwarding yourself through your phone's built-in feature, you can cancel it the same way. If your carrier set it up for you or you cannot find the setting, a quick phone call to customer service will turn it off. Either route takes less time than most people expect.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone users turn off call forwarding in Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding, then toggle it off.
  • Android users go to Phone > Settings > Call Settings > Call Forwarding, then select "Turn off" or "Disable".
  • You can also dial *73 (in the US) or #21# to disable call forwarding from any phone without opening settings.
  • If you do not know where the setting is or it will not turn off, your carrier can disable it in one call.
  • Call forwarding stays off until you turn it back on, so you do not need to repeat the process.

How to turn off call forwarding on iPhone

Open the Settings app and tap Phone. Scroll down and tap Call Forwarding. Toggle the switch to off (it will turn gray). That is all — your iPhone will no longer forward calls to another number.

If you do not see Call Forwarding in the Phone settings, your carrier may have set it up on their end rather than through your phone. In that case, call your carrier's customer service line and ask them to disable call forwarding on your account. You will need your phone number and account PIN or the last four digits of your Social Security number to verify your identity.

How to turn off call forwarding on Android

Open the Phone app and tap the three-dot menu (or Settings, depending on your phone). Look for Call Settings or Call Forwarding. Tap Call Forwarding and select "Turn off" or "Disable". The exact wording varies by phone maker and carrier, but the option will be clearly labeled.

Some Android phones bury this setting deeper: Phone app > Settings > Advanced > Call Forwarding. If you cannot find it after checking those locations, try dialing *73 from your phone (see the next section). If that does not work, contact your carrier.

Using dial codes to turn off call forwarding

You can disable call forwarding by dialing a code from any phone, even if you cannot access the settings. In the United States, dial *73 and press call. Your phone will show a message confirming that call forwarding is off. This works on both iPhone and Android, and it works even if you are calling from a different phone.

In other countries, the code is different. The UK uses #21#, Canada uses *73 (same as the US), and Australia uses #21#. If you are not sure which code applies to you, call your carrier and ask — they can tell you in seconds.

What to do if call forwarding will not turn off

If you toggle the setting off but calls still forward to another number, the forwarding may be set up at the carrier level rather than on your phone. Call your carrier's customer service line and explain that you have turned off call forwarding in your phone settings but it is still active. They can check their system and disable it on their end.

Have your phone number and account information ready when you call. The carrier will verify your identity and then remove the forwarding rule from your account. This usually takes less than five minutes. After they confirm it is off, test by having someone call you to make sure the call reaches your phone instead of forwarding elsewhere.

Why call forwarding might be on without you knowing

Call forwarding can be turned on by someone else with access to your phone, by a carrier representative if you asked them to set it up, or by a previous owner if you bought a used phone. If you find it active and do not remember turning it on, check where it is forwarding to. If it is forwarding to a number you do not recognize, turn it off when ready and consider changing your phone's passcode.

Some carriers also offer call forwarding as part of a plan feature or add-on service. If you subscribed to a service that includes call forwarding and want to stop using it, you may need to contact the carrier to remove the feature from your plan, not just turn off the phone setting.

Testing that call forwarding is actually off

After you turn off call forwarding, ask someone to call your phone number. If the call reaches you directly, forwarding is off. If the call goes to another number or voicemail, forwarding may still be active. If that happens, try the dial code (*73 in the US) or contact your carrier again.

Do not assume the setting is off just because you toggled it. A quick test call takes 30 seconds and confirms the change worked. This is especially important if you turned off forwarding because you were concerned about where calls were being sent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off call forwarding delete the number it was forwarding to?

No. When you turn off call forwarding, your phone remembers the number you were forwarding to. If you turn call forwarding back on later, you can select that same number without typing it again. If you want to erase it, check your phone's call forwarding settings for a delete or clear option.

Can I turn off call forwarding if I forgot the number it is forwarding to?

Yes. You do not need to know the forwarding number to turn off call forwarding. Just go to your phone settings and toggle it off, or dial *73. The forwarding will stop regardless of where calls were being sent.

Will turning off call forwarding affect my voicemail?

No. Call forwarding and voicemail are separate features. Turning off call forwarding does not change your voicemail settings. Calls that you do not answer will still go to voicemail as usual.

What if my carrier says call forwarding is already off?

If your carrier confirms it is off on their end but calls are still forwarding, check your phone settings again. The forwarding may be set up through your phone rather than the carrier. If both are off and forwarding still happens, contact your carrier again and ask them to investigate further.