Call forwarding sends your incoming calls to a different phone number

Call forwarding is a feature that automatically redirects calls meant for your Verizon phone to another number you choose. When someone calls your Verizon number, the call rings on whichever phone you've set it to forward to — your home phone, a family member's cell, your office line, or any other number you enter. You stay reachable without having to carry multiple phones or miss calls.

Verizon offers several types of call forwarding, each with a different purpose. You can forward all calls, forward only when your phone is busy, or forward only when you don't answer. You turn the feature on and off whenever you need it, and you can change the forwarding number at any time.

Key Takeaways

  • Call forwarding on Verizon can be set up through your phone's settings, the My Verizon app, or by dialing *72 followed by the number you want calls forwarded to.
  • Verizon offers unconditional forwarding (all calls go to another number), busy forwarding (calls forward only when your line is in use), and no-answer forwarding (calls forward if you don't pick up).
  • You can turn call forwarding on or off anytime, and changing the forwarding number takes less than a minute through any method.
  • Call forwarding does not prevent your Verizon bill from reflecting the calls — they still count toward your plan, and forwarded calls may incur long-distance charges if the forwarding number is outside your calling area.

Setting up unconditional call forwarding through your phone

The fastest way to turn on call forwarding is to dial a code directly from your Verizon phone. Open the phone app, tap the keypad, and dial *72 followed by the 10-digit number where you want calls to go. Press the call button. You'll hear a confirmation tone or see a message saying forwarding is active. To turn it off, dial *73 and press call.

This method works on any Verizon phone — Android, iPhone, or basic phone — and takes about 30 seconds. The forwarding number can be any phone number in the United States or internationally, though international forwarding may incur additional charges depending on your plan. Once you dial *72, the setting stays active until you dial *73 to cancel it, even if you turn your phone off and back on.

Using the My Verizon app to manage call forwarding

If you prefer not to dial codes, the My Verizon app lets you set up call forwarding through a menu. Open the app, go to the Account tab, select your phone number, and look for "Call Forwarding" or "Call Settings." Tap it, enter the number you want to forward to, and save. The app shows you whether forwarding is currently on or off and what number it's set to.

The app method is useful if you want to set up forwarding before you're in a situation where you need it, or if you want to keep a record of which number you're forwarding to. Changes made in the app take effect within a few seconds. You can also use this method to set up the other types of forwarding — busy forwarding and no-answer forwarding — which the dial codes alone cannot do.

Busy forwarding and no-answer forwarding

Beyond basic call forwarding, Verizon offers two conditional types. Busy forwarding (activated by dialing *67) sends calls to another number only when your Verizon line is already in use. If you're on a call and someone else tries to reach you, that call goes to the number you've set instead of going to voicemail. No-answer forwarding (activated by dialing *61) forwards calls only if you don't pick up within a set number of rings — usually four or five, depending on your settings.

These options are useful if you want to stay reachable in specific situations without forwarding every single call. For example, you might use busy forwarding at work so that calls don't pile up in voicemail while you're on client calls. You can set each type to forward to a different number, and they work independently of each other. To turn off busy or no-answer forwarding, dial *67 or *61 again and press call.

What happens to your bill and call charges

Call forwarding itself does not cost extra on most Verizon plans — the feature is included. However, the calls that are forwarded still count as incoming calls on your account, and if the forwarding number is long-distance or outside your calling plan's area, you may be charged for those minutes. For example, if you forward your Verizon number to a friend's phone in another state, and that call is long-distance from your plan's perspective, you'll see those charges on your bill.

The person calling your Verizon number is not charged extra — they pay only for calling your original number. The cost of the forwarded call falls to you, the account holder. If you're concerned about charges, check your plan's calling area and long-distance rates before setting up forwarding to a number outside that area.

Turning call forwarding off and troubleshooting

To turn off unconditional call forwarding, dial *73 from your Verizon phone and press call. You'll hear a confirmation tone. If you set up forwarding through the My Verizon app, you can also turn it off the same way — go back to Call Forwarding settings and toggle it off. Once it's off, calls ring on your Verizon phone as normal.

If forwarding isn't working, first check that you dialed the code correctly — *72 for setup, *73 for cancellation. Make sure the forwarding number you entered is correct and includes the area code. If calls still aren't forwarding, restart your phone and try again. If the problem persists, contact Verizon customer service — they can check whether the feature is active on your account and reset it if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I forward calls to a number outside the United States?

Yes, Verizon allows forwarding to international numbers, but charges may explore. International forwarding is typically billed as an outgoing long-distance call from your location to that country. Check your plan's international rates before setting this up, or contact Verizon to confirm the cost.

If I forward my calls, can I still receive text messages on my Verizon phone?

Yes. Call forwarding affects only voice calls, not text messages or data. Your texts will still arrive on your Verizon phone even if calls are forwarded elsewhere.

What if I forget to turn off call forwarding when I leave work?

Calls will continue to forward to the number you set until you dial *73 to cancel it. There's no automatic timer. If you frequently forget, set a phone reminder to turn it off at the end of your workday, or use the My Verizon app to check the status before you leave.

Does the person I'm forwarding calls to know the call came from my Verizon number?

Yes. When a call is forwarded, the person receiving it sees your Verizon number on their caller ID, not the original caller's number. This helps them know it's you calling (or your forwarded line).

Can I set different forwarding numbers for different times of day?

The dial codes and My Verizon app do not have built-in scheduling. You would need to manually change the forwarding number by dialing *72 again with a new number, or updating it in the app. Some third-party apps can automate this, but Verizon's native feature requires manual changes.