How to cancel call forwarding
Call forwarding stops working the moment you turn it off in your phone's settings. The process takes about 30 seconds and works the same way whether you set it up yourself or someone else did — you go into settings, find the call forwarding option, and switch it off. Your phone will then ring normally again instead of sending calls elsewhere.
The exact steps depend on whether you have an iPhone or Android phone, and whether your carrier (like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile) set up the forwarding or you did it yourself through your phone's built-in feature. Both paths are straightforward, but they look different enough that it helps to know which one applies to you.
Key Takeaways
- Call forwarding turns off when ready through your phone's settings — there is no waiting period or confirmation from your carrier.
- iPhone users find the setting under Phone > Settings > Call Forwarding, while Android users look in Phone > Settings > Call Forwarding or Advanced Settings depending on their phone model.
- If your carrier set up forwarding (you did not do it yourself), you may need to call them to turn it off, though most phones let you disable it in settings first.
- Turning off call forwarding does not affect voicemail, text messages, or any other phone feature — only incoming calls will behave differently.
Turning off call forwarding on iPhone
Open the Phone app and tap Settings at the bottom right. Scroll down until you see Call Forwarding — it will show a phone number if forwarding is currently on. Tap Call Forwarding, then tap the toggle next to it to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray, and your phone will when ready stop forwarding calls.
If you do not see Call Forwarding in the Phone app settings, go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding instead. The location varies slightly between iOS versions, but both paths lead to the same toggle. Once it is off, any call that comes in will ring on your phone rather than going to the forwarded number.
Turning off call forwarding on Android
Open the Phone app and tap the three-dot menu (or settings icon) at the top. Look for Settings or Call Settings. Tap it, then find Call Forwarding — on some Android phones it is under Additional Settings or Advanced Settings instead. Tap Call Forwarding, then tap the option to turn it off or disable it.
Android phones vary more than iPhones, so the exact wording and location can differ between Samsung, Google Pixel, and other brands. If you cannot find Call Forwarding in the Phone app settings, try going to Settings > Apps > Phone > Permissions and then back to the Phone app settings. The feature is always there, but the menu structure is not always identical.
What to do if your carrier set up the forwarding
If you did not set up call forwarding yourself — for example, if your employer or a family member did it for you — you may need to call your carrier to turn it off. However, most phones let you disable it in settings even if the carrier set it up, so try the steps above first. If the toggle does not appear or does not work, then contact your carrier's customer service.
When you call, have your phone number and account information ready. Tell them you want to turn off call forwarding, and they can do it from their end in about a minute. Some carriers also let you manage forwarding through their website or mobile app, so check your carrier's website to see if that option is available to you.
Why call forwarding might not turn off
If you turn off the toggle but calls still forward to another number, the most common reason is that your carrier has forwarding set up separately from your phone's built-in feature. In that case, turning off the phone setting does not affect the carrier-level forwarding. Call your carrier and ask them to disable it on their end.
Another possibility is that you are looking at a different setting. Some phones have both Call Forwarding and Call Divert, or Call Forwarding and Conditional Call Forwarding (which only forwards when you do not answer). Make sure you are turning off the right one. If you are unsure, call your carrier — they can tell you exactly what is set up on your account and turn off anything you do not want.
Checking that call forwarding is actually off
The easiest way to confirm forwarding is off is to have someone call you and listen for the ring. If your phone rings and the call comes through normally, forwarding is off. If the call goes silent or goes to voicemail without your phone ringing, forwarding may still be active.
You can also check by going back into the Call Forwarding setting. If the toggle is off or no phone number appears next to Call Forwarding, it is disabled. If a number still shows there, the setting did not save — try turning it off again, or restart your phone and try once more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off call forwarding affect my voicemail?
No. Voicemail and call forwarding are separate features. Turning off call forwarding does not change where voicemail goes or how it works. Calls will ring on your phone instead of forwarding, but if you do not answer, they will still go to voicemail as usual.
Can I turn off call forwarding remotely if I do not have my phone?
If your carrier set it up, yes — call them from another phone and they can disable it. If you set it up yourself through your phone's settings, you need access to your phone to turn it off. Some carriers let you manage forwarding through their website or app, so check your carrier's options.
Will turning off call forwarding stop text messages from going elsewhere?
Call forwarding only affects phone calls, not text messages. Text messages go to your phone regardless of call forwarding settings. If texts are going somewhere else, that is a separate issue unrelated to call forwarding.
What if I want to turn call forwarding back on later?
Go back to the Call Forwarding setting, tap the toggle to turn it on, and enter the phone number where you want calls to go. The process is identical to turning it off, just in reverse. Your phone will start forwarding calls when ready.
Does my carrier charge me to turn off call forwarding?
No. Turning off call forwarding through your phone settings is free. If you call your carrier to have them disable it, that is also free. Some carriers charge a monthly fee to have call forwarding active, so turning it off may actually lower your bill.