Call forwarding stops working the moment you turn it off in your phone settings
Call forwarding is a feature that sends incoming calls to a different phone number instead of ringing on your device. To stop it, you go into your phone's settings, find the call forwarding option, and switch it off. The exact steps depend on whether you have an iPhone or Android phone, and whether you set it up through your phone's built-in feature or through your carrier.
Most people set up call forwarding without thinking much about it — maybe you forwarded calls to your work phone while you were on vacation, or to a family member's number during an emergency. Once the situation changes, you need to know where to turn it off so calls stop going somewhere else.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, turn off call forwarding by opening Settings, tapping Phone, selecting Call Forwarding, and toggling it off.
- On Android, the path varies by manufacturer, but usually lives under Settings > Advanced Calling or Settings > Call Settings > Call Forwarding.
- If you set up call forwarding through your carrier (like Verizon or AT&T) instead of your phone, you may need to call them or use their app to turn it off.
- Call forwarding set through your phone turns off when ready; carrier-based forwarding may take a few minutes to stop working.
- If you cannot find the setting, your carrier's customer service can confirm whether forwarding is active and turn it off for you.
How to turn off call forwarding on iPhone
Open the Settings app and tap Phone. Scroll down and tap Call Forwarding. If the toggle next to Call Forwarding is green (on), tap it to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray, and call forwarding is now disabled.
If you do not see a Call Forwarding option in the Phone settings, it may mean call forwarding is not currently active on your device, or it was set up through your carrier instead of your phone. In that case, check the next section.
How to turn off call forwarding on Android
The location of call forwarding settings varies depending on your phone's manufacturer. Start by opening Settings and looking for Call Settings, Advanced Calling, or Calling Accounts. Once you find it, look for an option labeled Call Forwarding or Forward Calls.
Tap that option and you should see a toggle or a list of forwarding types (like "Always Forward" or "Forward When Busy"). Tap the toggle to turn it off, or select the forwarding type and choose the option to disable it. If you have multiple SIM cards or phone lines, check each one separately — forwarding may be active on only one of them.
Common Android manufacturers and where to look: Samsung phones usually have it under Settings > Phone > Call Settings > Call Forwarding. Google Pixel phones typically show it under Settings > Advanced > Call Forwarding. Other brands may bury it under Settings > More Settings or Settings > Additional Settings. If you cannot find it after checking these locations, move to the carrier method below.
Turning off call forwarding through your carrier
If you set up call forwarding through your carrier's website, app, or by calling them, you need to turn it off the same way. Open your carrier's app (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.) and look for a section labeled Call Settings, Manage Services, or My Services. Find Call Forwarding and toggle it off or delete the forwarding number.
If you cannot find it in the app, call your carrier's customer service number (usually on your bill or on their website). Tell them you want to turn off call forwarding. They can confirm whether it is active, see what number calls are being forwarded to, and disable it for you over the phone. This usually takes less than five minutes.
Carrier-based call forwarding may take a few minutes to stop working after you turn it off, whereas phone-based call forwarding stops when ready. If you turn it off and calls still forward for a few minutes, that is normal.
What to do if you cannot find the call forwarding setting
If you have looked through your phone settings and cannot locate call forwarding, it may not be active. But the safest way to know for certain is to contact your carrier. They have a record of every service on your account, including call forwarding, and can tell you in one call whether it is turned on.
You can also test it yourself: ask someone to call your phone number and listen to where the call goes. If it rings on your phone normally, call forwarding is off. If it goes to voicemail or a different phone, forwarding may still be active.
Why call forwarding might not turn off
The most common reason call forwarding will not turn off is that it was set up through your carrier, not your phone. If you turned off the setting in your phone but calls still forward, check your carrier's app or call them directly.
Another possibility is that you have multiple forwarding rules set up. Some phones allow you to set different forwarding numbers for different situations — for example, forward calls when you are busy, or forward calls when you do not answer. You may need to turn off each rule separately.
If you recently changed carriers or switched phones, old forwarding settings sometimes linger. Your new carrier can see what is on your account and clear it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off call forwarding affect my voicemail?
No. Call forwarding and voicemail are separate features. Turning off call forwarding means calls will ring on your phone instead of going elsewhere. Voicemail will still work normally if someone calls when you do not answer.
Can I turn off call forwarding for only certain people?
Not through the standard call forwarding feature. Call forwarding forwards all incoming calls to the same number. If you want to route calls from specific people differently, you would need to use a separate feature like Do Not Disturb, Focus modes (iPhone), or call blocking apps.
What happens to calls while I am turning off call forwarding?
If someone calls while you are in the settings menu turning it off, the call will still forward to the old number. Once you finish turning it off and exit the settings, new calls will ring on your phone. There is no gap in service.
Do I need to tell my carrier I am turning off call forwarding?
No. If you set it up through your phone, you can turn it off without contacting anyone. If you set it up through your carrier, you can usually turn it off through their app without calling. You only need to contact them if you cannot find the setting or if it will not turn off.
Can I turn off call forwarding remotely if I do not have my phone?
If you set it up through your carrier, yes — log into your carrier's website or app from any computer or phone and turn it off there. If you set it up through your phone's settings, you need access to that phone to turn it off, unless your carrier can do it for you.