What call divert actually does and why you might want to stop it
Call divert (also called call forwarding) is a phone feature that sends incoming calls to a different number instead of ringing your phone. When it's on, callers reach you at that other number — a second phone, a landline, voicemail, or someone else's phone entirely. You turn it off by accessing your phone's settings or calling your carrier.
You might have set up call divert to forward work calls to your personal phone, or to send calls to voicemail when you're unavailable. But if you've changed jobs, switched phones, or straightforward don't need it anymore, leaving it on means callers never reach your actual phone — they reach wherever you pointed the divert. That's why cancelling it matters: you get calls again instead of missing them or having them go somewhere else.
The steps to turn it off depend on what kind of phone you have and whether your carrier (like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile) is managing the divert. The fastest route is usually your phone's built-in settings, but if that doesn't work, a quick call to your carrier will do it.
Key Takeaways
- Call divert sends your incoming calls to a different number, so turning it off means calls ring your phone again instead of going elsewhere.
- On most smartphones, you can turn off call divert in the Phone app settings without contacting your carrier.
- If you set up divert through your carrier (not your phone), you may need to call them or use their online account to turn it off.
- Some phones let you turn divert on and off quickly from the main settings menu, while others bury it deeper in the Phone app.
Turning off call divert on an iPhone
On an iPhone, call divert lives in the Phone app. Open Phone, tap the keypad icon at the bottom, then look for a settings icon (usually a gear) in the upper left or right corner. Tap it, then look for "Call Forwarding" or "Call Divert". If it shows as "On", tap it to turn it off. The phone will briefly show "Disabling" and then return to the main screen.
If you don't see a settings icon in the Phone app, try going to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding instead. Toggle it off if it's on. If the toggle is already off or greyed out, your divert may be set up through your carrier rather than your phone — in that case, skip to the carrier section below.
After you turn it off, make a test call from another phone to your number. Your phone should ring instead of forwarding the call. If it still forwards, your carrier is managing the divert and you'll need to contact them.
Turning off call divert on an Android phone
On Android, the steps vary slightly by manufacturer, but the general path is the same. Open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu icon (or look for Settings), then find "Call Settings" or "Call Forwarding". Tap "Call Forwarding" and you should see options like "Always Forward", "Forward When Busy", or "Forward When Unanswered". Tap whichever one is currently on and select "Disable" or "Turn Off".
Some Android phones put this in Settings > Apps > Phone > Permissions or Settings > Call Settings directly. If you're not finding it in the Phone app, try searching your phone's Settings for "call forward" — most phones have a search function that will take you straight there.
Once you've turned it off, test it with a call from another phone. If calls still forward, your carrier is handling it and you'll need to contact them to disable it on their end.
Cancelling call divert set up through your carrier
If your phone's settings show call forwarding is off but calls still forward to another number, your carrier is managing the divert. This happens when you set it up by calling your carrier or through their website rather than through your phone.
Call your carrier's customer service number (it's on your bill or their website). Tell them you want to turn off call forwarding or call divert. They'll ask which type — "always forward", "forward when busy", or "forward when unanswered" — so if you're not sure, just say you want all call forwarding turned off. They can do it in a few seconds and confirm it's off before you hang up.
Alternatively, log into your carrier's online account (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc. all have portals) and look for Call Settings or Call Forwarding. You should be able to toggle it off there without calling. After you make the change, wait a few minutes for it to take effect, then test with a call from another phone.
What to do if you can't find the setting
If you've looked in your phone's settings and can't find call forwarding, it's either turned off already or your carrier is managing it. The quickest way to know for sure is to call your carrier. Have your phone number ready and tell them you want to check whether call forwarding is active on your account. They can tell you in seconds and turn it off if it is.
Some older phones or certain carriers use different names for the feature — it might be called "Call Redirect", "Call Transfer", or "Conditional Call Forwarding". If you see any of those terms in your settings, that's the divert feature, and the steps to turn it off are the same.
Testing that call divert is actually off
The only way to know for certain that call divert is off is to test it. Ask a friend or family member to call your phone number from their phone. Your phone should ring. If the call goes to a different number or voicemail instead, divert is still on.
If it's still forwarding after you've turned it off in your phone settings, your carrier is managing it. Call them and ask them to disable it. If it's still forwarding after your carrier says they've turned it off, ask them to check whether there's a conditional forward (like "forward when busy") still active — sometimes multiple forwards can be set up at once.
Why call divert might turn back on by itself
Call divert usually stays off once you turn it off, but some carriers or phones can re-enable it if you change certain settings or update your phone software. If you've turned it off and it comes back on weeks later, check your phone's settings again — it may have been re-enabled by an update.
If you find it keeps turning back on and you've confirmed it's off in both your phone and your carrier's system, contact your carrier and ask whether there's a setting on their end that's automatically re-enabling it. This is rare, but it can happen if your account has conflicting settings from an old plan or a previous service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off call divert affect my voicemail?
No. Call divert and voicemail are separate features. Voicemail will still work after you turn off divert — calls will ring your phone, and if you don't answer, they'll go to voicemail as usual. Turning off divert just means calls reach your phone instead of going to a different number.
Can I turn off call divert for only certain callers?
Not with the standard call divert feature. Call divert forwards all incoming calls to one number. If you want to forward calls from specific people, you'd need to use a different feature like "Do Not Disturb" with exceptions, or a third-party app. Your phone's settings can usually show you what options are available.
What if I want to turn call divert back on later?
You can turn it back on anytime using the same settings where you turned it off. On iPhone, go to Phone > Settings > Call Forwarding and toggle it on. On Android, go to Phone > Settings > Call Forwarding and select the type you want (always forward, forward when busy, etc.), then enter the number to forward to.
Does turning off call divert cost anything?
No. Turning call divert on or off is free. Some carriers charge a monthly fee to have the feature available, but toggling it on and off doesn't cost extra. If your carrier charges for call forwarding as a feature, turning it off won't remove the charge — you'd need to contact them to remove the feature from your plan if you want to stop paying for it.
What's the difference between call divert and Do Not Disturb?
Call divert sends calls to a different number. Do Not Disturb silences your phone but keeps calls on your phone — they just don't ring. With Do Not Disturb on, calls go to voicemail but the caller still reaches you eventually. With call divert on, the caller never reaches your phone at all — they reach the forwarded number instead.