What call forwarding does and how to stop it
Call forwarding is a phone feature that sends incoming calls to a different number — usually another phone you own, or someone else's number. When you turn it on, callers reach you at that second number instead of your original line. To deactivate it, you stop the phone from sending calls elsewhere and return them to your main number.
Call forwarding is useful when you're away from your desk or traveling, but it can become a problem if you forget it's active. Calls meant for you go to the wrong place. Turning it off takes less than a minute on most phones, and the exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or a landline.
The method also depends on your phone carrier — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and others each have slightly different systems. But the basic idea is the same: you access your phone settings or dial a code, then disable the forwarding rule.
Key Takeaways
- Call forwarding sends your incoming calls to a different phone number, and you turn it off through your phone's settings or by dialing a carrier code.
- iPhones use the Phone app settings to manage call forwarding, while Android phones typically use the Phone or Dialer app.
- Landline users can dial *73 to deactivate call forwarding, or contact their carrier directly if that code doesn't work.
- If you can't find the setting on your phone, your carrier's customer service can deactivate forwarding in seconds over the phone.
Deactivating call forwarding on iPhone
Open the Phone app on your iPhone and tap the Settings icon at the bottom right (it looks like a gear). Scroll down and tap Call Forwarding. If the toggle next to Call Forwarding is green and switched on, tap it to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray, and forwarding stops when ready.
If you don't see a Call Forwarding option in the Phone app settings, your carrier may not support this feature through the app. In that case, go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding and look for the same toggle. If it's still not there, contact your carrier — some older plans or regional carriers handle call forwarding differently.
Deactivating call forwarding on Android
Open the Phone app (the one you use to make calls) and tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner. Look for Settings or Call Settings. Tap Call Forwarding or Call Diverting — the exact name varies by phone brand and carrier. You should see a list of forwarding types: Always Forward, Forward When Busy, Forward When Unanswered, and Forward When Unreachable.
Tap Always Forward first, since that's the most common type. If it shows a phone number, that's where your calls are going. Tap the option to turn it off or delete the number. Then check the other three types and turn off any that are active. Once all four are off, your calls return to your main number.
If you can't find Call Forwarding in the Phone app menu, try opening Settings > Apps > Phone > Permissions, or search "call forwarding" in your phone's main Settings. Some Android phones bury the option deeper than others.
Using carrier codes to deactivate forwarding
Most carriers support a quick dial code to turn off call forwarding without opening any menus. Open your phone's dialer and dial *73, then press Call. You should hear a confirmation message saying call forwarding is deactivated. This works on most landlines and many mobile phones across Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and regional carriers.
If *73 doesn't work, try #73 instead — some older systems use the pound sign. If neither code works, your carrier may use a different system. Contact them directly and ask for the deactivation code, or ask them to turn it off for you over the phone.
What to do if you can't find the setting
If you've looked through your phone settings and can't locate call forwarding, the feature may be managed by your carrier rather than your phone. This is common with some business phone plans, older landlines, and certain regional carriers. The fastest solution is to call your carrier's customer service number — it's usually on your bill or on their website.
Tell them you want to deactivate call forwarding. They can confirm whether it's currently active, see where calls are being forwarded, and turn it off when ready. You don't need to know any technical details — just say "I have call forwarding on and I want to turn it off." They handle it in under a minute.
Checking whether call forwarding is still active
After you turn off call forwarding, test it by having someone call your main phone number from another phone. If they reach you directly on your original number, forwarding is off. If the call goes to the other number, the setting didn't take or you turned off the wrong type of forwarding.
On iPhone, go back to Phone > Settings > Call Forwarding and confirm the toggle is gray. On Android, return to Call Settings and check that all four forwarding types (Always, Busy, Unanswered, Unreachable) show no active numbers. If you see a number still listed, tap it and select the option to turn it off or delete it.
Why call forwarding stays on by accident
Call forwarding often gets left active because people set it up for a specific situation — a business trip, a time when your main phone was broken, or while you were using a different device — and then forget about it. Weeks or months later, important calls go to the wrong place and you miss them.
If you set up call forwarding and don't remember doing it, someone else with access to your phone may have turned it on. Check your phone bill or call your carrier to see if there's a record of when it was activated. If you didn't authorize it, your carrier can help you find your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off call forwarding delete the number I was forwarding to?
No. Deactivating call forwarding stops the forwarding, but the number stays in your phone's memory. If you want to set up forwarding again later to the same number, you won't have to re-enter it. If you want to erase it completely, you can delete it from your contacts.
Can I turn off call forwarding if I don't remember the number it's forwarding to?
Yes. You don't need to know the forwarding number to turn it off. On iPhone, just toggle Call Forwarding off. On Android, go to Call Forwarding settings and select the option to disable or clear it. Your carrier can also deactivate it without you knowing the number.
What's the difference between call forwarding and Do Not Disturb?
Call forwarding sends calls to a different number. Do Not Disturb silences your phone but doesn't send calls anywhere — they go to voicemail instead. If you want calls to reach you at all, turn off call forwarding. If you want to silence your phone temporarily, use Do Not Disturb.
Will deactivating call forwarding affect my voicemail?
No. Call forwarding and voicemail are separate features. Turning off forwarding doesn't change where voicemail messages go or how they work. Calls that you don't answer will still go to voicemail as usual.
Why does my phone show call forwarding is off, but calls still go somewhere else?
You may have turned off one type of forwarding but left another active. On Android, check all four types: Always Forward, Forward When Busy, Forward When Unanswered, and Forward When Unreachable. If any of those show a number, turn them all off. If the problem continues, contact your carrier — they can see all active forwarding rules on your account.