What call forwarding does and why you might want to stop it

Call forwarding is a phone feature that sends incoming calls to a different number instead of ringing your phone. When it's on, someone calling you might reach your home phone, your work number, or another device entirely — depending on which number you set up. You turn it off by entering a code into your phone's keypad or through your phone's settings menu, depending on whether you use a landline or a mobile phone.

Call forwarding is useful when you're away from your desk or traveling and want to stay reachable. But it can also drain your phone battery, rack up unexpected charges if you're forwarding to an international number, or send calls somewhere you don't want them to go. If you set it up and forgot about it, or if someone else set it up on your phone, disabling it takes just a few seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • On a landline, you disable call forwarding by dialing *73 from your phone, or #73 on some carriers — your dial tone will change to confirm it's off.
  • On an iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding and toggle it off; on Android, the path varies by manufacturer but is usually in Settings > Call Settings or Phone Settings.
  • If you don't know whether call forwarding is on, dial *#21# on most phones to check the status without changing anything.
  • Call forwarding set up through your carrier's website or app may not turn off from your phone — you may need to log into your account online instead.

Disabling call forwarding on a landline

On a traditional landline, call forwarding is managed through your phone service provider, not your phone itself. To turn it off, pick up your handset and dial *73. Wait for the dial tone to change — it will usually become a single tone instead of the normal dial tone — and then hang up. Call forwarding is now off.

If *73 doesn't work, try #73 instead. Some carriers, particularly older systems or regional providers, use the pound sign rather than the asterisk. If neither code works, call your phone service provider's customer support line (the number is usually on your bill) and ask them to disable call forwarding on your account.

To check whether call forwarding is currently on before you disable it, dial *#21# and press call. Your phone will read back the number that calls are being forwarded to, or tell you that call forwarding is not active. This doesn't change anything — it just shows you the current status.

Turning off call forwarding on an iPhone

On an iPhone, call forwarding is a built-in setting rather than a carrier code. Open the Settings app, then tap Phone. Look for Call Forwarding in the list. If the toggle next to it is green, call forwarding is on; tap it to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray, and your calls will ring your iPhone instead of forwarding elsewhere.

If you don't see Call Forwarding in the Phone settings, your iPhone may not have it enabled by your carrier. This is rare on major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, but some smaller carriers or older plans don't support it. If you still suspect call forwarding is on, dial *#21# to check the carrier-level setting, which is separate from the iPhone's built-in toggle.

Turning off call forwarding on Android

Android phones vary by manufacturer, but the path is usually similar. Open Settings, then look for Call Settings, Phone Settings, or Advanced Calling — the exact name depends on your phone maker and carrier. Once you find it, look for Call Forwarding or Forward Calls. Tap it and select Disable or Off.

If you can't find call forwarding in your settings, try this: open your phone's dialer app, press and hold the number 1, or dial *#21# and press call. This checks the carrier-level setting. If a number appears, call forwarding is active at your carrier's level, and you may need to contact your carrier to turn it off, since the phone's settings menu may not control it.

Disabling call forwarding set up through your carrier's website or app

Some carriers let you set up call forwarding through their website or mobile app rather than through your phone. If you used your carrier's app or website to turn on call forwarding, you usually have to go back there to turn it off — the phone's settings won't override it.

Log into your carrier's website or app using your account credentials. Look for a section called Call Settings, Phone Features, or My Services. Find Call Forwarding in the list and toggle it off or select Disable. Save your changes. It may take a few minutes for the change to take effect on your phone.

What to do if you can't find where call forwarding is turned on

If you've checked your phone's settings and the carrier codes don't work, call forwarding might be set up in a place you haven't looked yet. Check whether you have a second phone number or a work phone that might be forwarding to your personal number. Ask anyone else who has access to your phone account — a family member, employer, or roommate — whether they set it up.

If you still can't find it, contact your phone carrier's customer support. Tell them you want to disable all call forwarding on your account. They can check their system, see what's active, and turn it off for you. Have your phone number and account PIN or password ready when you call.

Why your phone might be forwarding calls even after you turn it off

If calls are still going somewhere else after you've disabled call forwarding, the issue might be something else. Check whether you have Do Not Disturb or Focus mode turned on (on iPhone) or Do Not Disturb (on Android) — these silence calls but don't forward them. You might also have call screening or spam filtering turned on, which silences unknown numbers without forwarding them.

Another possibility is that you have conditional call forwarding active, which forwards calls only when your phone is busy or you don't answer. This is different from regular call forwarding and uses different codes: *67 disables call forwarding when busy, and *61 disables call forwarding when you don't answer. Try disabling both of these as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if call forwarding is on right now?

Dial *#21# from your phone and press call. If a number appears on your screen, calls are being forwarded to that number. If you see a message saying call forwarding is not active, it's off. This works on most phones and doesn't change anything — it just shows you the status.

Can someone else turn on call forwarding on my phone without my permission?

Yes, if they have physical access to your phone or know your carrier account password. They can either change the setting in your phone's menu or log into your carrier's website and set it up there. If you suspect this has happened, change your carrier account password when ready and check your phone's settings for any forwarding you didn't set up.

Will disabling call forwarding affect my voicemail?

No. Call forwarding and voicemail are separate features. Turning off call forwarding means calls ring your phone instead of going elsewhere, but if you don't answer, they'll still go to voicemail as usual. Voicemail settings are controlled separately in your phone's settings or through your carrier.

What if I need call forwarding sometimes but not all the time?

You can turn it on and off whenever you need it. On a landline, dial *73 to turn it off and *72 to turn it back on (you'll be prompted to enter the number to forward to). On a smartphone, toggle it on or off in your phone's settings whenever your situation changes. Some people turn it on when they're traveling and off when they're home.

Does call forwarding cost extra money?

Most carriers include call forwarding at no extra charge, but if you're forwarding to an international number, you may be charged international calling rates for each forwarded call. Check your carrier's pricing page or call customer support to confirm what you're being charged for, especially if you're forwarding to a number outside your country.