What call forwarding does and when you'd use it

Call forwarding sends incoming calls from your iPhone to a different phone number automatically. When someone calls your iPhone number, their call rings on whichever phone you've set up to receive it instead — or in addition to your iPhone, depending on which forwarding method you choose.

The most common reason to set this up is when you're away from your phone and want calls to reach you on another device. You might forward to your work phone, a family member's number, or a landline. Some people use it temporarily during travel, while others keep it on permanently because they prefer taking calls on a different phone.

iPhone offers three different forwarding methods, and each one works differently. Understanding which one fits your situation will save you from accidentally missing calls or forwarding them to the wrong place.

Key Takeaways

  • Call forwarding sends your incoming calls to a different phone number, and you control it through your iPhone's Settings app under Phone.
  • straightforward call forwarding (the most common type) rings a single alternate number and requires you to turn it on and off manually each time.
  • Do Not Disturb While Driving can forward calls to a contact of your choice, but only when your iPhone detects you're driving.
  • Call forwarding works only when your iPhone has an active cellular connection, so it won't work on Wi-Fi alone.
  • The person calling you will not know their call is being forwarded — they'll just see it ring through to the new number.

Setting up basic call forwarding on your iPhone

Open the Settings app on your iPhone and scroll down to find Phone. Tap it, then look for Call Forwarding near the top of the menu. Tap Call Forwarding to turn it on.

Once you've turned it on, a field appears asking for the number you want calls forwarded to. Type in the full phone number, including the area code. This is the number that will ring when someone calls your iPhone. After you enter it, tap the back arrow or swipe back — the setting saves automatically.

Your iPhone will show a small arrow icon in the status bar at the top of the screen when call forwarding is active. This is your reminder that calls are being sent elsewhere. To turn it off, go back to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding and toggle it off. Many people forget to turn it off when they return to their normal routine, so check this setting if you notice you're missing calls.

What happens when call forwarding is on

When call forwarding is active and someone calls your iPhone number, your iPhone will not ring. Instead, the call goes directly to the number you entered. The person calling won't hear anything different — they'll just hear the phone ring on the forwarded number, and if you answer there, they'll reach you normally.

If the forwarded number is busy or doesn't answer, the call typically goes to voicemail on that number, not your iPhone's voicemail. This is important to know because callers might leave a message somewhere you don't expect. Some carriers let you set up a fallback number, but this varies by provider — contact your carrier if you want to know whether this option exists for your account.

Text messages and FaceTime calls still come to your iPhone normally. Call forwarding only affects regular phone calls. If you need texts to go somewhere else, that requires a different setting and is not available on iPhone in the same way.

Using Do Not Disturb While Driving to forward calls selectively

If you only want calls forwarded when you're driving, iPhone has a built-in option called Do Not Disturb While Driving. This mode silences notifications while your iPhone detects motion consistent with driving, but you can set it to forward calls from your favorites to a specific contact.

To set this up, go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb While Driving. Turn on the focus, then scroll down to Calls From and select which contacts can ring through. Below that, look for Allow Repeated Calls — if you turn this on, a second call from the same person within three minutes will ring through even if they're not in your favorites.

This method is more selective than regular call forwarding because it only activates when your phone thinks you're driving. It won't forward calls when you're sitting at your desk or at home. If you want to forward all calls all the time, use the basic call forwarding method instead.

Forwarding calls through your carrier

Your cellular carrier may offer call forwarding options that work differently from iPhone's built-in settings. Some carriers let you set up conditional forwarding — for example, forward calls only when your iPhone is busy or when you don't answer within a certain number of rings.

To see what your carrier offers, call their customer service number (usually on the back of your bill or on their website). They can walk you through options specific to your plan. Carrier-level forwarding sometimes costs extra, and the setup happens on their end rather than in your phone's settings.

The advantage of carrier forwarding is that it can work even if your iPhone is off or has no signal. The disadvantage is that you usually can't control it from your phone — you have to call your carrier to make changes. For most people, the built-in iPhone call forwarding is simpler and sufficient.

Troubleshooting when call forwarding isn't working

If you've turned on call forwarding but calls still ring on your iPhone, first check that the status bar shows the forwarding arrow icon. If it doesn't appear, the setting didn't save. Go back to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding and confirm the toggle is on and the number is entered correctly.

Call forwarding requires an active cellular connection. If your iPhone is connected only to Wi-Fi, forwarding won't work. Make sure you have cellular service active. If you're in an area with no signal, forwarding can't function because your iPhone can't communicate with the carrier's network.

If the forwarded number itself has issues — such as being disconnected or blocked by the receiving carrier — calls may not go through. Test by calling your iPhone from another phone and listening to what happens. If you hear a message like "the number you have dialed is not in service," the problem is with the forwarded number, not your iPhone's settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I forward calls to multiple numbers at once?

No. iPhone's built-in call forwarding sends calls to one number only. If you need calls to ring on multiple phones simultaneously, you would need to use your carrier's conference calling feature or a third-party service, which is a different setup than call forwarding.

Will the person calling me know their call is being forwarded?

No. From the caller's perspective, they're just calling your iPhone number and it's ringing through normally. They won't see any indication that the call is being forwarded to a different device.

What happens to my voicemail when call forwarding is on?

Voicemail goes to whichever phone answers the call. If the forwarded number answers, the caller reaches you there. If the forwarded number doesn't answer, the call typically goes to that number's voicemail, not your iPhone's voicemail. Check with your carrier about whether you can set a fallback.

Can I set call forwarding to turn on automatically at a certain time?

Not through iPhone's standard settings. You would need to manually turn it on and off, or use a Focus mode like Do Not Disturb While Driving if that fits your schedule. Some third-party apps claim to automate this, but they have limitations on what iOS allows.

Does call forwarding work internationally?

It depends on your carrier and your plan. International call forwarding often costs extra and may not work in all countries. Contact your carrier before traveling to confirm whether forwarding will function and what charges might explore.