How to Forward Calls on AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile (Codes and Steps)

Call forwarding is a basic network feature, yet it still trips people up because every carrier documents it differently. Every code below was checked against the carrier's or provider's own support pages on 30 September 2026; codes that appear only on third-party lists are left out.

What Is Call Forwarding, and Which Type Do You Need?

Call forwarding tells your carrier to send incoming calls to another number, either every call or only under certain conditions. There are two families: unconditional forwarding, where your phone never rings and every call goes straight to the new number, and conditional forwarding, where your phone rings first and only calls you miss are redirected.

Conditional forwarding usually has three triggers. No answer forwards calls you don't pick up, busy forwards calls that arrive while you're already on a call, and unreachable forwards calls when your phone is off or out of signal. Carriers bundle these differently: Verizon uses one code for busy and no answer together, while T-Mobile gives each condition its own code.

For a small business, the choice is about who answers first. All-call forwarding suits planned absences or a line you never want to ring. Conditional forwarding keeps you as the first answer and uses the backup only when you can't pick up; our guide to conditional call forwarding with an AI backup covers that pattern in more depth.

What to do: decide whether you want to answer calls yourself first. If yes, use a conditional code. If you want every call handled elsewhere, use the all-call code.

Call Forwarding Codes at a Glance

AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile use different codes for the same forwarding jobs: Verizon uses *72, *71 and *73, T-Mobile uses **21*-style network codes, and AT&T points customers to the phone's settings menu. The table shows what each carrier publishes as of September 2026; replace "number" with the full 10-digit destination, including the area code, with no spaces or dashes.

AT&T's menu labels come from its Android device guides, and its *21* string from its Wireless Home Phone guide; iPhone menus differ, as the AT&T section explains. If you have an Australian number, the codes and timers are different: see our Australian call forwarding setup guide instead.

How to Forward Calls on AT&T

AT&T directs wireless customers to their phone's call forwarding settings rather than a star code. Its support page says you can only change forwarding from your wireless phone, not online, and its device guides walk through the menu for each handset.

Forward all calls on AT&T

On an iPhone, AT&T's guide uses Settings, then Apps, then Phone, then Call Forwarding (older iOS versions put Phone directly under Settings). Turn on the Call Forwarding switch, tap Forward To, and enter the number. To stop, switch it off again.

On Android, AT&T's Pixel guide uses Phone app, then Settings, then Calling accounts, then your SIM, then Call forwarding, then Always forward. Enter the number and tap Turn on. Other Android brands label the menus slightly differently, but the Call forwarding screen is usually under the Phone app's settings.

AT&T also documents a dial string: *21* followed by the 10-digit number and #, for example *21*2125550142#, waiting at least three seconds for a confirmation tone. That example comes from AT&T's Wireless Home Phone guide, and #21# turns forwarding off; AT&T's prepaid calling troubleshooter lists the same #21# step. On a smartphone, the settings menu is the route AT&T's own phone guides use.

Forward only missed, busy or unreachable calls on AT&T

AT&T's Android guide lists three conditional options on the same Call forwarding screen: When busy (you're already on a call), When unanswered (you don't answer after a few rings) and When unreachable (your phone is off, in airplane mode or has no signal). Set each one with the destination number.

AT&T's iPhone guide shows a single Call Forwarding switch and notes that busy-line routing depends on the device. We did not find a conditional dial code on AT&T's own support pages, so we don't reproduce the codes that circulate on third-party sites. What to do: if your phone only offers all-call forwarding, follow the forwarding options Trillet's setup lists for AT&T, or ask AT&T support to set up conditional forwarding on your line.

AT&T caveats

AT&T's wireless forwarding page, last updated April 2025, lists these rules:

• Call forwarding overrides your wireless voicemail.
• If the forwarding number is busy, your callers hear a busy signal.
• You can't forward to an international number.
• Forwarded calls are billed for the length of the call, and long-distance charges apply outside your home calling area. With some plans, forwarding minutes don't count against your included minutes.

How to Forward Calls on Verizon

Verizon uses three star codes, dialed from the phone you want to forward. Its support pages confirm that call forwarding is available on all plans, with no monthly fee on most of them.

Verizon forwarding codes

• Forward all calls: dial *72 followed by the 10-digit number, for example *722125550142. Listen for a series of beeps and let the call end on its own.
• Forward busy or unanswered calls: dial *71 followed by the 10-digit number. Verizon says this sends calls to the new number if you're busy or don't answer after three to six rings, instead of sending them to voicemail.
• Turn forwarding off: dial *73. Verizon says this disables immediate or conditional forwarding, and the confirmation may sound like a busy signal.

Verizon does not publish a separate "unreachable" code on the pages we checked, so *71 is its conditional option.

Verizon caveats

Verizon's call forwarding FAQ sets out the practical limits:

• The destination must be an active, voice-capable US number with all 10 digits, including the area code, even for a local number.
• You can't forward to an international number, and forwarding does not pass on text messages.
• You can't set up forwarding while outside Verizon's coverage area or traveling internationally, though forwarding set up beforehand should keep working while you roam.
• You need your mobile phone to manage forwarding. If a code fails, Verizon says to contact customer service.
• If you don't have unlimited minutes, forwarded calls are billed as if you answered them. A fee may apply on certain older plans.

If callers get a busy tone after you activate forwarding, Verizon suggests checking the forwarding number, because an extra keypress during setup can make it unrecognizable, then redialing *72 with the full number.

How to Forward Calls on T-Mobile

T-Mobile publishes a full set of network codes on its self-service short codes page, one per forwarding condition. Each destination is entered as 1 plus the 10-digit number.

T-Mobile forwarding codes

• Forward all calls: **21*1 plus the number and #, for example **21*12125550142#. Turn off with ##21#.
• Forward unanswered calls: **61*1 plus the number and #. Turn off with ##61#.
• Forward when busy: **67*1 plus the number and #. Turn off with ##67#.
• Forward when unreachable (phone off or out of range): **62*1 plus the number and #. Turn off with ##62#.
• Reset everything: ##004# resets call forwarding to T-Mobile's default.

T-Mobile also documents a delay for unanswered calls: add ** and a number of seconds before the final #, choosing 5, 10, 15 and so on up to 30 seconds. Following T-Mobile's published format, **61*12125550142**10# would forward unanswered calls to that number after a 10-second delay. The delay is a carrier setting on your line.

T-Mobile caveats

T-Mobile's calling-services page says you can't forward to international numbers, you can only forward to 10- or 11-digit numbers, and forwarding while roaming depends on the host country's network. The page does not spell out how forwarded minutes are billed on each plan, so check your plan before forwarding high volumes.

What to do: to undo every forwarding change at once, dial ##004#, which T-Mobile says resets call forwarding to default, then call your number to check where missed calls now go.

How to Forward a Landline or VoIP Business Line

Many US home and small-business lines, including the AT&T, Verizon and Spectrum services below, forward all calls with *72 and stop with *73, but the exact steps vary by provider. These are the steps each provider publishes, as of September 2026:

• AT&T home phone (traditional line): dial *72 or 72#, enter the number and wait for the confirmation tone. AT&T then calls the destination, and forwarding activates only if that call is answered. Turn off with *73 or 73#. Busy-line and don't-answer forwarding need an AT&T agent, and additional local or long-distance charges may apply.
• AT&T Phone (digital home phone): press *72, enter the number, then #. Turn off with *73#.
• Verizon traditional home phone: lift the receiver, dial *72, and at the tone dial the destination; forwarding activates once that call is answered. Dial *73 to turn it off.
• Verizon Fios Digital Voice: sign in to My Verizon, open Calling Features, then call forwarding, enter the number and select Activate call forwarding.
• Spectrum Voice: enter *72, wait for the dial tone, enter the number followed by # (add 1 and the area code if needed), and wait for the confirmation tone. Enter *73 to turn it off.
• Xfinity Voice: Basic Call Forwarding is set in the Xfinity app or website under Call Forwarding: enter the 10-digit number and select Update. Xfinity says call forwarding isn't available on its Unlimited Saver and Local With More plans.

Business phone systems and hosted VoIP platforms usually manage forwarding in an admin portal. What to do: follow your provider's business support instructions, and confirm who pays for the forwarded leg before switching it on.

How to Test Call Forwarding Before You Rely On It

A confirmation tone proves the carrier accepted the code, not that callers reach the destination. Test every condition you set from a second phone before sending real customers through it.

1. No answer: call your number and let it ring out. The call should move to the destination after the carrier's ring time.
2. Busy: stay on one call and ring your number from a third phone. Declining a call may or may not count as busy, depending on your carrier and handset.
3. Unreachable: switch on airplane mode and call again, if you set that condition.
4. Voicemail: check what happens when forwarding is off again. AT&T notes that forwarding overrides wireless voicemail, and Verizon's *71 replaces voicemail for missed calls.

If a test fails, re-enter the code with the full 10-digit number (with 1 in front on T-Mobile), check that you're in coverage, and try the phone's Call Forwarding menu instead.

How to Send Missed Calls to an AI Receptionist Instead of Voicemail

Conditional forwarding is how an AI receptionist answers the calls you miss without changing your number. Your phone rings first; if you don't pick up, the carrier forwards the call and the AI answers with your business details instead of a voicemail greeting.

Trillet's setup handles the carrier part for you. Choose your country (or VoIP), select mobile or landline, and pick your carrier. On a mobile line, you then choose when calls forward: no answer, busy, unreachable, or all calls, depending on what your carrier supports. Landlines and VoIP lines forward all calls, so every call to that line goes to the AI.

Setup then shows the code to dial for your carrier, or a code you can scan with your phone. Dial it, wait for the confirmation tone, and call your number from another phone to hear the AI answer. How long your phone rings before a no-answer forward is set by your carrier, not by Trillet. The AI receptionist setup guide walks through the steps before and after forwarding, from reviewing answers to connecting a calendar.

To stop, choose Remove call forwarding in Trillet and dial the removal code shown for your carrier. Trillet can't see or change your carrier's settings, so call your number afterward to confirm it rings your phone again.

As of September 2026, the Trillet AI receptionist costs $49 per month with 150 minutes included, then $0.20 per additional minute. It answers inbound calls only, and the plan comes with a 28-day money-back guarantee. Your carrier may still charge for the forwarded leg, as the caveats above show; the receptionist pricing page has the plan details.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I forward calls to another number?

Dial your carrier's forwarding code followed by the destination number, or use your phone's Call Forwarding menu. On Verizon that is *72 plus the 10-digit number; on T-Mobile, **21*1 plus the number and #; on AT&T, the phone's settings menu or *21* plus the number and #.

How do I turn off call forwarding?

Dial *73 on Verizon, ##21# on T-Mobile (or ##004# to reset all forwarding), and #21# or the phone's Call Forwarding switch on AT&T. Then call your number from another phone to confirm it rings you again.

Does call forwarding cost extra?

It can. Verizon charges no monthly fee on most plans but bills forwarded calls as if you answered them unless you have unlimited minutes. AT&T bills forwarded calls for their full length, with long-distance charges outside your home calling area. Check your own plan before forwarding high volumes.

Can I forward calls to an international number?

No. AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile all say calls can't be forwarded to an international number from their mobile service.

Do I keep my phone number if I forward calls to an AI receptionist?

Yes. Forwarding is a setting on your existing line, so customers keep calling the number they already have. You can remove the forwarding at any time with your carrier's removal code.

Related Resources

• Complete AI Receptionist Guide for Small Businesses
• Why You're Missing Calls (and What It's Costing Your Business)
• AI Receptionist Setup Without Technical Knowledge
• AI Receptionist for After Hours Calls