How to Enable and Disable Call Forwarding on iPhone

Call forwarding redirects incoming calls to another number when you’re unavailable or without coverage. It’s a carrier-level feature managed through iOS Settings, but actual support and behavior depend entirely on your carrier’s implementation.

Enable call forwarding

1. Open Settings → Phone
2. Tap Call Forwarding
3. Toggle the switch to On
4. Enter the phone number where calls should forward
5. Tap back to confirm

Once active, you’ll see a small forwarding icon in the status bar. Verify it’s working by calling your number from another device—the call should ring on the forwarded number instead of your iPhone.

Change the forwarding number

1. Go to Settings → Phone → Call Forwarding
2. Tap the number field and enter the new number
3. Confirm the change

Test immediately to ensure calls are routing to the correct destination, especially if you’re forwarding to a new location or service.

Disable call forwarding

1. Open Settings → Phone
2. Tap Call Forwarding
3. Toggle the switch to Off

The status bar icon will disappear once disabled, and calls will resume ringing normally on your iPhone.

Carrier support and limitations

Call forwarding is a carrier feature, not an iOS feature. Not all carriers support it, and some charge monthly fees. Contact your carrier to confirm availability and any associated costs before relying on it for business or critical calls.

You can forward to landlines, mobile numbers, or VoIP services—whatever your carrier permits. International forwarding may work but could incur additional charges depending on your plan and destination.

How caller ID works with forwarding

When a call is forwarded, the person receiving it typically sees your original number, not the forwarding destination. This is standard carrier behavior, though some carriers may handle it differently. This also means voicemail at the forwarded number won’t connect callers to your iPhone’s voicemail system.

Call forwarding vs. Do Not Disturb

These are separate features. Do Not Disturb silences notifications locally but calls still ring through to your iPhone. Call forwarding sends calls to a different number entirely. You can enable both simultaneously—for example, forwarding calls to a work number while Do Not Disturb prevents local notifications.

WiFi calling and sequential forwarding

Call forwarding applies only to cellular calls. If an incoming call uses WiFi calling, it will ring on your iPhone even with forwarding enabled. Some carriers support sequential forwarding (forward after N rings), but this requires USSD codes or carrier-specific settings rather than iOS configuration.

USSD codes: Some carriers allow you to manage call forwarding via dialed codes:

• Enable: Dial *21*[number]# (replace [number] with your target)
• Disable: Dial #21#

Check with your carrier for the exact codes, as they vary by region and provider. The iOS Settings method is more reliable and user-friendly for most situations.

Testing your setup

Before relying on call forwarding for important calls, test thoroughly:

• Call your number from multiple devices at different times
• Test both from local and international numbers if applicable
• Verify the forwarded number receives calls with your caller ID intact
• Confirm voicemail behavior at the forwarded destination
• Test with WiFi calling disabled to ensure cellular forwarding works as expected

If calls aren’t forwarding after enabling, contact your carrier to confirm the feature is active on your account and there are no billing or service issues blocking it.