Ever call someone and get sent straight to another number? That is call forwarding doing its thing. Sometimes it is super helpful, like when you are traveling or when your phone is off. Other times, it just messes everything up. Maybe your calls are going to your old work phone. Or even worse, someone else’s voicemail.
Whatever is going on, you are here because you wanna turn it off. The good news is that it is way easier than you think. In this article we will describe everything you need to know about Call Forwarding including how to turn it off on different devices, its benefits and drawbacks. So let’s start from understanding call forwarding.
What Is Call Forwarding?
Call forwarding is when your incoming calls automatically get sent to another number.
For example:
- You are on holiday and want calls to go to your coworker.
- Your phone is out of service, so call forward to your home number.
- You are using a second number for work or personal calls.
It may sound useful. Sounds useful. But here the problem is that sometimes call forwarding gets left on by accident. Or worse, hackers can sneakily turn it on without you knowing. Then you are missing calls or getting them way later. And that is frustrating.
Call Forwarding Can Be of Different Types including
- Always Forward: Every call goes to another number. Your phone would not even ring.
- Forward When Busy: If you are already on another call, it forwards.
- Forward When Unanswered: If you do not pick up after a few rings, it forwards.
- Forward When Unreachable: If your phone is off or no signal, it forwards.
Knowing what type you have got on helps you turn off exactly what you do not want.
How To Know If Call Forwarding Is On?
Here are some signs which tell that your call forwarding might be on:
- People say they can not reach you.
- You miss a lot of calls even when your phone is fine.
- You see an arrow or weird icon on your phone.
- Your voicemail picks up too fast or seems wrong.
If you are still unsure, do not stress. We will show you how to check and turn it off easily.
How To Turn Off Call Forwarding On iPhone?
You can turn off call forwarding easily on your iPhone, but the setting is a little hidden.
Here we are describing simple steps to turn off call forwarding
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Phone.
- Tap Call Forwarding.
- If it is ON, it will show a number it is forwarding to.
- Toggle Call Forwarding off.
And that’s it. No more forwarded calls.
If you don’t see the option, it is because some carriers hide it. In that case, skip down to the “dial codes” section. That will work for you.
Turn Off Call Forwarding on Android Device?
Android phones are a mixed bag. Samsung looks different from Google Pixel. But do not worry, the basic idea’s the same.
Follow the steps below to turn off call forwarding:
- Open the Phone app, the one you use to call.
- Tap the three dots at the top-right corner.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Calling Accounts or just Calls depending on your phone.
- Find Call Forwarding.
- Tap each option “Always Forward,” “When Busy,” etc.
- Choose Turn Off or Disable for each one.
You might have to turn off all four options separately. Check each one just to be safe.
How to Turn Off Call Forwarding Using Dial Codes
This method works on ANY phone including iPhone, Android, old-school flip phones and everything.
Just dial this code:
- To cancel all call forwarding: ##002# then press Call. You will get a message that says call forwarding is deactivated.
If you only want to cancel certain types, dial the following codes accordingly:
- Busy Forwarding: Dial ##67#
- Unanswered Forwarding: Dial ##61#
- Out of Reach Forwarding: Dial ##62#
But honestly, ##002# is easiest which cancels everything in one go.
How to Turn Off Call Forwarding with Your Carrier
Sometimes, the settings are locked by your phone service. In that cas you can:
- Call your carrier’s customer support.
- Ask them to disable call forwarding for your number.
You can also use their apps:
In the app, head to call settings. You will usually find a forward/cancel option there too.
Why Call Forwarding is Not Turning Off?
If you have tried everything and your calls are still bouncing around, a few things could be happening:
- Stuck Settings: Your phone did not update the change right away. Restart it.
- Carrier Lock: Your mobile provider is controlling call forwarding on their end.
- IT Policy: If it is a work phone, your company might have set rules you can not change.
- Phone Bug: Yes , sometimes phones just glitch.
If you are still stuck, you might need to reset network settings.
How to Reset Network Settings
Resetting network settings clears out Wi-Fi passwords, VPN settings, and Bluetooth devices too. So just be ready to re-enter Wi-Fi later.
i. iPhone
- Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset.
Choose Reset Network Settings.
ii. Android
- Settings > System > Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings.
After resetting, go back and check call forwarding. It should be off now.
Benefits Of Call Forwarding
Here are some benefits of call forwarding that help you understand why people still swear by it:
i. You Stay Reachable, No Matter What
With call forwarding, you can bounce calls to another phone, your mobile, your home line, whatever. It is great when you’re out of the office or working from a coffee shop with terrible Wi-Fi.
ii. It is a Backup Plan for Bad Signal
If your phone is dying or has lost its network, you can set calls to forward automatically. That way, important calls do not go straight to voicemail. Someone else or another phone picks up the slack.
iii. Perfect For Vacation Mode
If you are taking a break from work, forward your work calls to a teammate while you chill. No stress, no endless checking your phone at the beach.
iv. Keep Things Professional
Instead of giving out your personal number, you can forward calls from your work number to your mobile. Clients think they are calling your office. Meanwhile, you are answering from your couch in sweatpants. Professional on the outside, comfy on the inside.
v. Helps Teams Manage Calls Better
In bigger teams, you can forward calls to whoever is available. It keeps things moving even when someone is out sick or stuck in traffic. Nobody likes waiting, especially not customers.
call forwarding is not perfect but if you set it up smartly and actually remember to turn it off when you do not need it it can really help keep your communication smooth and stress-free.
vi. Drawbacks Of Call Forwarding
Here’s what you should watch out for:
vii. Manual Setup Gets Old Fast
On traditional phone systems, you have gotta manually set up call forwarding every time you want it. And if you are constantly adding or removing people from your team? that turns into a full-time job. It is a small thing that piles up quickly and gets super annoying.
viii. No way to Split Business and Personal Calls
If you are using the same phone number for work and personal life, forwarding can get messy. You can not automatically separate the two. That means you might answer a business call like it is your best mate or pick up a personal call all stiff like you are in a meeting. Either way, it is awkward and confusing.
ix. Sharing Numbers Can Get Messy
When a team shares a phone number, call forwarding messes with the flow.
One person gets the forwarded call, while the others are left out. Worse, there is no record of the call on the original device. So if someone else picks up where you left off, they are flying blind. Customers hate having to repeat themselves. And honestly, you’d hate being in that spot too.
x. It’s Easy to Forget and Miss important Calls
You set up call forwarding. Then you forget that it is even on. Next thing you know, you are missing calls that really matter or getting random rings late at night when you are trying to sleep. It’s easy to lose track, especially when you are busy.
Final Words - Turn Off Call Forwarding On Any Device
Call forwarding can be a real lifesaver or a total headache depending on how you use it.
If you need to stay reachable or keep things running while you are away, it is a great tool. But if you leave it on by accident, it can cause a lot of chaos.
The good news is that turning off call forwarding is super easy once you know how. Whether you are using an iPhone, Android, an old-school flip phone, or even managing it through your carrier, you have got options.
So if your calls are acting weird, now you know exactly what to do. Stay in control of your calls and keep things simple just the way it should be.
FAQs - Turn Off Call Forwarding On Any Device
Nope! Your voicemail is totally separate. Turning off call forwarding just stops calls from rerouting elsewhere.
No way. It is free. Some carriers charge for using call forwarding, but canceling it costs nothing.
Not really. Call forwarding affects ALL calls, not just certain ones. If you want control over specific callers, you will need call blocker apps or custom ringtones instead.
A few reasons:
- Carrier settings updated and re-enabled it.
- Your phone has a scheduled forwarding rule set up.
- Some apps might be messing with your call settings.
Check your settings often to stay in control.
Read More : How to Switch from Landline to VoIP in the UK?
