How to Forward Phones and Unforward Them for Major Carriers

Call Forwarding: An Overview

What is Call Forwarding?

Call forwarding, also known as call diversion, is a telephony feature that allows an incoming call to be redirected from the intended recipient’s phone number to another number of their choice. This can be another landline, a mobile phone, or even a voicemail box. When activated, the original phone won’t ring for incoming calls; instead, all calls will be automatically sent to the designated forwarding number.

Why Do People Use Call Forwarding?

There are numerous reasons why individuals and businesses utilize call forwarding. Some of the most common motivations include:

  1. Business Continuity: Businesses can ensure that even if there’s an issue at one location (e.g., a power outage), incoming calls can be forwarded to an answering service, another branch or to employees’ mobile phones.
  2. Flexibility: Professionals or business owners who travel frequently can have their office or home phone calls forwarded to their mobile phones, ensuring they never miss a crucial call.
  3. Vacation or Absence: If someone is on vacation or out of the office for an extended period, they might forward their calls to a colleague or assistant.
  4. Screening Calls: Some people use call forwarding as a form of call screening. By forwarding calls to voicemail first, they can check messages and decide which ones to return.
  5. Multiple Phone Management: For those who have multiple phone lines (e.g., a business line and a personal line), call forwarding can be used to consolidate calls to a single device.
  6. Home Office Setup: Remote workers or freelancers might forward calls from a professional landline to their personal phone to maintain a professional front without the need for multiple devices.
  7. Avoiding Roaming Charges: Travelers might set up call forwarding to avoid high roaming charges when abroad. Instead of having international calls come directly to their mobile, they might forward calls to a voicemail box or another number where fees are more manageable.
  8. Temporary Relocation: In cases where someone is temporarily relocating (e.g., for a several-month work assignment), they might forward their regular number to a local number at the new location.
  9. Conditional Forwarding: This feature allows users to forward calls only under specific conditions, such as when the phone line is busy, when there’s no answer, or when the phone is out of service. This provides flexibility to ensure calls aren’t missed in various scenarios.
  10. Maintaining Old Numbers: If someone moves or changes their phone number, they might use call forwarding from the old number to the new one, ensuring they don’t miss calls from people who aren’t yet aware of the change.

Call forwarding is a versatile feature that ensures continuous and seamless communication regardless of location, situation, or specific communication needs. It’s particularly useful in today’s global and mobile world, where being reachable at all times can be crucial for both personal and professional reasons.

Phone forwarding, or call forwarding, is a service offered by most phone carriers that allows you to redirect incoming calls to another number. Whether you’re switching phones or want calls from one number to ring on another, understanding how to manage call forwarding is essential. Below, we provide steps for call forwarding and unforwarding for several major carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, Cricket, and more.

Here’s How For Forward and Unforward Calls From the Top 15 Carriers.

1. AT&T

Forward Calls:

  1. Dial *21 from your AT&T phone.
  2. Enter the 10-digit number where you’d like your calls to be forwarded, followed by the # key.
  3. Press Call or Send to initiate the forwarding.
  4. Wait for the confirmation tone or message.

Unforward Calls:

  1. Dial #21# from your AT&T phone.
  2. Press Call or Send.
  3. Wait for the confirmation tone or message, indicating that call forwarding has been turned off.

2. Verizon

Forward Calls:

  1. Dial *72 from your Verizon phone.
  2. Enter the 10-digit number where you want calls to be forwarded.
  3. Press Call or Send. You will hear a successful forwarding message.

Unforward Calls:

  1. Dial *73 from your Verizon phone.
  2. Press Call or Send. Wait for the confirmation tones which signal deactivation.

3. Cricket

Forward Calls:

  1. Dial *21* from your Cricket phone.
  2. Enter the 10-digit forwarding number.
  3. End with # and then press Call or Send.
  4. A confirmation tone or message will indicate successful activation.

Unforward Calls:

  1. Dial #21# from your Cricket phone.
  2. Press Call or Send. A confirmation will indicate that call forwarding is off.

4. T-Mobile

Forward Calls:

  1. Dial **21* from your T-Mobile phone.
  2. Input the 10-digit number you’d like to forward your calls to.
  3. Complete the action by pressing the # key, followed by Call or Send.

Unforward Calls:

  1. Dial ##21# from your T-Mobile phone.
  2. Press Call or Send and wait for the confirmation.

5. Sprint (now part of T-Mobile)

Sprint users should follow the T-Mobile instructions as the companies have merged.

6. Metro by T-Mobile (formerly MetroPCS)

Forward Calls:

  1. Dial **21* from your Metro phone.
  2. Enter the 10-digit number you wish to forward your calls to.
  3. Finish by pressing the # key, followed by Call or Send.

Unforward Calls:

  1. Dial ##21# from your Metro phone.
  2. Press Call or Send and await the confirmation.

7. US Cellular

Forward Calls:

  1. From your US Cellular phone, dial *72.
  2. Key in the 10-digit forwarding number.
  3. Press Call or Send. A confirmation will be provided when the action is successful.

Unforward Calls:

  1. Dial *73 from your US Cellular phone.
  2. Press Call or Send. You’ll receive confirmation that call forwarding is off.

8. Boost Mobile

Forward Calls:

  1. Dial *72 from your Boost Mobile phone.
  2. Enter the 10-digit number where you’d like calls to be forwarded.
  3. Press Call or Send. Wait for a confirmation message.

Unforward Calls:

  1. Dial *720 from your Boost Mobile phone.
  2. Press Call or Send. You will then hear a confirmation tone or message.

9. Straight Talk

Forward Calls:

  1. Dial *72 from your Straight Talk phone.
  2. Input the 10-digit number you’re forwarding calls to.
  3. Press Call or Send for confirmation.

Unforward Calls:

  1. Dial *73 from your Straight Talk phone.
  2. Press Call or Send and you should hear a confirmation tone.

10. TracFone

Forward Calls:

  1. From your TracFone, dial *72.
  2. Enter the 10-digit number to which you wish to forward calls.
  3. Press Call or Send and await a confirmation message.

Unforward Calls:

  1. Dial *73 from your TracFone.
  2. Press Call or Send. A confirmation tone or message will let you know call forwarding has been deactivated.

  3. 11. Mint Mobile

    Forward Calls:

    1. Dial **21* from your Mint Mobile phone.
    2. Enter the 10-digit number you wish to forward calls to.
    3. Finish with the # key and then press Call or Send.

    Unforward Calls:

    1. Dial ##21# from your Mint Mobile phone.
    2. Press Call or Send. Wait for the confirmation that call forwarding has been deactivated.

    12. Republic Wireless

    Forward Calls:

    1. Open the Republic Wireless app on your phone.
    2. Go to the Settings tab.
    3. Tap on Call and Voicemail Settings.
    4. Activate Call Forwarding and enter the desired number.

    Unforward Calls:

    1. Navigate back to the Call and Voicemail Settings in the Republic Wireless app.
    2. Deactivate Call Forwarding.

    13. Consumer Cellular

    Forward Calls:

    1. Dial **21* from your Consumer Cellular phone.
    2. Enter the 10-digit forwarding number.
    3. Finish with the # key, then press Call or Send.

    Unforward Calls:

    1. Dial ##21# from your Consumer Cellular phone.
    2. Press Call or Send. You’ll receive a confirmation that call forwarding is turned off.

    14. FreedomPop

    Forward Calls:

    1. Log in to your FreedomPop account online.
    2. Navigate to the Call Forwarding section.
    3. Enter the number to which you want to forward calls and save your settings.

    Unforward Calls:

    1. In the Call Forwarding section of your FreedomPop account, remove or disable the previously set forwarding number.

    15. Google Fi

    Forward Calls:

    1. Open the Google Fi app or website.
    2. Go to Account, then Phone Settings.
    3. Under “Call Forwarding”, click Edit.
    4. Enter the forwarding number and save your changes.

    Unforward Calls:

    1. Return to the “Call Forwarding” section in the Google Fi settings.
    2. Click Remove or turn off forwarding.

General Tips:

  1. Always test call forwarding by using another phone to call your number and ensure the calls are being forwarded correctly.
  2. Some carriers offer conditional call forwarding, where you can choose to forward calls only when your phone is busy, unanswered, or unreachable. Check with your carrier for specific codes.
  3. Remember, while calls are forwarded, the original phone won’t ring for incoming calls.
  4. Forwarded calls might use plan minutes, depending on your carrier and plan, so always monitor usage to avoid unexpected charges.

By understanding how to manage call forwarding, you can ensure that you never miss an essential call, regardless of which device you’re using or where you are.

On August 6, 2023   /   Uncategorized