How to Divert Calls in the UK
Short answer: on iPhone, open Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Forwarding. On a Samsung Galaxy, open Phone > More options > Settings > Supplementary services > Call forwarding. Pick when calls should divert, enter the destination number, and make a test call from another phone.
In Britain, “call divert” and “call forwarding” mean the same thing. The mobile network performs the redirect; your phone only changes the network setting. That is why the menu can vary by handset, SIM and network.
The three Settings routes
Use the route that matches your phone. These menus send an instruction to your mobile network, so stay connected to the mobile network while saving the change.
| Phone | Route to call divert |
|---|---|
| iPhone | Settings → Apps → Phone → Call Forwarding |
| Samsung Galaxy | Phone → More options (⋮) → Settings → Supplementary services → Call forwarding |
| Other Android | Phone → More options (⋮) → Settings → Calling accounts or your SIM → Call forwarding |
The route in one glance
Choose a line → choose when to divert → enter the destination → save → test from another phone.
To change the destination, reopen the same condition and replace its number. To switch diverting off, reopen every active condition and disable it.
Choose what gets diverted
Before entering a number, decide whether your own phone should ring first.
| Option | What the caller experiences | Does your phone ring? |
|---|---|---|
| Always forward | Every incoming call goes straight to the destination. | Usually no |
| When unanswered | The call diverts only after you let it ring. | Yes |
| When busy | The call diverts while you are already on a call. | Not for that caller |
| When unreachable | The call diverts when your phone is off or outside coverage. | No |
Always forward is the quickest way to move every call to another phone. The other three are conditional diverts: your mobile remains the first destination whenever the condition does not apply.
iPhone: divert, change, or switch off
Turn call divert on
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps, then Phone.
- Tap Call Forwarding.
- On a Dual SIM iPhone, choose the line you want to change.
- Turn Call Forwarding on.
- Tap Forward To, enter the number that should receive the calls, then tap Back.
Apple says an iPhone must be in range of its mobile network when you set forwarding. The iPhone menu sets an all-calls divert. For unanswered, busy or unreachable diverts, Apple tells users to contact their network.
Change the destination number
Return to Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Forwarding, tap Forward To, replace the old number, and tap Back. On Dual SIM, check that you opened the right line first.
Switch call divert off
Return to the same screen and turn Call Forwarding off. Make a test call afterwards. If unanswered calls still go elsewhere, a separate conditional divert may still be active on the network.
Samsung Galaxy: divert, change, or switch off
Turn call divert on
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap More options (the three vertical dots), then Settings.
- Tap Supplementary services.
- Tap Call forwarding. Choose the SIM and Voice calls if those screens appear.
- Choose Always forward, When busy, When unanswered, or When unreachable.
- Enter the destination number, then tap Update or Enable.
Samsung notes that the available options and wording can differ on older devices. If Supplementary services is absent, use the Android route below or ask your network to confirm whether the line supports call divert.
Change the destination number
Open Call forwarding, tap the active condition, replace its number, and tap Update. Repeat this for any other active conditions. Each condition can keep its own destination.
Switch call divert off
Open each active condition and tap Disable or turn it off. Check the second SIM as well if the phone uses two lines.
Other Android phones
Android does not have one menu layout for every manufacturer. A common route — also used in O2’s Pixel guidance — is:
- Open Phone and tap More options (⋮).
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Calling accounts and choose the SIM, or tap the SIM first and then Calling accounts.
- Tap Call forwarding.
- Choose a condition, enter the destination, then tap Turn on.
To change the number, reopen the active condition and replace it. To cancel, open the same condition and tap Turn off. If the route is different, search the Phone app’s settings for “forwarding” or “divert”.
When the menu is missing
A missing or greyed-out menu usually means the network, plan, SIM or handset software is controlling the feature differently. Do not keep trying random dial codes: they belong to the network, not to iPhone or Android.
UK network fallback
Use your network’s current instructions. Vodafone UK, for example, publishes ##21# to switch off an all-calls divert and ##002# to cancel all active diverts on its mobile service. EE Business directs customers to device settings or its 150 automated service. Those instructions are specific to those services and may not apply to another network or plan.
Call divert may also have a charge. EE Business says a divert to another UK number can use plan allowance or be charged like a standard call, while Vodafone says availability and charging differ between pay-monthly and pay-as-you-go plans. Check the terms for your own line before relying on it.
Check that the divert worked
- Use another phone to call your mobile.
- For Always forward, confirm your mobile does not ring and the destination does.
- For When unanswered, let the mobile ring until the destination answers.
- Test busy and unreachable diverts separately if you enabled them.
- After switching divert off, call again and confirm your mobile rings normally.
A successful save message is useful, but the test call is the proof. Repeat it for each SIM and each condition you changed.
What OsmO does instead of voicemail
Traditional voicemail records whatever the caller leaves after the beep. On supported lines, OsmO can be the destination for unanswered calls instead: its AI assistant answers, asks what the caller needs, screens unwanted calls, and gives you a transcript and summary.
Your phone can still ring first when you use a conditional divert. If you do not answer, the call goes to the assistant rather than to a standard voicemail box. OsmO does not replace the mobile network’s divert feature; it gives the diverted call somewhere more useful to go.
UK availability: OsmO currently supports phone lines in India, the United States and Canada. This UK guide explains call divert on British handsets and networks; it does not promise that a UK line can be connected to OsmO today.
Frequently asked questions
How do I divert calls on an iPhone in the UK?
Open Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Forwarding. Choose the line on a Dual SIM iPhone, turn forwarding on, tap Forward To, enter the destination number, and tap Back.
How do I turn call divert off on iPhone?
Return to Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Forwarding and turn the switch off. Test from another phone afterwards.
Where is call forwarding on Samsung?
Open Phone > More options > Settings > Supplementary services > Call forwarding. Choose a SIM and Voice calls if prompted.
How do I change the number my calls divert to?
Open the same forwarding menu, choose the active condition, replace its destination number, and save. Change every active condition separately.
Does call divert forward text messages?
No. Call divert redirects voice calls. Text messages continue to arrive on the original mobile number.
Official sources checked
Checked 4 October 2026. Menu labels, plan support and charges can change.
- Apple UK: Set up call forwarding on iPhone.
- Samsung UK: Enable or disable call forwarding on a Galaxy phone.
- Samsung UK: Use call functions on a Galaxy device.
- O2: Pixel call-forwarding settings.
- Vodafone UK: Manage mobile call diverts.
- EE Business: Set up and manage call diverts.
Related guides: Call forwarding on iPhone · Call forwarding on Android · Call forwarding setup guide · AI voicemail explained