How to Set Up Call Forwarding on iPhone & Android
Call forwarding redirects incoming calls to another number. Choose whether to forward every call or only calls that are busy, unanswered, or unreachable, then use your phone or carrier settings to enter the destination.
Menus and available conditions vary by carrier, country, plan, device, and software version. Make a test call from another phone after every change.
1. Choose the forwarding mode
Always forward
Every incoming call goes to the destination number. Your phone may not ring while this is active.
Conditional forwarding
Only selected calls are redirected: typically when busy, unanswered, or unreachable. Carrier support varies.
Forwarding to voicemail, another person, or an assistant solves different needs. Confirm that the destination can receive calls from your line and understand any carrier charges before relying on it.
2. Set up call forwarding on iPhone (iOS 26)
On iOS 26, Phone settings sit inside the Apps section rather than on the top level of Settings — the path below reflects that current layout.
Open Phone settings
Go to Settings → Apps → Phone → Call Forwarding.
Turn on Call Forwarding
Tap the toggle, then tap Call Forwards To and enter the number that should receive calls.
Choose the right line
On a dual-SIM iPhone, pick the correct line at the top of the Call Forwarding screen first — each line keeps its own forwarding setting.
Watch for the status indicator
A forwarding icon appears near the top of the screen (or in the Dynamic Island) any time forwarding is active — a quick way to confirm it's still on.
Test it
Call your number from another phone. If Call Forwarding is missing entirely, the carrier or plan doesn't support it — contact your carrier.
Apple says the option depends on the cellular carrier. Ask your carrier for current conditional-forwarding instructions rather than relying on a generic star code.
iPhone has no built-in call screening — forwarding is how OsmO adds it
Unlike some Android phones, iPhone doesn't screen calls with AI on its own. Forwarding your unanswered calls to OsmO gives your iPhone that missing layer: OsmO answers only the calls you don't pick up, screens out spam and robocalls, and texts you a summary of what the caller wanted.
The OsmO app walks through the exact Settings → Apps → Phone → Call Forwarding steps for your specific carrier during onboarding, so you don't have to guess which conditional-forwarding option to pick.
3. Call forwarding on iPhone: dial codes if Settings doesn't show the option
Call forwarding on iPhone isn't only a Settings toggle. When a carrier doesn't expose the Settings → Apps → Phone → Call Forwarding menu — or the option is greyed out — the same forwarding still works from the Phone app's keypad, using the carrier code underneath. Open Phone, dial the code with your destination number, then tap the green call button to activate it.
India — Airtel, Vi, BSNL
Dial **004*<destination number>#, in full international format (e.g. +91…), then call. Jio doesn't support this code — use the Jio app or Jio customer care (199) instead.
US — AT&T, T-Mobile
Dial **004*<destination number>#, in full international format (e.g. +1…), then call, to forward all calls.
US — Verizon, Spectrum
Dial *71<destination number> — national format, no country code — then call, to forward calls you don't answer.
These are the same carrier codes OsmO's setup flow dials on your iPhone during onboarding, verified against each carrier's own support pages as of July 2026. A code not listed here may still work on your line — confirm with your carrier rather than assuming a code found elsewhere applies.
4. Set up call forwarding on Android
Android menus differ by manufacturer. On a supported Samsung Galaxy phone:
Open Supplementary services
Open Phone → More options → Settings → Supplementary services.
Choose Call forwarding
Select Call forwarding, then choose the relevant SIM if prompted.
Select the condition
Choose Always forward, When busy, When unanswered, or When unreachable. Enter the destination, enable it, and test.
If your phone uses different labels or has no forwarding menu, check the manufacturer guide and your carrier's current support page.
5. Set up call forwarding by carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile)
The phone menus above look the same on any US network, but the exact conditional-forwarding options — and any dial codes — depend on your carrier and plan. Use each carrier's official instructions; a star code found elsewhere may not apply to your line.
Verizon
Verizon supports both always-on and conditional call forwarding on most plans, set from the phone's Call Forwarding menu or with the codes Verizon lists. See Verizon's call-forwarding help.
AT&T
AT&T offers immediate and conditional (busy / no-answer / unreachable) forwarding. Confirm the current steps on AT&T's call-forwarding page.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile supports forwarding for busy, unanswered, and unreachable calls from the Phone app or with carrier codes. See T-Mobile's call-forwarding support.
Whichever carrier you use, the setup is the same idea: forward your unanswered calls so they reach an assistant instead of going to voicemail. OsmO shows the exact forwarding steps for your specific carrier during setup, then screens the calls you don't pick up and texts you what happened.
6. Verify or troubleshoot
- Test each condition: Busy, unanswered, and unreachable can behave differently.
- Check both SIMs: Dual-SIM phones can store separate settings for each line.
- Confirm the full number: Use the country code if your carrier requires it.
- Use carrier instructions: Star codes are not universal; do not assume a code found online applies to your line.
- Know the interaction: Google warns that automatic Call Screen should not be used with call forwarding on supported Phone by Google devices.
If an AI phone assistant asks you to configure forwarding, use its in-app instructions for your device and carrier. OsmO can handle configured incoming calls, but availability and routing depend on the setup shown for your line.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between always-on and conditional forwarding?
Always-on forwarding redirects every call. Conditional forwarding redirects only selected situations, such as busy, unanswered, or unreachable calls.
Why is Call Forwarding missing on my iPhone?
Apple says the option may be unavailable depending on your carrier. Contact the carrier to confirm whether the line and plan support it.
Can I use one call-forwarding code on every carrier?
No. Codes and supported conditions vary. Use the carrier's current instructions and verify the result with a test call.
What's the call forwarding code for iPhone?
There's no single iPhone-wide code — it depends on your carrier's network, not the phone. Most carriers (Airtel, Vi, BSNL, AT&T, T-Mobile) use **004*<number>#; Verizon and Spectrum use *71<number>. Dial it from the iPhone's Phone app keypad, or use the Settings → Apps → Phone → Call Forwarding menu where it's available.
Official sources checked
Checked August 5, 2026. Features and menu paths can change.
- Apple: Set up call forwarding on iPhone.
- Apple: Review forwarding settings.
- Samsung US: Calling features on Galaxy phones.
- Google: Call Screen support.
See whether OsmO fits your call workflow
Compare your carrier's forwarding support with the incoming-call handling you want.
Related reading: How AI call screening works · What is an AI phone assistant? · Compare AI call assistant apps · AI receptionist apps