How to forward your calls, carrier by carrier

Your AI receptionist already has its own number. All that's left is to forward the calls from your usual line to that number.

Your customers keep calling the same number, and you can turn forwarding off whenever you want.

Before you start: replace 5125550110 with your assistant's number, all 10 digits including the area code. Type the code on your phone's keypad and press Call.

Which type of forwarding should you choose?

All calls: the assistant answers right away.
When you don't answer: your phone rings for a few seconds and, if you can't get to it, the call goes to the assistant. If your carrier lets you choose the wait, try 15 seconds.
When you're busy: it kicks in when you're already on another call.
When your phone is off or has no signal: you don't lose calls even when your phone can't take them.

You can combine the last three, or forward all calls and let the assistant always answer. Some carriers cover "busy" and "no answer" with a single code.

Your carrier's codes

Verizon

Forwarding	Turn on	Turn off
All calls	`*725125550110`	`*73`
If you're busy or don't answer	`*715125550110`	`*73`

Dial the code and press Call. You'll hear a confirmation tone that may sound like a busy signal. With *71, a call you don't answer goes to the assistant after 3 to 6 rings. Verizon doesn't let you change that.

There's no monthly fee for call forwarding on most plans, although some older plans may have one. Forwarded calls are billed like answered calls, so they only use minutes if your plan isn't unlimited.

You can only turn forwarding on or off from your phone, while you're on Verizon's network. If you need help, dial *611 from your Verizon phone or call 1-800-922-0204.

AT&T

AT&T doesn't publish dial codes for forwarding on its cell phones. These are the standard codes used on networks like AT&T's. If one doesn't work, use your phone's call settings, explained below the tabs.

Forwarding	Turn on	Turn off
All calls	`*215125550110#`	`##21#`
If you don't answer	`*615125550110#`	`##61#`
If you're busy	`*675125550110#`	`##67#`
If your phone is off or has no signal	`*625125550110#`	`##62#`

Forwarding takes the place of your voicemail: calls that would go to voicemail go to the assistant instead. If voicemail stops picking up missed calls after you turn forwarding off, dial 611 and ask AT&T to restore it. You can only change forwarding from your phone, not online.

Forwarded calls use minutes for their full length, although on some AT&T plans they don't count against your plan. Long-distance charges apply if you forward to a number outside your home calling area.

If you need help, dial 611 from your AT&T phone or call 1-800-331-0500. On AT&T Prepaid, call 1-800-901-9878.

T-Mobile

Forwarding	Turn on	Turn off
All calls	`*2115125550110#`	`##21#`
If you don't answer in 15 seconds	`*6115125550110**15#`	`##61#`
If you're busy	`*6715125550110#`	`##67#`
If your phone is off or has no signal	`*6215125550110#`	`##62#`

T-Mobile asks for a 1 before the 10-digit number. For no-answer forwarding, you can change 15 to 5, 10, 20, 25, or 30 seconds.

If voicemail stops picking up missed calls after you turn forwarding off, dial ##004#. It clears all your forwarding and goes back to T-Mobile's default settings.

Call forwarding is included in T-Mobile's calling plans. You can't forward to international numbers.

If you need help, dial 611 from your T-Mobile phone or call 1-800-866-2453.

Spectrum Mobile

Forwarding	Turn on	Turn off
All calls	`*725125550110`	`*73`
If you're busy or don't answer	`*715125550110`	`*73`

You can also set it up in your Spectrum account or the My Spectrum App, in Your Services > Mobile. Choose the line, open Call Forwarding, and enter the passcode Spectrum sends you. Only the account holder can make changes.

While forwarding is on, unanswered calls go to the assistant instead of your voicemail. Calls can only be forwarded to 10-digit US numbers.

Xfinity Mobile

Forwarding	Turn on	Turn off
All calls	`*725125550110`	`*73`
If you don't answer	`*715125550110`	`*73`

Call forwarding is included with Unlimited and By the Gig at no extra cost. You can only turn it on from your Xfinity Mobile phone, not from another phone or a computer.

While forwarding is on, unanswered calls go to the assistant instead of your voicemail. Calls can only be forwarded to US numbers.

If you need help, chat with Xfinity in the Xfinity app or on its website.

Cricket

Call forwarding comes with every current Cricket plan, but Cricket doesn't publish dial codes for it. Set it up in your phone's call settings, explained below the tabs.

Android phones usually offer four options: always, when busy, when unanswered, and when unreachable. Choose one and enter your assistant's number.

If you need help, dial 611 from your Cricket phone or call 1-800-274-2538.

Visible

Forwarding	Turn on	Turn off
All calls	`*725125550110`	`*73`
If you're on another call	`*715125550110`	`*73`

Call forwarding is included in every Visible plan.

Visible has no phone support. If you need help, chat with Visible on its website or in the app.

If your carrier isn't listed, ask it for its call forwarding codes or use your phone's settings.

How to forward calls from your phone's settings

iPhone: go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Forwarding, turn it on and enter the number in Forward To. It forwards all calls. If you don't see the option, use your carrier's codes.
Samsung Galaxy: open the Phone app, tap More options (the three dots), and go to Settings > Supplementary services > Call forwarding. You can choose all calls, busy, unanswered, or unreachable. If you don't see the option, use your carrier's codes.
Google Pixel: open the Phone app, open the menu, and go to Settings > Calling accounts. Choose your SIM and open Call forwarding.

Set it up while your phone has cellular signal. On an iPhone, calls won't be forwarded if you set it up out of range.

What if your number is a landline?

If your business line runs on an internet phone system, set up forwarding in its online settings or ask whoever manages it. For a traditional or cable landline, these codes forward all its calls to your assistant's number:

Provider	Turn on	Turn off
AT&T home phone, traditional line	`*725125550110`	`*73`
AT&T Phone, digital	`*725125550110#`	`*73#`
Verizon home phone and Fios Digital Voice	`*725125550110`	`*73`
Frontier	`*725125550110`	`*73`
CenturyLink	`*725125550110`	`*73`
Xfinity Voice and Comcast Business	`*725125550110`	`*73`
Spectrum Voice and Spectrum Business	`*725125550110#`	`*73`

Codes can vary by area, and some providers ask for a 1 before the area code. When you dial the code, your landline calls your assistant's number, and on many lines forwarding only turns on once that call is answered. Your assistant will pick up, so hang up when it does. If the call doesn't go through, dial the code again.

To forward only when you're busy, many providers use *90 followed by the number, and *91 to turn it off. For calls you don't answer, it's *92 and *93. Spectrum, Comcast Business, and AT&T Phone work this way, and some ask for # at the end. On a traditional AT&T or Verizon line, call your provider.

Some plans don't include call forwarding or charge extra for it. On traditional lines, forwarded calls can also carry local or long-distance charges. Check with your provider before you turn it on. While all calls are forwarded, your desk phone may ring briefly on each call as a reminder, but you can't answer it there.

Check that it works

Call your usual number from another phone, one that isn't saved in your contacts.
If you chose forwarding when you don't answer, let it ring until it forwards.
Check that the assistant greets callers with your business name, says it's an AI, and says the call is being recorded.

If it doesn't work, check the assistant's number and dial the code again. On a Pixel, turn off Call Screen and Take a Message: calls they handle don't reach the assistant. On an iPhone, if unanswered calls still go to voicemail, go to Settings > Apps > Phone. Set Screen Unknown Callers to Never and turn off Live Voicemail.