Call Forwarding Codes by Carrier: Complete Guide for AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile & More (2026)

If you've ever needed to send your business calls to another phone — maybe your cell when you're out of the office, or a colleague's line when you're on vacation — you've needed call forwarding codes. These are the short dial codes (like *72 and *73) that tell your carrier to redirect incoming calls to a different number.

The problem? Every carrier uses different codes. AT&T's codes are different from T-Mobile's, which are different from Verizon's. And the codes change depending on whether you want to forward all calls or only forward when you're busy or can't answer.

This guide is your complete reference. We'll cover the exact call forwarding codes for every major US carrier, explain the different types of call forwarding, and walk you through common pitfalls. If you want instant results, try our free call forwarding code lookup tool — select your carrier and forwarding type, and get the exact codes in seconds.

What Are Call Forwarding Codes?

Call forwarding codes — sometimes called star codes or feature codes — are short dialing sequences that activate or deactivate call forwarding on your phone line. They work by sending a command directly to your carrier's network. No app download, no account login, no customer service call required.

The most common call forwarding code in the US is *72. When you dial *72 followed by a phone number, your carrier begins forwarding all incoming calls to that number. To turn it off, you dial *73. These codes have been around since the early days of landline telephony and still work on most carriers today.

For small businesses, call forwarding codes are essential. They let you route calls to your cell phone after hours, redirect to a partner when you're on-site, or send overflow calls to a second line during busy periods — all without changing your published business number.

Types of Call Forwarding

Before looking up codes, it helps to understand the four types of call forwarding available on most carriers:

1. Unconditional Forwarding (All Calls)

This forwards every incoming call immediately. Your phone doesn't ring at all — calls go straight to the forwarding number. Use this when you're completely away from your phone (vacation, out of office, etc.) and want someone else to handle all calls.

2. Forward When Busy

This only activates when your line is already in use. If a second call comes in while you're on the phone, it gets forwarded instead of going to voicemail. This is great for solo business owners who can't put callers on hold.

3. Forward When No Answer

This kicks in after your phone rings a set number of times (usually 3-5 rings, or about 15-25 seconds) and you don't pick up. The call then redirects to your forwarding number. This is the most popular type for businesses — it gives you a chance to answer, but catches calls you miss.

4. Forward When Unreachable

This activates when your phone is powered off, in airplane mode, or has no cellular signal. Calls go directly to the forwarding number without ringing. Essential if you work in areas with spotty coverage or frequently have your phone off during meetings.

Conditional vs. Unconditional

“Conditional forwarding” is the umbrella term for the last three types — busy, no answer, and unreachable. Many carriers let you set up all three conditional forwarding types with a single code. “Unconditional forwarding” means forwarding all calls regardless of your phone's state.

Call Forwarding Codes by Carrier

Here are the exact codes for every major US carrier. You can also use our interactive lookup tool to get step-by-step instructions specific to your carrier and forwarding type.

AT&T Call Forwarding Codes

• Forward all calls: Dial *72 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *73.
• When busy: Dial *67 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *87.
• When no answer: Dial *61 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *63.
• When unreachable: Dial *62 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *86.

AT&T also supports setting up all conditional forwarding at once with *004 + forwarding number, and deactivating with ##004#. This may not work on all plans.

Verizon Call Forwarding Codes

• Forward all calls: Dial *72 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *73.
• Conditional forwarding (busy/no answer/unreachable): Dial *71 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *73.

Verizon simplifies things by using a single code (*71) for all conditional forwarding. The network determines whether to forward based on your phone's current state. You can also manage forwarding in the My Verizon app.

T-Mobile Call Forwarding Codes

• Forward all calls: Dial **21*[number]# and press Call. Deactivate with ##21#.
• When busy: Dial **67*[number]# and press Call. Deactivate with ##67#.
• When no answer: Dial **61*[number]# and press Call. Deactivate with ##61#.
• When unreachable: Dial **62*[number]# and press Call. Deactivate with ##62#.
• All conditional: Dial **004*[number]# and press Call. Deactivate with ##004#.

T-Mobile uses GSM-standard codes (the ** and ## format) rather than the *72-style codes common on CDMA networks. These codes also work on phones that were originally on Sprint, since Sprint merged with T-Mobile.

Sprint / T-Mobile (Legacy) Call Forwarding Codes

• Forward all calls: Dial *72 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *720.
• When busy: Dial *74 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *740.
• When no answer / unreachable: Dial *73 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *730.

If you're on a legacy Sprint plan that hasn't migrated to T-Mobile's network, these codes should still work. If they don't, try T-Mobile's GSM codes above.

Xfinity / Comcast Call Forwarding Codes

• Forward all calls: Dial *72 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *73.
• When busy: Dial *90 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *91.
• When no answer: Dial *92 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *93.

Xfinity Voice is a VoIP landline service, so it uses traditional landline forwarding codes. You can also manage forwarding through the Xfinity website or app.

Spectrum Call Forwarding Codes

• Forward all calls: Dial *72 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *73.
• When busy: Dial *90 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *91.
• When no answer: Dial *92 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *93.

Cox Call Forwarding Codes

• Forward all calls: Dial *72 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *73.
• When busy: Dial *90 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *91.
• When no answer: Dial *92 + forwarding number. Deactivate with *93.

Cox, Spectrum, and Xfinity all use the same standard landline forwarding codes since they're all VoIP-based phone services.

Google Voice

Google Voice doesn't use star codes at all. Call forwarding is managed entirely through the app or web interface at voice.google.com. Go to Settings > Calls > Call Forwarding, and toggle on the linked numbers you want to receive forwarded calls. Google Voice handles busy, no-answer, and unreachable routing automatically.

How to Set Up Conditional Call Forwarding for Business

For most small businesses, conditional forwarding is the right choice. Here's the recommended setup:

1. Decide your forwarding number. This could be your cell phone, a partner's line, a shared office number, or an answering service number.
2. Set up “no answer” forwarding first. This catches the most common scenario — you're away from the phone or too busy to pick up. Use our code lookup tool to find the right code for your carrier.
3. Add “busy” forwarding. This handles the case where you're already on a call and a second one comes in.
4. Add “unreachable” forwarding. This covers you when your phone dies or loses signal.
5. Test it. Call your business number from another phone. Let it ring without answering. Verify the call forwards to the right number. Then test with your phone turned off.

If your carrier supports a single conditional forwarding code (like T-Mobile's **004* or Verizon's *71), use that to set up all three conditions at once.

Common Call Forwarding Mistakes

We hear from small business owners all the time who run into these issues with call forwarding. Here's what to watch out for:

• Forgetting to turn it off. This is the #1 mistake. You forward calls for a weekend, then forget on Monday. Your business phone doesn't ring for days. Set a reminder to deactivate forwarding when you're back.
• Forwarding to a number that goes to voicemail. If the destination phone has its own voicemail, callers might end up in a random personal voicemail instead of your business voicemail. Make sure whoever has the forwarding number actually answers.
• Not testing after activation. Always call your business number from another phone to verify forwarding is working. A confirmation tone doesn't always mean it activated correctly.
• Ignoring forwarding charges. Some carriers charge per-minute for forwarded calls, especially on landlines. Forwarded calls may count against your minutes on wireless plans. Check your plan details.
• Using the wrong codes for your carrier. AT&T codes won't work on T-Mobile, and vice versa. Always verify which carrier you're on and use the correct codes. Our lookup tool makes this easy.
• Creating forwarding loops. If Phone A forwards to Phone B, and Phone B forwards to Phone A, you'll create a loop. Most carriers detect and block this, but it can result in callers hearing a busy signal or being disconnected.

Call Forwarding Troubleshooting

If call forwarding isn't working after you've entered the codes, try these steps:

• Deactivate and reactivate. Dial the deactivation code first (*73 for most carriers), wait for confirmation, then set up forwarding again.
• Include the area code. Always dial the full 10-digit number (area code + number) when setting up forwarding, even for local numbers.
• Check for plan restrictions. Some prepaid plans or basic landline plans don't include call forwarding. Call your carrier to confirm the feature is active on your account.
• Try from the carrier app. If star codes aren't working, try managing forwarding through your carrier's app (My Verizon, T-Mobile app, AT&T app). The app often provides the same functionality without codes.
• Restart your phone. For cellular carriers, a restart forces your phone to re-register with the network, which can resolve forwarding issues.

The Modern Alternative: AI Receptionists

Call forwarding solves one problem — getting calls to a phone that someone will actually answer. But it creates new problems: the person receiving forwarded calls has to be available, they might not know the context of the business, and you still miss calls when nobody picks up on either end.

That's why more small businesses are replacing call forwarding with AI receptionists. Instead of forwarding calls to another phone and hoping someone answers, an AI receptionist answers every call instantly — 24/7, with full knowledge of your business, your hours, your services, and your scheduling system.

With a service like ReadyToTalk, you don't need to remember star codes, worry about forgetting to deactivate forwarding, or hope the person receiving your forwarded calls is available. Every call gets answered professionally, every time.

Call forwarding still has its place — especially for quick, temporary redirects. But for a reliable, long-term solution to never missing a business call, an AI receptionist is the way to go.