Call forwarding on iPhone and Android phones
Where the setting is on each phone, how to check it’s on, and the dial codes that let your phone ring first. The steps come from Apple’s, Samsung’s, Google’s and the phone companies’ own help pages, read in October 2026.
The short answer
On an iPhone, go to Settings, Apps, Phone, Call Forwarding. On a Samsung Galaxy, open the Phone app, tap the three dots, then Settings, Supplementary services, Call forwarding.
The iPhone switch forwards every call. If you’d rather your phone rang first and only passed on the calls you miss, dial your phone company’s codes from the keypad. That’s also the way on a Pixel, because Google’s help has no forwarding steps.
To check what’s on, dial *#21# for every call or *#61# for calls you don’t answer. Telstra and Vodafone both list those codes.
On an iPhone
Apple’s steps for iOS 26 and iOS 27, from “Set up call forwarding on iPhone” on Apple Support Australia, read 12 October 2026. This is the every-call kind.
Open the Phone settings
Open Settings, tap Apps, then tap Phone.
Turn on Call Forwarding
Tap Call Forwarding and switch it on. If your iPhone has two SIMs, choose the line you want forwarded.
Enter the number
Tap Forward To, type the number your calls should go to, then tap Back. An icon shows in the status bar while it’s on.
Do it with reception
Apple says you need to be in range of the mobile network when you set it, or calls won’t be forwarded.
On a Samsung Galaxy
Samsung Australia’s steps for Australian Galaxy phones, from “How do I enable Forward Calling on my Samsung Phone?” (updated 10 August 2026, read 12 October 2026).
Open the Phone app settings
Open the Phone app, tap the three dots, then Settings.
Find Call forwarding
Scroll down to Supplementary services and tap Call forwarding.
Pick an option and enter the number
Choose one of the forwarding options. Samsung’s screenshots show Always forward, the one for every call. Type the number and tap Enable.
Turn it off the same way
Tap the option you set, then tap Disable.
On a Pixel or another Android phone
Google’s help for Pixel phones and for its Phone app has no call forwarding steps. Its call settings article even sends you to your phone company to change how many rings you get before voicemail. On a Pixel, use the dial codes below.
On other Android phones, Telstra says many handsets let you set forwarding from the phone, but it recommends dialling the codes so the setting is updated correctly.
From Google’s Phone app help and Pixel Phone help, and Telstra’s “How do I forward calls on my mobile?”, read 12 October 2026.
Ring your phone first: the dial codes
Dial one, press call, and swap 04XXXXXXXX for the number you’re forwarding to. 61 covers a call you don’t answer, 62 a phone that’s off or out of coverage, and 67 a call that comes in while you’re on another. Vodafone counts a call you decline as busy, too.
| Telstra | Optus | Vodafone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every call, your phone doesn’t ring | **21*04XXXXXXXX*11# | **21*04XXXXXXXX# | **21*04XXXXXXXX# |
| Your phone rings first | Dial all three: **61*04XXXXXXXX*11# then **62*04XXXXXXXX*11# then **67*04XXXXXXXX*11# | **004*04XXXXXXXX**20# | Dial all three: **61*04XXXXXXXX# then **62*04XXXXXXXX# then **67*04XXXXXXXX# |
| How long it rings first | 15 seconds by default | The last two digits: 05, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 seconds | Add the seconds to the no-answer code, in steps of 5 |
| Turn it off | ##21#, or ##61#, ##62# and ##67# for rings first | ##002# turns off every divert | ##002# turns off every divert |
| Check it’s on | *#21#, *#61#, *#62# or *#67# | In the My Optus app, under Voicemail and call diversions | *#21#, *#61#, *#62# or *#67# |
Codes from each company’s own help pages, read 12 October 2026: Telstra “How do I forward calls on my mobile?”, Optus “Manage call diversions on your Mobile Phone”, its ring time article and its iPhone device guides, and Vodafone “Managing Call Forwarding”. Vodafone prepaid can only forward to voicemail or Call Catcher, not to another number.
Step by step for your phone company
How to check if call forwarding is on
Dial *#21# and press call to check whether every call is being forwarded. *#61#, *#62# and *#67# check the three rings-first kinds. Telstra and Vodafone both give these.
On Telstra you can also text CFU Status to 144. On Optus, look in the My Optus app under Voicemail and call diversions. On an iPhone, Apple says an icon shows in the status bar while Call Forwarding is on in Settings.
Phone not ringing at all? Optus says that usually means an every-call divert is on. Turn it off with the code in the table above.
From Telstra’s, Vodafone’s, Optus’s and Apple’s help pages, read 12 October 2026.
When your phone answers before the forwarding does
Phones have their own ideas about who answers. If you forward the calls you miss, these settings can get to the call first.
iPhone: Telstra says Live Voicemail has been on by default since iOS 18. While it’s on, messages from calls you miss or decline are saved on the phone, not in MessageBank, and the ring time stays at 15 seconds. Turn it off in Settings, Apps, Phone, Live Voicemail. Call Screening is on the same screen. With Silence chosen, Apple says unknown numbers go straight to Live Voicemail without ringing. A new customer is an unknown number.
Pixel: Google says not to use automatic Call Screen with call forwarding, because screened calls aren’t forwarded. Its Take a Message feature answers calls you miss or decline, and Google says to turn it off if your phone company’s missed-call forwarding doesn’t work with it. It can switch itself on if you don’t use visual voicemail. Both are in the Phone app’s settings.
Galaxy S26: Samsung’s Call screening has an Auto screen calls switch for unknown and suspected spam calls, under Phone app, More options, Settings, Call screening. Samsung’s page doesn’t say how it works with forwarding.
Whatever the phone, test it. Ring your number from a phone that isn’t in your contacts, let it ring out and see where the call ends up.
From Telstra’s voicemail page, Apple’s iPhone User Guide, Google’s Phone app help and Samsung Australia’s Galaxy S26 guide, read 12 October 2026.
Got a link asking you to turn on forwarding?
Don’t tap it. Apple says scammers use these links, and its iOS 27 guide says iPhone warns you and blocks them. Set forwarding up yourself, to a number you trust.
Call forwarding questions
How do I forward calls on my iPhone?
Settings, Apps, Phone, Call Forwarding. Switch it on, tap Forward To, enter the number and tap Back. That forwards every call. For rings first, dial your phone company’s codes instead.
How do I forward calls on a Samsung?
Phone app, the three dots, Settings, Supplementary services, Call forwarding. Pick an option, enter the number and tap Enable. To stop, tap the option, then Disable.
Can I forward only the calls I don’t answer?
Yes, with your phone company’s codes. On Telstra and Vodafone you dial three: 61 for no answer, 62 for no coverage and 67 for busy. On Optus it’s one code, **004*number**20#, where 20 is the seconds it rings first.
How do I check if call forwarding is on?
Dial *#21# for every call, or *#61# for calls you don’t answer, and press call. Those are Telstra’s and Vodafone’s codes. On Optus, check in the My Optus app.
How do I turn off call forwarding?
On Optus and Vodafone, ##002# turns off every divert. On Telstra, dial ##21#, or ##61#, ##62# and ##67# for rings first. On a Samsung you can also tap the option, then Disable.
Can I forward calls without my phone?
Optus says you can set, remove or check diversions in the My Optus app or My Account, and Vodafone says My Vodafone is the best way to manage forwarding. Telstra’s mobile page only covers the dial codes and texting 144.
Can I forward my calls to an AI receptionist?
Yes, that’s how ours works. You keep your number and forward calls to your assistant’s own Australian mobile number, either every call or just the ones you miss. It answers as your business and says it’s your assistant. It’s A$299 a month for a sole trader, plus A$299 once for setup, and we set up the forwarding with you on a call.
Keep reading
- Forwarding to your OffsiteMate assistant (for clients)
- Missed-call text back: a text from your business when you can’t pick up
- Voicemail or an AI receptionist
- How our AI receptionist handles a call
- Ring the demo
- Can your iPhone or Android answer calls for you with AI?
- Auto-reply to missed calls on your own phone
- Voicemail greetings for tradies
- Best AI receptionists for tradies in Australia (2026)
- What a missed call costs a tradie
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