How to forward only the calls you miss — by carrier

Build your code — pick three things

Skip the lookup. Choose your carrier, type the number you want calls forwarded to, and pick which calls should go there — the tool gives you the exact code to dial (and the one to turn it off). Prefer to do it by hand? The full step-by-step for every carrier is just below.

First, pick which calls to forward

Conditional forwarding comes in three flavors. Most owners want all three turned on, pointed at the same backup number:

• No answer (no reply) — the phone rings you for about 20 seconds, you don't pick up, and the call forwards. This is the one that matters most.
• Busy — you're already on a call, so the next caller forwards instead of getting a busy signal or your voicemail.
• Unreachable — your phone is off, dead, or has no signal, and the call forwards as if it had rung.

One case that surprises people: Do Not Disturb. It isn't a fourth setting — with DND on (or your ringer silenced), the call still reaches the network and rings quietly in the background, so it forwards under the "no answer" rule after the usual ring time. The no-answer code already covers it; no extra setup needed. Two things to double-check, though: if Do Not Disturb is set to send calls straight to voicemail, or you've turned on "Silence Unknown Callers" on iPhone (or its Android equivalent), the call goes to voicemail before it can forward — and unknown callers are exactly the new customers you want to catch. Switch those off so every call rings long enough to hand off.

In the steps below, "the forwarding number" means the 10-digit number you want missed calls to land on — your AI receptionist, an answering service, a cell, or a second line. Type it with no spaces or dashes.

Verizon

Verizon doesn't use the standard codes — it has its own, and a single code covers all three conditions at once.

1. Open your phone's keypad and dial *71 followed immediately by the 10-digit forwarding number — for example, *71 5551234567 (no star or pound after the number).
2. Press call. You'll hear a short tone or recording confirming it's set, and the call ends on its own.
3. Done — your phone now rings first and forwards busy, no-answer, and unreachable calls to that number.

To turn it off, dial *73 and press call. To forward every call instead — including the ones you'd normally answer — use *72 followed by the number, and *73 to cancel. Verizon-network prepaid brands (Visible, Total by Verizon, and Straight Talk lines on Verizon) use these same codes.

AT&T

AT&T uses the standard GSM codes, which let you set each condition on its own. After each one you'll see a brief "setting activated" confirmation.

1. Forward on no answer: dial *61* then the forwarding number then # — for example, *61*5551234567# — and press call.
2. Forward on busy: dial *67* then the forwarding number then #, and press call.
3. Forward when unreachable (off or no signal): dial *62* then the forwarding number then #, and press call.

To turn them off, dial #61#, #67#, or #62# and press call after each. Want it to ring longer before forwarding? Add the seconds before the final # — *61*5551234567*25# rings for about 25 seconds first. Prefer not to dial codes at all? You can also toggle forwarding in the myAT&T app under your line, then Manage device features, then Call Forwarding.

T-Mobile (and Metro, Mint, former Sprint)

T-Mobile uses the same GSM codes as AT&T — and so do the brands on its network: Metro by T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, and former Sprint lines.

1. Forward on no answer: dial *61* then the forwarding number then #, and press call.
2. Forward on busy: dial *67* then the forwarding number then #, and press call.
3. Forward when unreachable: dial *62* then the forwarding number then #, and press call.

Turn any of them off with #61#, #67#, or #62#. To clear all conditional forwarding in one shot, dial ##004# and press call. As with AT&T, you can add a ring delay in seconds before the final # — for example, *61*5551234567*20#.

US Cellular

US Cellular uses its own pair of codes, one per condition. (Heads up: US Cellular is being folded into T-Mobile — if your line has already migrated, use the T-Mobile codes above.)

1. Forward on busy: dial *90 then the forwarding number then # — for example, *905551234567# — and press call.
2. Forward on no answer: dial *92 then the forwarding number then #, and press call.

Wait for the confirmation tone after each. To forward every call, use *72 then the number. If a code won't take, the simplest fallback is to set it in the My US Cellular app, or call US Cellular and ask them to switch on "conditional call forwarding" for your line.

On a smaller or prepaid carrier?

Most prepaid and discount brands ride on one of the big networks and inherit its codes:

• On the AT&T or T-Mobile network (Cricket, Metro, Mint, Boost, Google Fi, Consumer Cellular, US Mobile, and most MVNOs): use the GSM codes — *61* / *67* / *62* then the number then #.
• On the Verizon network (Visible, Total by Verizon, Straight Talk on Verizon): use Verizon's *71, with *73 to cancel.

Not sure which network you're on? Check your plan or SIM details — or just try the *61* code first. If it returns an error, your line is almost certainly on Verizon, so use the *71 code instead.

How to confirm it's working

Don't assume — test it. Two quick checks:

1. Check the setting: on GSM carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, most prepaid) dial *#61# and press call to see your no-answer forwarding status and number — *#67# for busy, *#62# for unreachable.
2. Do a live test: from a different phone, call your number and let it ring without answering. It should land at your forwarding number, not your voicemail. Then call again while you're already on a call to test the busy path.

If it drops to your own voicemail instead of forwarding, the code didn't save — re-dial it and wait for the full confirmation tone before hanging up.

A few things that trip people up

• Wait for the tone. The setting only saves after the confirmation tone or message — hanging up early cancels it.
• Use the 10-digit number, no dashes or spaces. Some carriers also accept a leading 1; if one format fails, try the other.
• Forwarding is free, but minutes may not be. None of these carriers charge to forward, but a forwarded call can use plan minutes — a non-issue on unlimited plans.
• Point it at a line that actually answers. If you forward to a number that also goes unanswered, the caller just hits that line's voicemail instead.
• It sticks. Once set, conditional forwarding survives restarts and stays on until you dial the off code.