How to forward only the calls you miss — by carrier

Build your code — a few quick taps

Skip the lookup. Walk the wizard — your carrier, turn forwarding on or off, which calls, and (for turning it on) the number to forward to — and it hands you the exact code to dial, with tap-to-dial. 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. Verizon's official FAQ says *71 forwards unanswered calls to a 10-digit number; coverage and plan limitations can apply. Do not assume a prepaid brand inherits the same behavior—check that brand's current support instructions.

AT&T

AT&T's current consumer guidance directs customers to the phone's call-forwarding settings rather than publishing one universal conditional-forwarding code sequence. It also warns that enabling call forwarding overrides voicemail.

1. Open the Phone or call settings for the AT&T line and find Call Forwarding; the path differs by device.
2. Enter the forwarding number and save the setting shown for the line.
3. Call the AT&T number from another phone and let it go unanswered. Confirm the call reaches the intended destination rather than voicemail.

To turn forwarding off, return to the same device or account setting. AT&T notes that some prepaid or device configurations differ; use AT&T support for the exact line if conditional forwarding is not exposed.

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

T-Mobile is in the same GSM family as AT&T, but with one crucial twist: it wants the double-star registration form. Dial the single-star AT&T codes on a T-Mobile line and the carrier returns an error. The upside — T-Mobile has a shortcut AT&T doesn't: one code that sets busy, no answer, AND unreachable in a single dial. Same codes for the brands on its network: Metro by T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, and former Sprint lines.

1. No answer: dial **61*1 plus the 10-digit forwarding number, then #. T-Mobile says the no-reply delay can be set from 5 to 30 seconds in 5-second increments.
2. Busy: dial **67*1 plus the 10-digit forwarding number, then #.
3. Unreachable: dial **62*1 plus the 10-digit forwarding number, then #.

Turn them off with ##61#, ##67#, or ##62#. T-Mobile publishes the activation, cancellation, and status-check codes in its self-service short-code table; test each condition after saving it.

US Cellular

We did not find current public US Cellular documentation that was strong enough to support publishing exact conditional-forwarding codes here. Carrier migrations and account configuration can change which instructions apply.

1. Check the My UScellular app or the phone's call settings for the active line.
2. If conditional forwarding is not shown, contact UScellular and ask specifically for forwarding on busy, no answer, and unreachable—not forwarding of every call.
3. After the carrier confirms the setting, run the no-answer and busy live tests below.

Do not substitute an unverified code from a forum: the wrong instruction can override voicemail or route every call. Use the carrier's current instructions for the exact line.

On a smaller or prepaid carrier?

A prepaid or discount brand may use a major carrier's network without exposing the same forwarding features or codes. Check the brand's own current support page or account support before dialing anything:

• Confirm that conditional call forwarding is included in the plan.
• Ask for the exact instructions for no answer, busy, and unreachable on that brand—not only the underlying network.
• Record the original voicemail and forwarding settings before changing them, then run a live test.

Not sure which network or feature set applies? Check the plan or SIM details and ask the carrier. Do not work down a list of codes by trial and error; an accepted code can change live routing even when it was not the behavior you intended.

How to confirm it's working

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

1. Check the setting: T-Mobile publishes *#61#, *#67#, and *#62# status codes. On other carriers, use the device or account setting the carrier documents for the line.
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.

Troubleshooting: when the codes themselves error

If a code comes back with an error, stop before trying codes from another carrier. The feature may be unavailable on the plan, exposed through a device setting instead, or configured differently on the account. Work through the carrier-specific checks below.

1 · Turn off Wi-Fi Calling (temporarily)

If the carrier's own instructions say the code must be sent over cellular, temporarily turn off Wi-Fi Calling, retry the documented code, and turn Wi-Fi Calling back on afterward. Do not assume this applies to every device or carrier.

2 · Clear the documented setting, then re-register

Use the carrier's published cancellation code or the original device setting to clear forwarding, then register each supported condition again. Do not use an undocumented catch-all reset code.

3 · Use the documented individual conditions

On T-Mobile, use the individually documented conditions: no answer **61*1 + number + # · unreachable **62*1 + number + # · busy or declined **67*1 + number + #. On other carriers, use only that carrier's current instructions.

4 · Restart before resetting anything

Restart the phone and confirm it has cellular service. Avoid resetting all network settings merely to test forwarding; that operation removes saved network configuration and may not address an account-level feature.

5 · Confirm the feature with the carrier

Contact the carrier and ask whether conditional call forwarding is enabled for the exact line and plan. Ask the representative to confirm no-answer, busy, and unreachable routing separately, then repeat the live tests before relying on it for customer calls.

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.

Carrier sources

• Verizon — Call Forwarding FAQs (*71 for unanswered calls and *73 to stop forwarding, subject to Verizon's stated limits).
• T-Mobile — Self-service short codes (61, 62, and **67 conditional-forwarding instructions and cancellation codes).
• AT&T — Manage Call Forwarding (device-specific setup, plan caveats, and voicemail warning).