> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.closethecall.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Call Forwarding Setup

> Set up call forwarding from your existing phone number to your AI receptionist — carrier-by-carrier instructions.

## What is call forwarding?

Call forwarding sends calls from your existing phone number to your AI receptionist when you do not answer (or always). This means you can keep your current number — customers dial the same number they always have, and the AI picks up when you are busy.

<Tip>
  The easiest setup is "forward when unanswered." Your phone rings for 15 to 20 seconds, and if you do not pick up, the call goes to your AI receptionist. You never miss a call again.
</Tip>

## How call forwarding works

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart TD
    A["Customer calls your business number"] --> B{"Forwarding type?"}
    B -->|"When unanswered"| C["Your phone rings for 15-20 seconds"]
    B -->|"All calls"| F["Skips your phone entirely"]
    B -->|"When busy"| G{"Are you on another call?"}
    C --> D{"Do you answer?"}
    D -->|"Yes"| E["You take the call normally"]
    D -->|"No"| F
    G -->|"Yes, busy"| F
    G -->|"No, free"| C
    F --> H["Call routes to your AI number"]
    H --> I["AI receptionist answers"]
    I --> J["AI handles booking, FAQs, lead capture"]
    J --> K["You get notification with summary"]
```

## Before you start

You will need:

1. **Your AI phone number** — find it on the **Phone** page in your dashboard
2. **Your mobile phone** — to dial the forwarding codes
3. **2 minutes** — that is all it takes

## Forward types

Most carriers support three types of forwarding:

| Type                | When it forwards                          | Best for                                                              |
| ------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **When unanswered** | After your phone rings for 15-20 seconds  | Most businesses — you try to answer first, AI catches what you miss   |
| **All calls**       | Every call goes straight to AI            | When you are on holiday, in meetings, or want AI to handle everything |
| **When busy**       | Only when you are already on another call | Businesses that get lots of simultaneous calls                        |

<Info>
  We recommend "when unanswered" for most businesses. This gives you the chance to answer personally, with the AI as your safety net.
</Info>

## UK carriers

<Accordion title="EE">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `**61*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `**21*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `##002#` and press call.

  Replace `[AI number]` with your full AI phone number including the leading 0 (e.g. `07XXX XXXXXX` or `0161 XXX XXXX`).
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Vodafone UK">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `**61*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `**21*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `##002#` and press call.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Three (3)">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `**61*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `**21*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `##002#` and press call.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="O2">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `**61*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `**21*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `##002#` and press call.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="BT Mobile">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `**61*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `**21*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `##002#` and press call.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Sky Mobile">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `**61*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `**21*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `##002#` and press call.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Virgin Mobile">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `**61*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `**21*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `##002#` and press call.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="BT Landline">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `*61*[AI number]#` from your BT landline.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `*21*[AI number]#` from your BT landline.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `#21#` from your BT landline.

  Note: BT landline uses single `*` instead of double `**`.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="TalkTalk Landline">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `*61*[AI number]#` from your TalkTalk landline.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `*21*[AI number]#` from your TalkTalk landline.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `#21#` from your TalkTalk landline.
</Accordion>

## US carriers

<Accordion title="T-Mobile">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `**61*1[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `**21*1[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `##21#` and press call.

  Use the full 10-digit AI number with 1 prefix (e.g. `12125551234`).
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="AT&T">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `*61*1[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `*21*1[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `#21#` and press call.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Verizon">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `*71[AI number]` and press call. Wait for confirmation tone.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `*72[AI number]` and press call. Wait for confirmation tone.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `*73` and press call.

  Note: Verizon uses different codes from most other carriers.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Cricket Wireless">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `**61*1[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `**21*1[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `##21#` and press call.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Mint Mobile">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `**61*1[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `**21*1[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `##21#` and press call.

  Mint uses the T-Mobile network, so the same codes apply.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="US Cellular">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `*92[AI number]` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `*72[AI number]` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `*720` and press call.
</Accordion>

## Australian carriers

<Accordion title="Telstra">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `**61*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `**21*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `##002#` and press call.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Optus">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `**61*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `**21*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `##002#` and press call.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Vodafone AU">
  **Forward when unanswered:**
  Dial `**61*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Forward all calls:**
  Dial `**21*[AI number]#` and press call.

  **Cancel all forwarding:**
  Dial `##002#` and press call.
</Accordion>

## In-app instructions with exact dial codes

Your dashboard has personalised instructions with your AI number already filled in — no need to type it yourself.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Phone">
    Click **Phone** in the left sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Scroll to Call Forwarding">
    Scroll down to the **Call Forwarding** section. You will see carrier cards for your country.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click your carrier">
    Click the card for your phone carrier. It expands to show step-by-step instructions with your AI number pre-filled in the dial codes.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy and dial">
    Click the **Copy** button next to any dial code to copy it to your clipboard, then paste it into your phone's dialler.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Some carriers charge a small fee for call forwarding. Check with your carrier before enabling. Most UK and US carriers include it for free on contract plans, but pay-as-you-go plans may charge per forwarded minute.
</Warning>

## Testing that forwarding works

After setting up forwarding:

1. Call your existing business number from a different phone
2. Let it ring without answering (for "unanswered" forwarding)
3. Your AI receptionist should pick up after 15-20 seconds
4. If it does not work, try the cancel code first, then re-enter the forwarding code

<Tip>
  If forwarding does not activate, your carrier may require you to enable it through their app or by calling customer service. This is common with some business phone plans.
</Tip>

## Frequently asked questions

<Accordion title="What if forwarding does not activate after dialling the code?">
  First, try the cancel code to clear any existing forwarding, then re-enter the forwarding code. If it still does not work, some carriers require you to enable call forwarding through their app or by calling customer service. Business phone plans sometimes have forwarding locked by default — contact your carrier to unlock it.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Can I forward to multiple numbers?">
  Standard carrier forwarding only supports one destination number. Set your AI number as the forwarding target. If you want calls to ring multiple people before the AI picks up, use the **Rings You First** routing mode — it rings your phone first, then the AI catches what you miss.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Does call forwarding cost extra?">
  Most UK and US carriers include call forwarding for free on monthly contract plans. Pay-as-you-go and some budget carriers may charge a per-minute fee for forwarded calls — check with your carrier. The forwarded call is charged as if you were making a call to the AI number from your phone.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="How do I test if forwarding is working?">
  Call your business number from a different phone (borrow a friend's). Let it ring without answering. After 15-20 seconds, your AI receptionist should pick up. If you hear your carrier's voicemail instead of the AI, the forwarding is not active — try the setup codes again or contact your carrier.
</Accordion>

***

<Card title="Set up forwarding now" icon="arrow-up-right-from-square" href="https://app.closethecall.com/phone">
  Open the Phone page to see personalised dial codes with your AI number pre-filled.
</Card>