How to Set Up Call Forwarding on Business Mobiles: iPhone & Android Guide

Missing an important client call can cost your business thousands. Whether you’re heading into a meeting, working remotely, or covering for a colleague on holiday, call forwarding ensures every business call reaches the right person at the right time. This comprehensive guide walks you through setting up call forwarding and call diverting on iPhones, Android devices, and even landline-to-mobile redirects — with network-specific codes for every major UK carrier.

Last updated: 26th March 2026

What Is Call Forwarding (and How Is It Different from Call Diverting)?

Call forwarding and call diverting are functionally the same thing — they redirect incoming calls from one number to another. The terms are used interchangeably across UK networks, though “call divert” tends to be the more common phrasing with carriers like EE and O2, while Apple uses “call forwarding” in its iPhone settings.

For businesses, call forwarding is essential. It ensures continuity when staff are away from their desks, out of the office, or when you need to route calls between departments. Unlike simply letting a call go to voicemail, forwarding keeps the conversation live and the caller connected to a real person — dramatically improving customer experience and reducing lost leads.

Types of Call Forwarding Explained

Before diving into setup steps, it’s important to understand the four main types of call forwarding available on UK mobile networks. Each serves a different purpose, and most smartphones and networks support all four.

Unconditional Forwarding (All Calls)

Every incoming call is immediately redirected to your chosen number, regardless of whether your phone is on or off, busy, or idle. This is the most aggressive type of forwarding and is best used when you’re completely away — on holiday, for example, or when a number has been permanently reassigned.

Forward When Busy

Calls are only diverted when you’re already on another call. This is particularly useful for sole traders or small business owners who handle high call volumes but don’t have a receptionist. Rather than sending the second caller to voicemail, the call can be routed to a colleague or an answering service.

Forward When No Answer

If you don’t pick up within a set number of rings (usually 15–30 seconds), the call is forwarded. This is arguably the most practical option for everyday business use — it gives you the chance to answer first, but provides a safety net if you’re away from your phone.

Forward When Not Reachable

Calls are diverted only when your phone is switched off, in aeroplane mode, or has no signal. This is critical for field workers, delivery drivers, or anyone who regularly moves through areas with poor mobile coverage.

How to Set Up Call Forwarding on iPhone (Step-by-Step)

Apple makes call forwarding relatively straightforward on iPhone, though the exact menu path can vary slightly depending on your iOS version and whether your carrier supports the feature through the settings menu.

Method 1: Through iPhone Settings

This is the simplest approach and works for unconditional call forwarding on most UK networks.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap Phone.

Step 3: Tap Call Forwarding.

Step 4: Toggle Call Forwarding to on (the switch turns green).

Step 5: Tap Forward To and enter the number you want calls diverted to.

Step 6: Tap Back. The forwarding icon (a phone with an arrow) should appear in your status bar.

To turn off call forwarding on iPhone, simply return to the same menu and toggle the switch off. It’s worth noting that this settings-based method only enables unconditional forwarding. For conditional forwarding (busy, no answer, not reachable), you’ll need to use dial codes.

Method 2: Using Dial Codes on iPhone

Dial codes give you more granular control and work on any iPhone regardless of carrier restrictions on the settings menu. Open your Phone app and dial the following codes:

Forward all calls: Dial *21*[destination number]# and press Call.
Forward when busy: Dial *67*[destination number]# and press Call.
Forward when no answer: Dial *61*[destination number]# and press Call.
Forward when unreachable: Dial *62*[destination number]# and press Call.

To cancel each type, replace the asterisk before the number with # — for example, #21# cancels unconditional forwarding. To cancel all diversions at once, dial ##002#.

Troubleshooting iPhone Call Forwarding

If the Call Forwarding option is greyed out or missing from your iPhone settings, this typically means your carrier doesn’t support the settings-based toggle. This is common on Three UK and some MVNO networks. In these cases, use the dial codes above instead. Also ensure you’re not connected to Wi-Fi Calling, as some carriers disable call forwarding when Wi-Fi Calling is active.

How to Set Up Call Forwarding on Android & Samsung (Step-by-Step)

Android call forwarding setup varies more than iPhone because each manufacturer customises the phone app interface. Here’s how to do it on stock Android and Samsung devices.

Stock Android (Google Pixel, Motorola, etc.)

Step 1: Open the Phone app.
Step 2: Tap the three-dot menu (top right) and select Settings.
Step 3: Tap Calling accounts, then select your SIM card.
Step 4: Tap Call forwarding.
Step 5: Choose the type: Always forward, When busy, When unanswered, or When unreachable.
Step 6: Enter the destination number and tap Turn on or OK.

Samsung Galaxy Devices

Step 1: Open the Phone app.
Step 2: Tap the three-dot menu → Settings.
Step 3: Tap Supplementary services.
Step 4: If you have dual SIM, select the relevant SIM card.
Step 5: Tap Call forwarding → Voice call.
Step 6: Select your forwarding type and enter the number.

Samsung devices also support dial codes, so you can use the same *21*, *67*, *61*, and *62* codes listed in the iPhone section above.

How to Divert Calls from a Landline to a Mobile

Many UK businesses still have landline numbers that clients recognise and trust. Diverting these to a mobile ensures you never miss a call when you’re away from the office — increasingly important in the hybrid-working era.

BT Landline Call Divert

BT offers call divert as a standard feature. To activate: pick up your handset and dial *21*[mobile number]#. You’ll hear a confirmation tone. To cancel, dial #21#. BT charges for diverted calls at your standard call rate — the caller pays nothing extra, but you pay for the onward leg of the call to the mobile.

Virgin Media / Sky / TalkTalk

Most other major UK landline providers use the same *21* divert code, though some require you to enable the feature through your online account first. Check with your provider if the dial code doesn’t work immediately.

VoIP / Cloud Phone Systems

If your business uses a VoIP phone system, call forwarding is handled through software rather than dial codes. Most hosted phone systems — including Connection Technologies’ Hypercloud platform — allow you to set up forwarding rules through a web portal or mobile app, with far more flexibility than traditional carrier-based forwarding.

Network-Specific Call Divert Codes for UK Carriers

While the standard GSM codes (*21*, *67*, *61*, *62*) work on most networks, some UK carriers have their own shortcodes or slight variations. Here’s a complete reference table.

All UK mobile networks use the standard GSM divert codes. The codes are universal because they’re part of the GSM standard rather than being network-specific. However, some MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) may restrict certain divert types on budget plans — check with your provider if a code doesn’t work.

Business Use Cases for Call Forwarding

Call forwarding isn’t just a convenience feature — for businesses, it’s a critical tool for maintaining professional communications. Here are the most common scenarios where UK businesses rely on call forwarding.

Out-of-Office and Holiday Cover

When a key team member is on annual leave, unconditional forwarding sends their calls to a designated colleague. This prevents clients from reaching a dead end and ensures urgent matters are handled promptly. For longer absences, consider forwarding to a team hunt group rather than a single person.

Team-Based Call Routing

Sales teams can use sequential forwarding (ring one person, then forward to the next if unanswered) to maximise the chances of picking up. This is particularly effective for inbound sales lines where every missed call represents lost revenue.

Remote and Hybrid Working

With many UK businesses now operating hybrid models, forwarding office landline numbers to employee mobiles ensures seamless connectivity. Clients dial the same office number they’ve always used, but the call reaches your team wherever they’re working.

After-Hours Routing

Time-based forwarding rules (available through VoIP systems) can automatically redirect calls to an out-of-hours answering service after 6pm, ensuring your business remains responsive without requiring staff to work late.

Business Continuity

In the event of an office power cut, internet outage, or any disruption to your primary phone system, having call forwarding pre-configured to mobile numbers ensures your business stays contactable. This should be part of every SME’s disaster recovery plan.

See also: Microsoft 365 plans and pricing.

Why Basic Call Forwarding Isn’t Enough for Growing Businesses

While carrier-based call forwarding works well for simple scenarios, it has significant limitations for businesses with more than a handful of staff. Standard forwarding can only redirect to one number at a time, offers no time-based rules, and provides no visibility into call analytics or missed call data.

This is where hosted VoIP phone systems offer a massive upgrade. With a cloud-based business phone system, you get:

Simultaneous ring: Ring multiple devices (desk phone, mobile, softphone) at once, so the first person available picks up.
Hunt groups: Route calls through a team in sequence or round-robin until someone answers.
Time-based routing: Automatically forward to different destinations based on time of day, day of the week, or bank holidays.
IVR (Auto-Attendant): “Press 1 for Sales, 2 for Support” menus that route callers to the right department instantly.
Call analytics: See exactly how many calls are forwarded, answered, and missed — broken down by team and time period.

Connection Technologies’ Hypercloud hosted phone system includes all of these features as standard, with an easy-to-use web portal where you can change forwarding rules in seconds — no dial codes required.

Call Forwarding Costs: What to Expect

It’s important to understand that call forwarding isn’t always free. When a call is diverted, your network treats the onward leg as a new outgoing call, which is charged at your standard call rate. This applies to both mobile and landline diversions.

For businesses that forward a high volume of calls, these charges can add up quickly. If you’re spending more than £50 per month on diverted call charges, it’s almost certainly more cost-effective to switch to a VoIP system where forwarding is handled over the internet at no per-call cost.

Connection Technologies can audit your current call forwarding spend and show you exactly how much you’d save by moving to a hosted phone system — often 40–60% less than traditional carrier charges.

Related Help Guides

• Call recording legal guide
• Voicemail setup guide
• Wi-Fi calling guide
• best mobile network in the UK
• business mobile phone plans
• network comparison guide

Related Reading

• Wi-Fi Calling for Business: UK Guide for 2026
• Best Business Mobile Phone Plans in the UK
• VoIP vs Landline for Business: UK Comparison