Vodafone Call Forwarding and Divert
Quick Answer
Dial **21* then the destination then # to divert all Vodafone calls — writing the number in +44 format, so **21*+447700900123#. Cancel with ##21#, or clear every divert at once with ##002#. Note that Pay as you go lines can only divert to voicemail.
Vodafone is the only major UK mobile network that publishes its own call divert codes, which makes this the one network where a code table can be given with confidence. The codes below are Vodafone’s, along with the destination format it requires, the ring-time code it documents, and the Pay as you go restriction that catches people out.
Vodafone Call Divert Codes
Enter these in your phone’s dialler and press call. You should see a confirmation that call forwarding is on.
| Divert type | Activate | Cancel | Check status |
|---|---|---|---|
| All calls | **21*[number]# | ##21# | *#21# |
| When unanswered | **61*[number]# | ##61# | *#61# |
| When busy | **67*[number]# | ##67# | *#67# |
| When unreachable | **62*[number]# | ##62# | *#62# |
| Cancel every divert | — | ##002# | — |
Write the Destination in +44 Format
Vodafone repeats one instruction on every code: replace the first 0 with +44. A divert to 07700 900123 is therefore **21*+447700900123#, not **21*07700900123#. Vodafone never documents the leading-zero form, so if a divert appears to activate but calls do not arrive, the number format is the first thing to check.
Single or Double Asterisk?
Both appear in circulation for Vodafone and they do different jobs. **21* registers a destination and activates the divert together, which is the form Vodafone documents for mobile. *21# only switches on a divert whose destination is already stored, so on a line with nothing registered it achieves nothing.
The single-asterisk codes attributed to Vodafone mobile almost certainly come from Vodafone Business Phone, a fixed-line product with a genuinely different code set including its own remote access codes. If you are on a Vodafone mobile, use the double-asterisk codes above. There is more on why the two families exist in our guide to call divert codes.
Setting the Ring Time Before a Divert
Vodafone is also the only one of the networks to publish a ring-time code. Dial **61*, the destination in +44 format, then *10*, then the seconds, then #:
**61*+447836121121*10*20# rings for 20 seconds before sending unanswered calls to voicemail.
The default is 15 seconds. Vodafone’s device guides print a shorter variant that drops the *10* and add that the value should be divisible by five — if the longer form is rejected by your handset, that variant is the one to try.
Vodafone Voicemail and Diverts
Dial 121 to listen to your own messages. As a divert destination, Vodafone’s voicemail platform is +44 7836 121 121. Two extra codes control the service itself:
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
1211 | Restores standard voicemail for busy, unreachable and unanswered calls |
1210 | Turns voicemail off completely |
Setting your own divert for those conditions overrides the voicemail divert, so 1211 is how you put things back. Our Vodafone voicemail guide covers PINs and greetings.
Pay as You Go: Voicemail Diverts Only
This is the Vodafone-specific restriction most worth knowing. On Pay as you go, Vodafone allows diverts to voicemail only — a divert to another mobile or landline is not available on PAYG whatever code you dial. If you are on PAYG and a divert refuses to stick, this is why, and no amount of retrying will change it.
What It Costs
Vodafone documents charging for the voicemail case: on Pay monthly, or a Pay as you go Big Value Bundle, diverting calls to voicemail uses minutes from your allowance, and standard call charges apply once those minutes are gone or when you are roaming outside your plan’s home zone. Calling 121 to listen also uses your allowance.
Vodafone does not publish a rate for diverting to an ordinary UK number, so check your own tariff before leaving a busy line diverted long-term. Diverts are described as going to another UK landline or mobile, so do not assume international destinations will work.
After the VodafoneThree Merger
Vodafone and Three became VodafoneThree in June 2025, and since then the two brands share radio infrastructure. The core networks stay separate, though, and call forwarding is a core network service. These codes are for Vodafone lines and do not apply to a Three SIM — see Three call forwarding for that. The same applies to Vodafone-family brands: VOXI and Talkmobile sit on Vodafone, while SMARTY is on Three.
Vodafone Business Lines
Vodafone publishes the same mobile code set for business customers, with one difference worth noting: the business page omits the Pay as you go restriction rather than contradicting it. Vodafone Business Phone, the fixed-line product, is separate again and includes a Smart Divert feature on its Premium tier that can reach almost any UK number and most international destinations — capability the mobile diverts do not have.
Outgrown network-level diverts?
A hosted phone system gives you hunt groups, auto attendants and time-of-day routing instead of one divert per handset. We can scope it for you free of charge.
Get a Telecoms Quote →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vodafone call forwarding code?
To divert all calls, dial **21* followed by the destination number and then #. Vodafone asks you to write the destination in international format by replacing the leading 0 with +44, so a divert to 07700 900123 is dialled as **21*+447700900123#. Cancel it with ##21# and check it with *#21#.
Why do some guides show *21* and others **21* for Vodafone?
Because they are different instructions and only one is right for mobile. The double asterisk form registers a destination and switches the divert on in a single step, which is what Vodafone documents for its mobile network. The single asterisk form only re-activates a divert that has already been registered, so on a line with nothing stored it does nothing useful. The single asterisk codes in circulation come from Vodafone Business Phone, which is a landline product with its own separate code set.
Can I divert calls on Vodafone Pay as you go?
Only to voicemail. Vodafone restricts Pay as you go lines to voicemail diverts, so a divert to another mobile or landline is not available on PAYG regardless of which code you dial. This restriction appears on Vodafone’s consumer help page but is omitted from the business version of the same page.
How do I change how long my Vodafone phone rings before diverting?
Dial **61*, the destination in +44 format, then *10*, the number of seconds, then #. To ring for 20 seconds before sending unanswered calls to voicemail, that is **61*+447836121121*10*20#. The default is 15 seconds. Vodafone’s device guides show a shorter variant without the *10* and note the value should be divisible by five; the form above is the one on Vodafone’s main help page and the one that matches the GSM field order.
How do I turn Vodafone voicemail back on after a divert?
Dial 1211 to restore the standard voicemail service, which answers when you are busy, unreachable or have not picked up within 15 seconds. Dial 1210 to switch voicemail off altogether. Setting your own divert for those conditions overrides the voicemail divert until you restore it.
Does the Vodafone and Three merger change my divert codes?
No. Vodafone and Three merged into VodafoneThree in June 2025 and now share radio spectrum, but the two core networks remain separate. Call forwarding is a core network service, so Vodafone’s codes apply to Vodafone lines only and do not transfer to a Three SIM.
