Seamlessly Redirect Your Calls: A Comprehensive Guide to Verizon Call Forwarding
Ever found yourself in a situation where you absolutely cannot miss an important call, but you know you won't be near your primary Verizon phone? Perhaps you're at the office, but your personal calls need to go to a separate line, or maybe you're heading out of town and want family calls to reach your landline. Whatever the reason, call forwarding is your secret weapon for staying connected and never missing a beat!
Ready to take control of your calls? Let's dive in and learn how to master call forwarding with Verizon!
Understanding Verizon Call Forwarding: Two Key Types
Before we get into the "how-to," it's crucial to understand that Verizon offers two main types of call forwarding, each serving a slightly different purpose:
1. Immediate Call Forwarding (All Calls): This is the most straightforward option. When activated, all incoming calls to your Verizon number will be immediately redirected to the number you specify. Your primary phone will not ring. This is ideal when you're completely unavailable on your main device.
2. Conditional Call Forwarding (Busy/No Answer/Unreachable): This type of forwarding is more flexible. Calls are only forwarded under specific conditions:
Busy: If your line is currently in use.
No Answer: If you don't answer your phone after a certain number of rings.
Unreachable: If your phone is turned off, out of service, or has no signal. This is perfect when you want your primary phone to ring first, giving you a chance to answer, but have a backup plan for missed calls.
Now that we know the basics, let's get to the actionable steps!
Step 1: Decide on Your Call Forwarding Strategy
Before you even touch your phone, take a moment to think:
Why do you need call forwarding?
Do you want all calls to go to another number, or just when you can't answer?
What is the exact 10-digit phone number you want your calls forwarded to?
Having a clear understanding of your needs will make the activation process much smoother. Grab a pen and paper if you need to jot down that forwarding number!
Step 2: Activating Call Forwarding via Dial Codes (The Quick Way!)
This is often the fastest and most common method for setting up call forwarding on Verizon. You'll be using special "star codes" directly from your phone's dial pad.
Sub-heading: Immediate Call Forwarding (*72)
To forward all your calls immediately:
Open your phone's dialer. This is where you would normally make a call.
Dial *72 followed by the 10-digit phone number you want calls forwarded to. For example, if you want to forward calls to 555-123-4567, you would dial *725551234567.
Press the "Call" or "Send" button.
Listen for a confirmation. You should hear a series of beeps or a voice message confirming that call forwarding has been activated. Even if you get a confirmation, it's a good idea to test it (see Step 4!).
Sub-heading: Conditional Call Forwarding (*71 for No Answer/Busy/Unreachable)
To forward calls only when you're busy, don't answer, or are unreachable:
Open your phone's dialer.
Dial *71 followed by the 10-digit phone number you want calls forwarded to. For example, if you want calls to go to 555-123-4567 when you're unavailable, you would dial *715551234567.
Press the "Call" or "Send" button.
Listen for a confirmation. Similar to immediate forwarding, you should hear a confirmation. Again, testing is key!
Step 3: Activating Call Forwarding via My Verizon (The Online/App Way!)
For those who prefer a graphical interface or aren't near their phone, My Verizon offers a convenient way to manage your call forwarding settings. This method is generally available for postpaid accounts. Prepaid accounts may need to stick to the dial codes.
Sub-heading: Using the My Verizon Website
Go to the Verizon Wireless website: Open your web browser and navigate to the Verizon website (verizon.com).
Sign in to My Verizon: Enter your User ID or mobile phone number and your password. Click "Sign In."
Navigate to "My Verizon" or "Account": Once logged in, look for a section related to your account or services. You might see "My Verizon" or a similar heading in the navigation menu.
Find "Calling Features" or "Call Forwarding": This might be under a broader category like "Features" or "Manage Services." Look for an option specifically for "Call Forwarding" or "Calling Features."
Select "Set Up Call Forwarding": You'll typically find an option to set up or modify call forwarding.
Enter the forwarding number: In the designated box, enter the 10-digit phone number where you want your calls to be forwarded.
Adjust options (if applicable): Depending on the interface, you might have options to choose between immediate or conditional forwarding, or other advanced settings. Select your preferred option.
Save your settings: Click "Set Up Call Forwarding" or "Save" to apply the changes. You should receive an on-screen confirmation.
Sub-heading: Using the My Verizon App
Download and open the My Verizon App: If you don't have it, download it from your device's app store (Google Play Store for Android, Apple App Store for iOS).
Log in: Enter your Verizon credentials.
Access Account/Services: Look for a section like "Account" or "Services" within the app.
Find Call Forwarding: Navigate through the menus to locate "Call Forwarding" or a similar calling feature option.
Enter forwarding number and save: Similar to the website, you'll enter the desired forwarding number and confirm your selection.
Step 4: Test Your Call Forwarding (Crucial Step!)
This step is absolutely essential to ensure your calls are going where you want them to go!
Use a different phone: Grab a friend's phone, a landline, or even another mobile device.
Dial your Verizon phone number.
Observe the call:
For Immediate Call Forwarding: The call should immediately redirect to the forwarded number without your primary Verizon phone ringing.
For Conditional Call Forwarding: Your primary Verizon phone should ring for a few moments. If you don't answer, or if your phone is busy/off, the call should then forward to the designated number.
Confirm the call reaches the correct destination. If it doesn't, or if you encounter issues, proceed to Step 5.
Step 5: Disabling Call Forwarding
Just as easily as you activate it, you can disable call forwarding when you no longer need it.
Sub-heading: Disabling via Dial Code (*73)
To turn off all call forwarding (both immediate and conditional):
Open your phone's dialer.
Dial *73.
Press the "Call" or "Send" button.
Listen for confirmation. You'll typically hear a series of beeps or a message confirming that call forwarding has been deactivated.
Test it: Call your Verizon number from another phone to ensure it now rings on your primary device.
Sub-heading: Disabling via My Verizon Website/App
Log in to My Verizon (website or app) as you did for activation.
Navigate to the "Call Forwarding" settings.
Look for an option to "Disable" or "Turn Off" call forwarding.
Confirm your selection.
Important Considerations and Troubleshooting Tips
Prepaid Accounts: As mentioned, prepaid Verizon accounts often have limited access to online features for call forwarding and may need to rely solely on dial codes.
Cost: In most cases, there is no additional monthly fee for basic call forwarding with Verizon. However, forwarded calls will use your plan's minutes, just like any other call you make or receive. If you're forwarding to a long-distance or international number, applicable long-distance or international calling rates will apply.
Text Messages: Call forwarding does not forward text messages. Texts will still be received on your primary Verizon device.
Voicemail: Be aware that call forwarding can sometimes interact with your voicemail settings. If calls are going straight to voicemail instead of forwarding, check your voicemail settings or conditional call forwarding rules. If you have "Live Voicemail" enabled on an iPhone, it might interfere with conditional call forwarding, so you may need to disable it.
Troubleshooting:
Did you hear a confirmation? If not, try the process again.
Is the forwarding number correct? Double-check that you dialed it accurately.
Is the forwarding number active? Try calling the forwarding number directly from another phone to ensure it's a working line.
Reboot your phone: Sometimes a simple restart can resolve minor glitches.
Contact Verizon Support: If you've tried everything and are still having issues, Verizon's customer support can provide assistance.
By following these steps, you'll be a Verizon call forwarding pro in no time, ensuring you're always connected, no matter where you are!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to set up call forwarding on a Verizon landline?
For Verizon landlines (Fios Digital Voice), you typically use similar star codes. Dial *72 + the forwarding number for immediate forwarding, and *73 to deactivate. For conditional forwarding (busy/no answer), dial *90 + the forwarding number to activate and *91 to deactivate. You can also manage these settings through your My Verizon Fios account online.
How to know if my Verizon calls are forwarded?
The easiest way is to call your Verizon number from a different phone. If it rings at the forwarded number (or immediately forwards without ringing your primary phone for *72 forwarding), then it's working. If your primary phone rings, call forwarding is likely not active or not working correctly.
How to forward calls to voicemail on Verizon?
By default, if you don't answer a call, it will go to your Verizon voicemail. However, if you're trying to intentionally forward all calls directly to voicemail without ringing your phone, you might be able to set up immediate call forwarding (*72) to your own Verizon voicemail access number. Be cautious with this, as it might bypass other voicemail features. It's generally simpler to let the call ring and go to voicemail naturally.
How to use conditional call forwarding on Verizon for specific scenarios (e.g., only when busy)?
Verizon's standard Conditional Call Forwarding (*71) typically covers busy, no answer, and unreachable scenarios. Some older or specific plans might have separate codes like *90 for busy or *92 for busy/no answer, but *71 is the common one for the bundled conditional forwarding. Check Verizon's official support documentation for your specific plan if *71 isn't working as expected for these individual conditions.
How to remotely set up call forwarding on Verizon?
You can set up or manage call forwarding remotely by logging into your My Verizon account on their website or through the My Verizon app. This is often the most convenient way to activate or deactivate forwarding when you don't have your phone with you or can't dial the codes.
How to deactivate call forwarding on Verizon?
To deactivate all call forwarding on Verizon, dial *73 from your Verizon phone and press the "Call" or "Send" button. You will hear a confirmation that call forwarding has been turned off. You can also disable it through the My Verizon website or app.
How to forward Verizon calls to an international number?
You can forward your Verizon calls to an international number using the same *72 or *71 codes, followed by the full international dialing code (011 + country code + phone number). However, be aware that international long-distance rates will apply to the forwarded calls, as these calls consume minutes from your plan and then incur international charges. Consider adding an international calling plan to your Verizon account if you plan to do this frequently.
How to check the status of call forwarding on Verizon?
Unfortunately, there isn't a direct star code to check the status of call forwarding. The best way to check if it's active is to perform a test call from another phone to your Verizon number (as described in Step 4). If you activated it via My Verizon, you can log in to view the current settings.
How to forward calls on a Verizon prepaid phone?
For Verizon prepaid accounts, call forwarding is primarily managed using the dial codes. Use *72 + forwarding number for immediate forwarding, and *71 + forwarding number for conditional forwarding. To disable, dial *73. Access to call forwarding management via the My Verizon app or website may be limited for prepaid plans.
How to troubleshoot Verizon call forwarding if it's not working?
Verify the forwarding number: Double-check that the 10-digit number you entered is correct and active.
Confirm activation: Ensure you heard a confirmation tone or message after dialing the star code or saving settings online.
Disable and re-enable: Try turning off call forwarding (*73) and then reactivating it.
Check for conflicts: If you have an iPhone with "Live Voicemail" enabled, it can interfere with conditional call forwarding; try disabling it.
Reboot your phone: A simple restart can often clear up minor network glitches.
Contact Verizon Support: If all else fails, reach out to Verizon Customer Service for personalized assistance and troubleshooting.