Let's dive deep into the world of call forwarding with Verizon! It's a incredibly useful feature, whether you're heading out of town, expecting an important call while your phone is dead, or simply want to streamline your communications.
Mastering Call Forwarding with Verizon: A Comprehensive Guide
Ever find yourself in a situation where you can't answer your Verizon phone, but you absolutely cannot miss an important call? Perhaps you're at work and don't want personal calls interrupting, or maybe you're traveling and want calls directed to a local number. Whatever the reason, call forwarding is your secret weapon for ensuring you're always connected.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through every single step of setting up, managing, and troubleshooting call forwarding on your Verizon line. Get ready to become a call forwarding pro!
Step 1: Are You Ready to Take Control of Your Calls?
Before we even begin, let's ask ourselves: why do you need call forwarding today? Are you:
Going on vacation and want calls to ring on a friend's phone?
Working from home and prefer business calls to go to your landline?
Experiencing a low battery and need calls directed to a backup phone?
Trying to manage calls for a small business?
Understanding your specific need will help you choose the right call forwarding option and ensure a smooth setup. So, take a moment, envision the scenario, and let's get started!
Step 2: Understanding the Types of Call Forwarding
Verizon offers different types of call forwarding to suit various needs. It's crucial to understand these before you proceed, as the setup process can vary slightly.
Full-Time Call Forwarding (All Calls)
What it is: This is the most straightforward option. Every single call that comes to your Verizon number will be immediately redirected to the number you specify. Your phone will not ring.
When to use it: Ideal for extended periods when you know you won't be able to answer your primary phone (e.g., vacation, lost/damaged phone, using a temporary number).
Conditional Call Forwarding
This type of forwarding only kicks in under specific circumstances. Verizon typically offers these three:
Busy (Call Forwarding Busy No Answer): Calls are forwarded only when your line is busy.
When to use it: If you frequently talk on the phone and want callers to be directed elsewhere instead of getting a busy signal.
No Answer (Call Forwarding No Answer): Calls are forwarded only when you don't answer your phone after a certain number of rings.
When to use it: Perfect for when you want calls to ring on your primary phone first, but if you're unavailable, they're sent to another number.
Unreachable (Call Forwarding Unreachable): Calls are forwarded only when your phone is turned off, out of service, or out of a coverage area.
When to use it: Ensures you don't miss important calls even if your phone dies or you're in an area with no signal.
Step 3: Setting Up Call Forwarding (The Easy Way: Using Your Phone)
For most users, setting up call forwarding directly from your Verizon phone is the quickest and easiest method.
Sub-heading: Activating Full-Time Call Forwarding
Pick up your Verizon phone and open the dialer. This is where you usually make calls.
*Dial 72 (star, seven, two). This is the universal code to activate full-time call forwarding on Verizon.
*Immediately after 72, dial the 10-digit number you want to forward calls to. For example, if you want to forward calls to 555-123-4567, you would dial *725551234567.
Press the "Send" or "Call" button.
Listen for a confirmation tone or message. Verizon will typically confirm that call forwarding has been successfully activated. It might be a series of beeps, a recorded message, or even a text notification. Pay attention to this confirmation! If you don't hear it, the activation might not have worked.
Sub-heading: Deactivating Full-Time Call Forwarding
It's just as easy to turn it off when you no longer need it!
Open your phone's dialer.
*Dial 73 (star, seven, three). This is the universal code to deactivate full-time call forwarding.
Press the "Send" or "Call" button.
Listen for a confirmation tone or message. Again, ensure you hear the confirmation that call forwarding has been turned off.
Sub-heading: Activating Conditional Call Forwarding (Specific Codes)
Conditional call forwarding often uses different star codes, or may require contacting Verizon customer service for initial setup. Here are the common codes, but always double-check with Verizon's official support or website as these can sometimes vary by plan or region.
Call Forwarding Busy No Answer:
To activate: Dial *90[10-digit forwarding number] and press Send/Call.
To deactivate: Dial *900 and press Send/Call.
Call Forwarding No Answer:
To activate: Dial *92[10-digit forwarding number] and press Send/Call.
To deactivate: Dial *920 and press Send/Call.
Call Forwarding Unreachable: This often needs to be set up through My Verizon or by contacting customer support, as it's less commonly activated via a simple dial code.
Pro Tip: After activating any call forwarding, test it immediately by calling your Verizon number from a different phone to ensure it's routing correctly!
Step 4: Using My Verizon (Online or App) for Call Forwarding Management
For a more visual and often more reliable way to manage your Verizon services, including call forwarding, the My Verizon platform (website or mobile app) is an excellent resource.
Sub-heading: Accessing My Verizon
Go to the Verizon website (verizon.com) or open the My Verizon app on your smartphone.
Log in to your account. You'll need your Verizon username and password. If you don't have one, you can register for an account using your Verizon phone number.
Navigate to the "Account" or "Manage Plan" section. The exact wording might vary slightly, but look for options related to managing your services or lines.
Sub-heading: Managing Call Forwarding Through My Verizon
The steps within My Verizon can vary slightly based on updates to their interface, but generally, you'll look for:
"Manage Devices" or "My Devices."
Select the specific phone line for which you want to enable or disable call forwarding.
Look for "Call Settings," "Features," or "Add-ons."
Find "Call Forwarding." You should see options to enable/disable it and enter the forwarding number. You might also see options for conditional forwarding here if your plan supports it for online management.
Enter the desired forwarding number and save your changes.
Why use My Verizon? It provides a clear overview of your current settings and can be particularly helpful if the star codes aren't working for some reason or if you want to manage features beyond simple activation/deactivation.
Step 5: Contacting Verizon Customer Service (When All Else Fails)
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you might encounter issues or have a unique call forwarding scenario that isn't covered by the standard methods. Don't hesitate to reach out to Verizon's excellent customer support.
Sub-heading: How to Reach Verizon Support
Dial 611 from your Verizon wireless phone. This is the direct line for customer service.
Dial 1-800-922-0204 from any phone.
Use the My Verizon app's chat feature. This can be a convenient way to get quick answers.
Visit a Verizon store. If you prefer in-person assistance, a Verizon representative can help you directly.
Sub-heading: What to Tell the Representative
When you contact them, be prepared to:
Clearly state your reason for calling (e.g., "I need to set up call forwarding," or "I'm having trouble with my existing call forwarding").
Provide your account information (phone number, account PIN, etc.).
Explain the specific type of call forwarding you need (full-time, busy, no answer, etc.) and the number you wish to forward calls to.
Describe any error messages or issues you've encountered.
They can often troubleshoot remotely or manually set up the feature for you.
Step 6: Important Considerations and Troubleshooting Tips
While call forwarding is generally straightforward, keep these points in mind for a smooth experience:
Sub-heading: Voicemail and Call Forwarding
Verizon's voicemail takes precedence over call forwarding if the forwarded number goes to voicemail. For example, if you forward calls to a landline, and that landline has voicemail, the call will go to the landline's voicemail, not your Verizon voicemail.
If you want calls to go to your Verizon voicemail when the forwarded number is busy or doesn't answer, you'll need to set up conditional call forwarding (busy or no answer) back to your own Verizon voicemail number (which is usually your own 10-digit number). This can get a bit tricky, so test thoroughly!
Sub-heading: International Call Forwarding
Forwarding calls to an international number is typically not supported by standard call forwarding codes. You'll likely incur international long-distance charges if it is possible, and it usually requires special setup through Verizon customer service. It's generally not recommended for casual use.
Sub-heading: Troubleshooting Common Issues
"Call forwarding not working":
Double-check the dialed code. Did you miss a star or a number?
Confirm the forwarding number is correct.
Test from a different phone.
Reboot your phone. Sometimes a simple restart can resolve minor glitches.
Check your account status. Is your account active and in good standing?
Verify with My Verizon. See if the settings show correctly online.
Contact Verizon support. They can see if there are network issues or account restrictions.
"Forwarded calls aren't ringing on the destination number":
Is the destination phone turned on and has signal?
Is the destination phone's do-not-disturb mode active?
Is the destination phone blocking unknown numbers?
Are there any call blocking features active on the destination line?
By understanding these nuances, you'll be able to confidently manage your calls and ensure you never miss an important connection again!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check if call forwarding is active on Verizon?
You can dial *73 (star, seven, three) and press Send/Call. If you hear a series of quick beeps or a message indicating call forwarding is off, it means it was previously active and has now been deactivated. If it's already off, you'll usually hear a single beep or a different message. The most reliable way is to call your Verizon number from another phone and see where it rings. Alternatively, check the "Call Settings" or "Features" section within the My Verizon app or website for your specific line.
How to forward calls to voicemail on Verizon?
If you want calls to go directly to your Verizon voicemail without ringing your phone, you can forward calls to your own 10-digit Verizon number using the full-time call forwarding method (dialing *72[your 10-digit Verizon number]). This makes your own voicemail act as the "forwarded" destination.
How to forward calls only when my Verizon phone is busy?
To forward calls only when your Verizon phone is busy, dial *90[10-digit forwarding number] and press Send/Call. This activates Conditional Call Forwarding for busy lines.
How to forward calls only when I don't answer on Verizon?
To forward calls only when you don't answer your Verizon phone, dial *92[10-digit forwarding number] and press Send/Call. This activates Conditional Call Forwarding for no answer.
How to stop call forwarding on Verizon?
To stop all full-time call forwarding, dial *73 (star, seven, three) and press Send/Call. For conditional forwarding (busy or no answer), dial *900 and *920 respectively. You can also disable it through the My Verizon app or website.
How to forward texts or messages on Verizon?
Standard call forwarding only applies to voice calls. Verizon's call forwarding feature does not forward text messages. To forward text messages, you would typically need a third-party app or a service that specifically handles SMS forwarding, or manually forward individual messages.
How to forward calls to multiple numbers on Verizon?
Verizon's standard call forwarding only allows you to forward calls to one single destination number at a time. To ring multiple numbers simultaneously or sequentially, you would typically need a business-grade phone system, a virtual phone number service, or a specific call group feature, which is not part of basic call forwarding.
How to know if my Verizon phone is being forwarded?
The simplest way to check is to call your Verizon number from a different phone. If your Verizon phone doesn't ring and the call goes directly to another number, then call forwarding is active. You can also check your settings in the My Verizon app or website under "Call Settings" or "Features."
How to forward calls from a landline to a Verizon mobile?
If you have a Verizon landline, the procedure for forwarding calls from that landline would depend on the landline's service provider and its specific features. It would not use the Verizon wireless call forwarding codes. You would need to consult your landline provider's instructions or customer service.
How to use call forwarding with Verizon while roaming internationally?
While standard call forwarding can be set up before you leave for international travel, be extremely cautious. Calls forwarded to an international number will likely incur international long-distance charges for both the incoming forwarded call and the outgoing forwarded leg, potentially leading to very high bills. It's generally not recommended for international roaming. Consider using Wi-Fi calling, local SIM cards, or international roaming plans as alternatives.
