Aroha AI

How to forward only the calls you miss (US, Canada, UK, Australia)

The standard mobile codes that send unanswered, busy and unreachable calls to another number, the Verizon exception, how to set the ring time, and how to check and cancel it.

Most small businesses run on one mobile. The setting that stops calls dying in voicemail is conditional call forwarding: your phone still rings as normal, and only the calls you do not answer, the ones you decline because you are busy, and the ones that arrive while your phone is off go to another number, such as a colleague or an answering service.

This guide covers the codes that work on most mobile networks in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. You type them into your phone's dialler like a phone number, then press call. If you are in New Zealand, our guide to Spark, One NZ and 2degrees has the exact codes for those networks.

Forward the calls you miss, not every call

"Forward all calls" sends every call away and your phone never rings. That suits a holiday, not a working day. Conditional forwarding has three parts:

  • No answer: the phone rings for a set time, then the call moves on.
  • Busy: you are already on a call, or you press decline.
  • Unreachable: your phone is off, flat or out of coverage.

The standard codes (most networks)

Most GSM and LTE networks, including AT&T and T-Mobile in the US, Rogers, Bell and Telus in Canada, EE, O2, Vodafone and Three in the UK, and Telstra, Optus and Vodafone in Australia, accept the same standard codes. Replace NUMBER with the full number you are forwarding to, including the country code.

  • No answer: **61*NUMBER#
  • Unreachable: **62*NUMBER#
  • Busy: **67*NUMBER#
  • All three at once: **004*NUMBER#

To set how long your phone rings before an unanswered call moves on, use **61*NUMBER*11*20# where 20 is the number of seconds, in steps of five up to 30.

To check a setting, dial *#61# (or 62, or 67). To cancel, dial ##61#, ##62#, ##67#, or ##004# to cancel all three.

Verizon (United States)

Verizon uses its own codes instead of the standard ones:

  • Forward when busy or not answered: *71 then the 10-digit number, then call.
  • Forward every call: *72 then the 10-digit number.
  • Cancel: *73.

Verizon lists *71 as No Answer/Busy Transfer. It does not have a separate code for a phone that is switched off.

If a code is rejected

Some prepaid plans and business accounts block the codes. Two other routes usually work:

  • On Android, open the Phone app, then Settings, then Supplementary services or Calling accounts, then Call forwarding. Most phones let you set the busy, unanswered and unreachable numbers separately there.
  • On iPhone, Settings then Phone then Call Forwarding forwards every call, not just the missed ones, so use the dial codes above or ask your carrier to set conditional forwarding for you.

Landlines and VoIP numbers

Business landlines and VoIP phones handle forwarding in the provider's own portal or app. Look for a setting called forward on no answer, forward on busy, or call diversion.

Things that stop forwarding working

  • Voicemail gets there first. Voicemail is itself a no-answer forward. Setting the new code replaces it, but check with *#61# after a phone update.
  • The number is missing its country code. Use the full international form, for example +1, +44 or +61.
  • The ring time is too short. Under 15 seconds you will lose calls you were about to pick up; 20 seconds suits most people.
  • Dual SIM phones. Codes apply to the SIM that dials them, so dial from your business SIM.

Test it before you rely on it

Ask someone to ring you and let it ring out. Ring again and press decline. Then turn on flight mode and ring a third time. Each call should reach the number you forwarded to.

Where Aroha fits

Aroha gives you a number to forward to. Its receptionist answers the calls you miss in your business's name, books the work, and texts you the details. It can put a caller through to you when you are free, and it texts you about anything urgent. Switch it off any time with the cancel code.

Sources: 3GPP supplementary service codes (TS 22.030), Verizon call forwarding help, carrier call forwarding help pages.