Forward Calls on iOS can be a very useful feature when you want calls to your iPhone to ring on another phone number. Whether you want to forward calls when you’re traveling, can’t answer calls on your iPhone, or just want the flexibility to take calls on multiple devices, call forwarding is easy to set up and manage on iOS.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about call forwarding on iPhone, including:
- What is call forwarding and how does it work?
- Benefits of using call forwarding on iPhone
- Step-by-step instructions to set up call forwarding
- Managing and turning off call forwarding
- Tips for troubleshooting call forwarding problems
- Additional call forwarding features in iOS
After reading, you’ll be a call forwarding pro, able to easily forward calls from your iPhone to any other phone number. Let’s get started!
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What is Call Forwarding and How Does It Work?
Call forwarding on iOS allows you to forward or redirect incoming calls on your iPhone to a different phone number. When call forwarding is enabled, any calls made to your iPhone will automatically be forwarded to the other number you specified.
For example, you could forward calls from your iPhone to your home landline when you’re at work or traveling. Or you could forward calls to your spouse’s cell phone if you can’t answer calls on your iPhone.
Call forwarding redirects calls before they actually reach your iPhone. So your iPhone won’t ring when you have call forwarding enabled – the call will go straight to the forwarded number.
The basic process behind call forwarding works like this:
- You enable call forwarding on your iPhone and specify the phone number you want calls forwarded to.
- When someone calls your iPhone, the network identifies that call forwarding is enabled.
- Instead of routing the call to your iPhone, the network forwards the call to the number you specified.
- The call rings on the forwarded number, allowing you to answer on that phone.
- Your iPhone never actually rings, so you won’t miss the call!
This allows you to receive calls intended for your iPhone on nearly any other phone number you choose. Now let’s look at some of the benefits of using call forwarding.
Benefits of Using Call Forwarding on iOS
Here are some of the top benefits and use cases of using call forwarding on your iPhone:
- Take calls anywhere – Forward calls to where you are located, whether at home, work, or traveling, so you never miss important calls.
- Use multiple phones – Forward iPhone calls to your landline or another cell phone to use multiple phones for calls.
- Avoid missing calls – Divert calls to another number if you can’t answer your iPhone.
- Separate work & personal calls – Forward work calls to a business line and personal calls to a home or cell number.
- Temporary redirection – Temporarily redirect calls when you’re away from your iPhone and don’t have cell service.
- Manage missed calls – Cut down on missed calls by allowing other numbers to take messages.
- Emergency access – Give emergency contacts temporary access to your incoming calls if your iPhone is lost, damaged, or unreachable.
- Flexibility – The ability to forward calls anywhere, anytime provides maximum flexibility in how you handle calls.
As you can see, call forwarding brings a lot of versatility to managing your incoming iPhone calls. Next we’ll walk through how to set up call forwarding on your iPhone.
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Call Forwarding on iOS
Setting up call forwarding on iOS is simple and only takes a few steps. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough:
1. Open Settings
Tap on the Settings app icon on your iPhone’s home screen to open Settings.
2. Go to Phone Settings
In Settings, scroll down and tap “Phone” to open your iPhone’s phone settings.
3. Tap Call Forwarding
Under the list of options, tap “Call Forwarding” to open the call forwarding menu.
4. Toggle Call Forwarding On
Tap the switch next to “Call Forwarding” to turn on the feature. The switch will turn green when enabled.
5. Enter Forward To Number
Under “Forward To” tap the contact field and enter the phone number you want calls forwarded to.
6. Select Forwarding Options
Tap the “Forward To” number to configure special call forwarding options like only forwarding calls from certain contacts or forwarding calls after a set number of rings.
7. Tap the Back Button
Once you’ve entered the number and set any additional options, tap the back button in the top left corner to return to the Phone settings.
8. Verify Call Forwarding is Enabled
Double check that the “Call Forwarding” switch is green and enabled. This confirms the feature is now turned on.
And that’s all there is to it! With just those few simple steps, any calls to your iPhone will now be forwarded to the number you entered.
It’s a good idea to test that call forwarding is working correctly. You can do this by calling your iPhone from another phone and verifying that it forwards properly. Now let’s go over some tips for managing call forwarding.
Managing and Turning Off Call Forwarding on iPhone
Once you’ve set up call forwarding, you’ll also want to know how to manage the settings and turn it off when you no longer want calls forwarded:
- Change the forwarded number – To change the number calls are forwarded to, go back to the Call Forwarding menu in Settings and enter a new number.
- Disable call forwarding – If you no longer want calls forwarded, simply toggle the Call Forwarding switch to off/gray. This will stop forwarding calls.
- Set a time limit – You can limit call forwarding to only a certain period of time, like when traveling. After the time limit, call forwarding turns off automatically.
- Forward only certain calls – Use options like “Forward When Busy” or “Forward When Unanswered” to only forward specific types of calls.
- Send calls to multiple numbers – String together multiple forwarding numbers to ring different phones sequentially when you have an incoming call.
- Get forwarding alerts – Enable alerts each time a call is forwarded so you know when the feature is active.
Properly managing your call forwarding settings ensures calls only get forwarded when and how you want them to be.
Troubleshooting Call Forwarding Problems on iPhone
In some cases, you may run into issues getting call forwarding to work correctly on your iPhone. Here are some common call forwarding problems and fixes:
Calls not forwarding:
- Check that the Call Forwarding switch is toggled on in Settings > Phone.
- Confirm the phone number entered is correct.
- Try resetting the network settings on your iPhone.
Can’t receive calls:
- Make sure Do Not Disturb is disabled, which will block forwarded calls.
- Verify cellular data is enabled if forwarding to another cell number.
Call quality issues:
- Calls may sound choppy or distorted when forwarded. Try enabling Wi-Fi calling to improve quality.
Long delay before forwarding:
- Turn off options like “Forward After 3 Rings” if calls have a long delay before forwarding.
Unwanted forwarding:
- Disable call forwarding when not needed to avoid accidentally forwarding calls.
Calls still ring on iPhone:
- If your iPhone still rings, call forwarding may not be properly enabled. Double check the Forwarding settings.
Following basic troubleshooting tips like these will help resolve most call forwarding problems. Contact your mobile carrier if issues persist.
Additional Call Forwarding Features in iOS
Beyond the basics, there are a few additional call forwarding features supported by iOS that can provide more flexible call handling:
- Conditional forwarding – Only forward calls in certain scenarios like when you are on another call or your phone is turned off.
- Call forwarding when unreachable – Automatically forward calls over Wi-Fi when your iPhone has no cellular connection.
- International call forwarding – Forward calls when traveling internationally without paying expensive roaming charges.
- Visual voicemail – View and manage voicemails left on your forwarded number right from your iPhone.
- Temporary suspend call forwarding – Temporarily disable call forwarding for a short time without turning off the whole feature.
- Call forwarding with Apple Watch – Forward calls from Apple Watch in conjunction with your iPhone.
Make sure to contact your mobile carrier to enable any of these additional call forwarding options not standardly included with iOS.
Conclusion: Forward Calls Seamlessly with Your iPhone
That covers everything you need to know to master call forwarding with your iPhone!
With the ability to easily redirect your iPhone’s calls to virtually any number, you’ll never have to worry about missing important calls again. Whether you want the flexibility to take calls on multiple devices or need to forward calls temporarily when traveling, call forwarding has you covered.
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