This page explains how to forward unanswered calls from your cell phone or office line to another number, such as an answering service or an AI receptionist. You still answer when you can; the calls you miss go somewhere that picks up. It covers the codes for Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, what to know on iPhone and Android, office phones, how to test it and how to fix the usual problems.
What conditional call forwarding is
Regular call forwarding sends every call to another number, so your phone never rings. Conditional call forwarding only kicks in when you can't answer. It usually covers three situations:
- Busy: you're already on a call, or you decline the call.
- No answer: the phone rings out without you picking up.
- Unreachable: your phone is off or has no signal.
For a contractor, conditional forwarding is the one you want. You take the calls you can, and the ones you can't reach a person or a receptionist instead of your voicemail box. That matters because many callers won't leave a message: in a CallRail survey of 1,000 US consumers, only 42% said they leave a voicemail (CallRail, September 2025, vendor data).
How to forward unanswered calls on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile
Open your phone's keypad, type the code with the number you want calls sent to, and press call. Use the full 10-digit number, with no spaces or dashes.
| Carrier | Turn on | Turn off |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon | *71 + the 10-digit number (for example *71XXXXXXXXXX) | *73 |
| AT&T, T-Mobile and most GSM carriers | **004*1 + the 10-digit number + # (for example **004*1XXXXXXXXXX#) | ##004# |
On AT&T, T-Mobile and other GSM carriers, don't skip the 1 after **004* or the # at the end. On Verizon, dial *71 followed directly by the number.
On a different carrier, including prepaid and discount brands? Codes and rules vary, so check your carrier's help page or call support and ask for conditional call forwarding, or forwarding when busy or unanswered.
Setting up Taylor? You don't need to type any of this from memory. Taylor's Setup page shows the exact code with your AI number already filled in.
iPhone and Android
The carrier codes work the same on an iPhone or an Android phone, because your carrier does the forwarding, not the phone. Dial the code from the Phone app keypad and press call. Most phones show a confirmation on screen or play a short message.
Two things to watch:
- The iPhone Call Forwarding switch. The Call Forwarding setting in the iPhone's Phone settings forwards every call, not just the ones you miss. If you want to keep answering your own calls, leave that switch off and use the carrier code instead.
- Android call settings. Many Android phones have forwarding options in the Phone app's settings, sometimes with separate choices for busy, unanswered and unreachable. Menu names differ by phone maker and carrier, so the carrier code is usually the quickest route.
How to test it
- Turn it on. Dial the code and wait for the confirmation.
- Call yourself from another phone. Borrow a crew member's phone, call your cell and don't answer. Once it rings out, the call should go to the number you forwarded to. Leave a short test message.
- Try a declined call. Call again and decline it. On many phones and carriers, that sends the call on as busy.
- Try unreachable. Turn on airplane mode and call once more.
- Check the result. With Taylor, the lead email arrives right after the test call, and the call shows up in your dashboard.
If a test call lands in your voicemail instead, work through the fixes below.
Office lines and business phone apps
If calls come in on an office line or a business phone app rather than a cell, the carrier codes above may not apply. Look in the phone system's settings or admin portal for call forwarding or call handling, and set "forward when busy or no answer" to the number you want. If several phones ring first, set the forward for when nobody in the group picks up.
Traditional landlines may have their own forwarding codes. Check your phone company's help page or call support.
Common problems and fixes
Voicemail answers before the forward
Your carrier's voicemail can pick up before an unanswered call has a chance to forward. Two fixes: ask your carrier to reduce the number of rings before the call forwards, or turn off carrier voicemail so the forward catches the call instead.
The code doesn't work
Check that you used the full 10-digit number, included the 1 and the # on the GSM code, and dialed from the phone whose calls you want forwarded. Some plans restrict call forwarding, so if the code still fails, check with your carrier.
Every call forwards, even when you're free
You've probably turned on regular forwarding instead of conditional. On an iPhone, make sure the Call Forwarding switch in settings is off, then dial the conditional code again.
You want to turn it off
Dial *73 on Verizon, or ##004# on AT&T, T-Mobile and most GSM carriers.
Forwarding your missed calls to Taylor
Taylor, the AI receptionist from AI Bot Store, gets a local phone number, in your area code when one is available, and the number is usually ready within a few minutes of signing up. You keep your own number and forward only the calls you miss. Taylor answers them 24/7, takes a complete message and emails you the lead right after the call, with a one-tap Call back button.