Knowing how to forward Verizon phone calls is a simple yet incredibly powerful skill that can ensure you never miss an important conversation. Whether you need to forward your Verizon phone because you’re traveling, dealing with a dead battery, or simply want to consolidate your work and personal lines, Verizon call forwarding provides a seamless solution. This feature allows you to automatically redirect incoming calls from your Verizon number to another phone, be it a landline, a different mobile phone, or an office line.
In this definitive guide, you will learn everything you need to know about how to forward calls on Verizon Wireless, Fios, and business lines. We will cover the step-by-step process for activation, explain the different types of forwarding, clarify any potential costs, and provide solutions to common problems. By the end, you’ll be able to manage your calls like a pro and ensure you’re always reachable, no matter the situation.
The Core Explanation: What is Verizon Call Forwarding?
At its most basic, Verizon call forwarding is a network service that reroutes incoming calls from your phone to another number of your choice. When someone dials your Verizon number, instead of your phone ringing, the call is instantly sent to the destination number you’ve designated. This process is invisible to the person calling you; they simply get connected to you on the other line.
The benefits are immediate and practical. You can forward a Verizon phone to stay connected when your primary device is off, out of service range, or damaged. For business professionals, learning how to set up call forwarding on Verizon is essential for managing client calls after hours or during meetings. It offers flexibility, reliability, and peace of mind.
Understanding the Two Types of Call Forwarding
A common point of confusion is the difference between the two main modes of call forwarding Verizon offers. Choosing the right one is key to getting the result you want.
Immediate Call Forwarding (Unconditional)
This is the most straightforward option. When you activate Immediate Call Forwarding, all incoming calls are sent directly to your chosen number without your Verizon phone ever ringing. It’s an absolute divert, perfect for when you know your primary phone will be completely unavailable. The code to activate this on a Verizon cell phone is *72.
Conditional Call Forwarding (No Answer/Busy)
This is the smarter, more flexible choice for many situations. With Conditional Call Forwarding, your primary Verizon phone rings first. If you don’t answer after a few rings or if your line is busy, the call is then forwarded to the other number instead of going to your Verizon voicemail. This is ideal for creating a backup, ensuring that a missed call on your mobile can be caught by a colleague or on your home phone. The code for this type of Verizon call forward is *71.
The Deep Dive: Why and When to Forward Your Calls
The practical applications for forwarding calls on Verizon are vast. From personal convenience to professional necessity, this feature adapts to your life.
Practical Scenarios for Call Forwarding
- Travel: Avoid expensive roaming charges by forwarding your mobile to a local number or hotel phone.
- Poor Signal Areas: If your home or office is a known dead zone, forward your Verizon phone number to a landline or Wi-Fi calling number to ensure call reliability.
- Device Consolidation: If you carry two phones, you can forward calls from one Verizon phone to the other and only have to monitor a single device.
- Business Continuity: Small business owners can set up call forwarding from their main office line to a mobile phone to handle after-hours emergencies or client inquiries.
- Vacation Coverage: An employee can forward their Verizon calls to a coworker to ensure seamless client support while they are out of the office.
Costs and Important Rules
For most modern Verizon plans, the call forwarding feature is included at no extra monthly charge. However, it’s crucial to understand two things:
- Airtime Usage: You are billed for the airtime of forwarded calls just as if you answered them on your Verizon phone. If you have an unlimited plan, this won’t be an issue. If you have a limited-minute plan, the duration of the forwarded call will be deducted from your monthly allowance.
- No International Forwarding: You cannot use Verizon phone forwarding to redirect calls to an international number. The destination must be a standard 10-digit US phone number.
To set up the feature using star codes, you must be within the Verizon network coverage area. You cannot activate or forward a number on Verizon while roaming.
Clearing Up Confusion: Common Myths Debunked
There are a few common misconceptions about how Verizon forward calls works. Let’s clear them up.
Myth 1: “Call Forwarding is the same as Simultaneous Ring.”
These are different features. Call forwarding is sequential: a call comes to Phone A, and if unanswered, it then goes to Phone B. Simultaneous Ring, a feature primarily found on Verizon’s business services like One Talk, is parallel: a call comes in and rings Phone A, Phone B, and Phone C all at the same time.
Myth 2: “I need my phone to manage call forwarding.”
While using the star codes from your handset is the fastest method, it’s not the only one. You can log in to the My Verizon website to manage your settings remotely. This is especially useful if your phone is lost or broken. Note that the ability to manage call forwarding was removed from the My Verizon mobile app, so you must use the full desktop site or call customer service.
Myth 3: “Forwarding calls also forwards my text messages.”
This is false. Verizon call forwarding is for voice calls only. It does not affect SMS or MMS messages. To manage texts across multiple devices, you need to use the Verizon Messages (Message+) application.
Practical Advice: How to Forward Calls on Verizon
Here are the clear, step-by-step instructions for every type of Verizon service.
How to Forward Calls on Verizon Wireless (Mobile Phones)
These steps work for both iPhone and Android devices.
To Activate Immediate Call Forwarding (*72)
- Open your phone’s dialer.
- Dial *72 followed immediately by the 10-digit phone number you want to forward calls to (e.g., *725551234567).
- Press the Call button. You will hear a confirmation tone, and the call will end. All your calls are now being forwarded.
To Activate Conditional Call Forwarding (*71)
- Open your phone’s dialer.
- Dial *71 followed by the 10-digit forwarding number (e.g., *715551234567).
- Press the Call button and listen for the confirmation.
To Deactivate All Call Forwarding
- Open your dialer.
- Dial *73 and press Call.
- A confirmation tone will indicate that forwarding calls on Verizon has been turned off.
How to Forward Verizon Fios Home Phone Calls
For Verizon Fios call forwarding, you can use your home phone or the online portal.
Using Star Codes from Your Home Phone
- Lift the receiver and press *72.
- Listen for a new dial tone, then enter the 10-digit number.
- If the call is answered at the other end, the feature is active. If not, hang up and repeat the process within two minutes to force activation.
- To deactivate, press *73.
Using the My Verizon Website
Logging into your My Verizon account online gives you more powerful options, such as setting up a schedule to automatically forward phone calls on Verizon only during certain hours or forwarding calls from only specific numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I check if call forwarding is active on my Verizon phone? The easiest way is to call your own number from another phone. If it rings at the forwarded destination, it’s active. You can also check the settings on the My Verizon website.
Can I forward my Verizon calls to a Google Voice number? Yes. This is a popular use case. Simply use the *71 code followed by your Google Voice number to integrate your voicemails.
What happens if the number I forward calls to is busy? The call will be handled by that second number’s settings, meaning it will likely go to that line’s voicemail, not back to your original Verizon voicemail.
Why is Conditional Call Forwarding not working on my iPhone? This is a known issue with iOS 17’s “Live Voicemail” feature. The iPhone software “answers” the call to transcribe the voicemail, which prevents the Verizon network from forwarding it. To fix this, you must go to your iPhone’s Settings > Phone > Live Voicemail and turn the feature OFF. After doing so, the *71 call forwarding for your iPhone on Verizon should work correctly.
Can I still make outgoing calls when forwarding is on? Yes. Verizon call forwarding only affects incoming calls. Your ability to make outgoing calls is unchanged.
Conclusion
Mastering how to forward a Verizon cell phone or home phone is an essential skill for managing modern communications. By understanding the difference between immediate (*72) and conditional (*71) forwarding, you can tailor the service to fit your exact needs, ensuring you never miss a critical call. Whether you’re looking to forward Verizon iPhone calls while on vacation or set up a backup for your business line, the tools are simple and effective.
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