Call forwarding (also called call divert) redirects incoming calls from one number to another — your reception landline to a mobile, a personal SIM to an office line, or a desk phone to wherever you actually are. Every Indian carrier supports it, and on most networks it takes under a minute to switch on. Here is every method in one place: phone settings, universal GSM codes, and carrier-specific codes for Airtel and BSNL.
Quick Reference
| Where | Turn On | Turn Off |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Settings → Phone → Call Forwarding | Toggle off |
| Android | Phone app → Settings → Call Forwarding | Disable / Turn off |
| Most Indian SIMs (GSM) | *21*<10-digit number># | ##21# |
| Airtel | *21*<10-digit number># | ##21# |
| BSNL Mobile | **21*<10-digit number># | ##21# |
| BSNL Landline | Dial 114 + <10-digit number> | Dial 115 |
Enable Call Forwarding on an iPhone
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Apps, then select Phone.
- Tap Call Forwarding.
- Toggle the switch on and enter the number you want to forward calls to.
Enable Call Forwarding on an Android Phone
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and select Settings.
- Go to Calling Accounts or Supplementary Services (the name varies by device).
- Tap Call Forwarding.
- Choose Always forward, or set conditional rules — forward when busy, unanswered, or unreachable.
- Enter the destination number and tap Enable or Turn on.
Universal Carrier Codes
If you prefer the dial pad over settings menus, GSM networks support standard codes. They vary slightly by carrier, but these work on most Indian networks:
- Activate: dial *72 (or *21*<10-digit number># on most Indian networks), then press Call.
- Deactivate: dial *73 (or ##21#), then press Call.
- Check status: dial *#21#.
Airtel Call Forwarding Codes
Replace <10-digit number> with the mobile number you want to divert calls to, and press the call button after dialing:
| Forwarding Type | Activate | Deactivate | Check Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| All calls (unconditional) | *21*<10-digit number># | ##21# | *#21# |
| When busy | *67*<10-digit number># | ##67# | *#67# |
| When unanswered | *61*<10-digit number># | ##61# | *#61# |
| When unreachable | *62*<10-digit number># | ##62# | *#62# |
| Cancel all forwards | — | ##002# | — |
BSNL Mobile Call Forwarding Codes
BSNL uses a double-star prefix for activation. Dial these from your phone's dial pad:
| Forwarding Type | Activate | Deactivate |
|---|---|---|
| All calls (unconditional) | **21*<10-digit number># | ##21# |
| When busy | **67*<10-digit number># | ##67# |
| When unanswered | **61*<10-digit number># | ##61# |
| When unreachable | **62*<10-digit number># | ##62# |
BSNL Landline Call Forwarding
Landline forwarding works from the phone instrument itself. Make sure the 'phone plus' service is enabled at your local exchange first.
- Turn on: lift the receiver, dial 114 followed by the target number (include the STD code if needed), and wait for the acceptance tone.
- Turn off: lift the receiver, dial 115, and wait for the confirmation tone.
Troubleshooting: The Code Hangs Up and Nothing Gets Forwarded
On some SIM cards, dialing the activation code hangs up immediately and forwarding never switches on. This is almost always a 5G problem — call forwarding is set up over the older network layers, and it does not work while your phone is locked to 5G. Airtel, for example, has historically fallen back to 2G just to configure forwarding.
- Disable any existing forwarding first and clear it: dial ##002#.
- Open Settings → Mobile Network and switch your preferred network type from 5G to 4G/3G/2G.
- If your network mode is set to "4G/5G only", change it — the phone needs to be able to drop to an older network to register the forwarding rule.
- Dial the activation code again. Once you hear or see the confirmation, you can switch back to 5G — the forwarding rule stays active.
When Codes Are Not Enough
Dial codes forward everything to one number. If you need smarter routing — office hours to reception, after-hours to a mobile, a queue when everyone is busy — that is what a cloud phone system does. AstraDial turns your existing landline and SIM numbers into a cloud phone with routing rules, call logs, and recordings, with no new hardware.
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