Call forwarding not showing up on iphone

Setting up call forwarding on an iPhone in the U.S. depends on which carrier you're on; the rules are different for Verizon and Sprint versus AT&T and T-Mobile. The reasons for this difference are technical, but all you need to know is that you can choose from two setup methods based on the service provider. In either case, enabling call forwarding is quick and easy.

Call Forwarding for AT&T and T-Mobile

If your cellular service account is with AT&T or T-Mobile, you set up call forwarding in the iPhone's Settings app by following these steps:

  • Tap the Settings icon on the iPhone home screen.
  • Scroll down to Phone and tap it.
  • Tap Call Forwarding.
  • Turn Call Forwarding on by moving the slider next to it to the On/green position. 
  • Tap Forward To and use the virtual keypad to enter the number to send your calls to.
  • If your iPhone has dual SIM cards, choose a line.
  • Tap Call Forwarding at the top of the screen to save the change and return to the previous screen. 

You can see the number you entered next to Forward To. Also, a tiny phone handset icon appears in the status bar at the top of the screen next to the provider name to remind you that call forwarding is active.

Call Forwarding for Verizon, Sprint and U.S. Cellular

Call forwarding options do not appear in Settings for Verizon, Sprint and U.S. Cellular users.

For Sprint, U.S. Cellular and Verizon call forwarding:

  1. Tap the Phone icon and then tap the keypad to dial a number. 
  2. Enter *72 followed by the number of the phone you want calls forwarded to. 
  3. Press the Call button. 
  4. Listen for a tone or message confirming that call forwarding is in effect. For example, to forward calls to 1-555-555-1234, dial *7215555551234.

Code Setup for AT&T and T-Mobile

AT&T and T-Mobile also have call-forwarding codes you can dial from the phone keypad if you prefer that method, although each company uses different codes. For T-Mobile accounts, enter *21 followed by the number you want to send your calls to. If you use AT&T, dial 72* followed by the new phone number. Listen for the confirmation tone or message. For example, to forward your calls to 1 (555) 555-1234 on a T-Mobile account, dial 21*15555551234.

Using Call Forwarding

Call forwarding is automatic once you turn on the feature and enter a number to direct your calls to. All calls go right to the new number. You don't need to do anything with the iPhone until you decide to turn call forwarding off.

Disable Call Forwarding

You cancel call forwarding by following the same approach used for setting it up in the first place. Turn the feature off in the Phone section of the Settings app if you used the app to turn it on. If you instead used the 72 code, dial 73* with no phone number afterward to turn off call forwarding. To cancel T-mobile call forwarding enabled with the 21 code, use ##21#. Listen for the tone or message that verifies call forwarding is off. Your calls now come to your iPhone as usual.

Call forwarding is a useful feature that enables you to easily redirects your call to another cellular network. Is call forwarding on your iPhone not working properly? Keep reading this write-up to find out why the iPhone call forwarding is not working and what you can do to fix it.

Why Is My Call Forwarding Not Working on My iPhone?

Here are some of the usual causes behind the iPhone call forwarding not working issue:

  • In most cases, the call forwarding feature gets interrupted because of the wrong settings. In this case, you will get the calls on the primary device, but they will not be redirected to the destination device.

  • It can occur because of an error where you will not receive the calls, but the call history will be forwarded to the voicemail. That means something is wrong with the call forwarding feature on your device.

  • Sometimes system glitches and errors can also lead to this error. Especially if you are using an old iOS version, there are more chances of this error.

1. Check iPhone Call Forwarding Settings

The first thing to do is to inspect the call forwarding settings on your iPhone. Make sure it is turned on. If you find the settings turned on but still not working, consider turning it off and turning it on again. Here is how to do so:

  • Go to Settings of your iPhone and press the Phone icon.

  • Find the Call Forwarding option and disable it.

  • Wait for 60 seconds, and enable it again. Then select the desired number when the Forward to option occur.

Call forwarding not showing up on iphone

2. Manual Activate Call Forwarding with *72

This trick may work for you to activate call forwarding while the settings on the phone don't work. Here are the steps:

  • Press *72 when you apprehend the dial tone.

  • You should hear a stuttering dial tone and then a standard dial tone.

  • Now call the destination number where you want to receive the calls.

  • Hang up the calls when the call is received.

That's it; the destination number should receive the forwarded calls now.

3. Turn Off LTE on iPhone

If you are using LTE, it can also affect the call forwarding. Especially when the LTE network is very weak or unstable. Consider turning off LTE following the below steps:

  • Open Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options.

  • Press on Voice & Data.

  • Toggle off the switch beside VoLTE.

Call forwarding not showing up on iphone

4. Restart WiFi and Cellular Data

Sometimes minor glitches in the wireless networks like WiFi, Cellular Data, and Bluetooth can malfunction the call forwarding settings. Go to Settings and turn off the switches for WiFi, mobile data, and Bluetooth. Turn them on again after a minute.

5. Turn Airplane Mode On and Off

Switching on and off the Airplane mode can freshly restart all the network settings on the device. If the problem is occurring because of the network settings, turning on and off the airplane mode might help.

To do this, bring up the Control Panel by swiping up the screen. Then press on the Airplane mode icon to turn it on. After a few seconds, press on it again to switch it off.

Call forwarding not showing up on iphone

6. Restart Your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone can fix many issues on the device by freshly starting all the running instances again.

If you are using a newer iPhone device starting from iPhone X, press and hold either the volume button + side button for a few seconds to bring up the sliders. Drag the slider to turn off and press the Side button after 60 seconds to restart.

Call forwarding not showing up on iphone

Hold the side button for the older iPhone devices to get the slider, and then drag it to turn off. Then, press the side button and hold after a minute to restart.

7. Reset Network Settings

If none of the solutions work, consider resetting the network settings. Here is how to do so:

  • Browse Settings > General.

  • Then go to Reset > Reset Network Settings.

  • On the popup, tap on Reset Network Settings again to confirm.

Call forwarding not showing up on iphone

8. Fix iOS System Problems

If you still cannot sort out the issue with a network reset, maybe reparing the iOS software on the iPhone is your last resort. In this case, you can use a professional tool like FoneGeek iOS System Recovery. It enables you to quickly fix all the system errors and bugs within a short time efficiently. This tool works well with the latest iOS 16 and iPhone 14/13 models, and you device data won’t be affected.

Call forwarding not showing up on iphone
   
Call forwarding not showing up on iphone

Let's see how to employ the FoneGeek iOS System Recovery tool to fix the issues:

Step 1: Download, install and launch the FoneGeek iOS System Recovery on your Windows/Mac PC. Press Standard Mode from its homepage.

Call forwarding not showing up on iphone

Step 2: Connect your iPhone to the PC through a lightning cable. If the device is running on iOS 12 or up, unlock the screen and tap on Next. If the program does not detect the iPhone, consider booting into the Recovery/DFU mode following on-screen instructions.

Call forwarding not showing up on iphone

Step 3: You will find all the iOS firmware packages on the FoneGeek app available for your iPhone. Pick the preferred one and press Download.

Call forwarding not showing up on iphone

Step 4: The download should be completed within a while. After that, press Fix Now on the app to begin fixing the issue. Once completed, your device will restart and return to its normal state.

Call forwarding not showing up on iphone

9. Ask for Apple Support

Sometimes a hardware issue can also prevent the iPhone from forwarding the calls. In this case, you will need to contact with Apple Support. They will inspect the device and acknowledge you about the solution. Again, you might get it fixed free of charge if your iPhone is still under warranty.

10. Contact Carrier Support

Sometimes the issue can be with the carrier support. You can also contact them about the issue and see if they can help you to solve it.

FAQs about Call Forwarding on iPhone

Q1. Does Call Forwarding Really Work?

Yes, call forwarding works on all iOS devices as long as you have set it correctly. If it didn’t work even when you set it correctly, consider trying the above fixes.

Q2. How to Enable Call Forwarding on iPhone?

Go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding. Toggle on the switch of Call Forwarding and set the number where you want to forward by pressing "Forward to."

Q3. Is There a Way to Setup Call Forwarding When My iPhone is Unreachable?

Unfortunately, you cannot set up call forwarding when you physically don't have access to the device. There is no way to set it up wirelessly.

The Bottom Line

Try the above solutions one by one if the call forwarding feature is not working on your iPhone. Also, if your device has other issues, including call forwarding not working, consider utilizing the FoneGeek iOS System Recovery to get it fixed quickly and easily.

Call forwarding not showing up on iphone

As a professional writer who is interested in technology, Edwin J. Parke has helped thousands of users by offering various tips to solve their problems.

Call forwarding not showing up on iphone
Home>iPhone Issues>Top 10 Tips to Fix iPhone Call Forwarding Not Working

Why can't I find Call Forwarding on iPhone?

If you don't have it as an option your carrier has not provisioned it on your account. You need to contact your carrier and ask them to add it. Not all carriers support call forwarding, and some of the ones that do don't let you manage it; you have to call them to set it up and again to take it down.

Why does Call Forwarding not happen?

Troubleshooting Call Forwarding Try these tips if you're having trouble getting Call Forwarding to work: Confirm the feature is turned on by dialing *72. You'll hear a fast busy tone if it's active, and a normal dial tone if it's off. You cannot forward calls to hotels, motels, pay phones or prisons.