Verizon call forwarding: every code and how to use them
To forward calls on Verizon, dial star 72 followed by the ten-digit number you want calls sent to, press call, and stay on the line until you hear two beeps. From that moment every call to your Verizon number rings the destination instead. To turn forwarding off, dial star 73 and wait for the same confirmation. Verizon also supports no-answer forwarding with star 71, which lets your phone ring first and only redirects the calls you do not pick up, and both features can be managed from the My Verizon app if you prefer taps to dial codes. The codes work the same on consumer and business lines, and Fios Digital Voice uses the identical star 72 and star 73 pair from the handset. Forwarding is included on most plans, though forwarded calls use plan minutes where minutes still apply.
Forward all calls (*72 [number])
- 1Open the Phone app on your Verizon phone
- 2Dial *72 [number], using the full ten-digit destination number
- 3Press the call button and stay on the line
- 4You'll hear two beeps when forwarding is active.
- 5Make a test call to your Verizon number from another phone to confirm it lands at the destination
Turn forwarding off (*73)
- 1Dial *73 from the same phone
- 2Wait for the confirmation beeps, then hang up
- 3Call your number from another phone to confirm it rings normally again
The codes at a glance
| What it does | Turn on | Turn off | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward all calls | *72 [number] | *73 | Immediate: your phone stops ringing entirely |
| Forward when unanswered | *71 [number] | *73 | Your phone rings first; missed calls redirect |
The difference between *72 and *71 on Verizon
Star 72 is unconditional: the moment it is active, your phone never rings and everything goes straight to the destination. That is the right mode when you are unreachable for a stretch, a vacation, a venue with no signal, or a second line you have retired.
Star 71 is the one most businesses actually want. Your phone rings first, and only the calls you do not answer get redirected. Your team picks up when they can, and the overflow, which used to become voicemail, goes somewhere that can still help the caller. Both modes are cancelled by the same star 73 code.
Verizon forwarding on a business line or Fios
Fios Digital Voice and most Verizon business lines use the same star 72 and star 73 pair dialed from the handset, and add an online path: the voice settings in your Verizon account dashboard can set, change, or clear forwarding without touching the phone, which matters when the handset itself is somewhere you are not.
One habit worth building for a business line: after any change, always place a test call from a different phone. Thirty seconds of testing catches the mistyped destination digit that would otherwise send a week of customers to a stranger.
Troubleshooting Verizon call forwarding
If star 72 seems to do nothing, make sure the call actually connected: Verizon activates forwarding when the setup call completes, so hanging up before the beeps cancels the change. If the destination number is busy or invalid, activation fails silently, so dial the destination directly first to confirm it rings.
If calls still forward after star 73, restart the phone and repeat the code. And if you hear fast busy tones on the setup call, forwarding may be restricted on your specific plan, which support can lift.
What happens to your voicemail while forwarding is on
With star 72 active, your Verizon voicemail never gets the chance to answer, because calls leave your line before it rings. Whatever answers at the destination takes over, including the destination number’s own voicemail. That surprises people who forward to a rarely-checked line and then wonder where their messages went: they are sitting in the other number’s mailbox. With star 71, unanswered calls redirect instead of reaching your voicemail, so the same rule applies to exactly the calls you miss.
Forward to a number that answers itself
Every option above moves your calls to another phone that still needs a human on the end of it. There is a third destination: an AI answering service. You keep your Verizon number exactly as it is, dial star 71 once, and the calls your team cannot reach are answered in your business name, booked into your calendar, and summarized to your phone, instead of becoming voicemails that mostly never turn into callbacks.
Questions
- What is the Verizon call forwarding code?
- Dial star 72 followed by the destination number to forward all calls on Verizon, and star 73 to turn forwarding off. For no-answer forwarding, where your phone rings first and only missed calls redirect, use star 71 followed by the number. Wait for the confirmation beeps on every code before hanging up.
- Why is my Verizon call forwarding not working?
- The usual cause is hanging up before the confirmation beeps, because Verizon only activates forwarding once the setup call completes. Check that the destination number is dialable by calling it directly, then repeat the star 72 call and stay on the line. If forwarding will not switch off with star 73, restart the phone and dial it again.
- Does Verizon charge for call forwarding?
- Call forwarding is included on most current Verizon plans, with no separate monthly fee for the feature itself. Forwarded calls use plan minutes where a plan still meters minutes, and forwarding to international destinations is typically restricted. Verizon prepaid plans can differ, so check the plan details if you are on prepaid.
- Can I set up Verizon call forwarding remotely?
- Yes. The My Verizon app and the account dashboard on the web can manage call forwarding without dialing anything from the handset, which is the practical route when the phone is lost, dead, or sitting at the shop while you are elsewhere.
Forward to a number that answers itself
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It calls the customers you already have when they are overdue, and books them back in. That is the part nobody else does.
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