How to Set Up Call Forwarding on iPhone for Business Use
iPhone exposes a native Call Forwarding menu in Settings → Phone, but the menu only appears on GSM-network carriers. Behavior varies by carrier; the setting works identically once the menu is visible. Forwarding to an AI-enabled number turns every missed call into a transcript and notification you can act on in seconds.
By Graham Thomson · Updated May 13, 2026
The short answer for iPhone
Open Settings → Phone → Call Forwarding. Toggle on. Enter the destination number. The setting persists until you toggle it off or change the destination. Works on most GSM carrier iPhones (AT&T, T-Mobile, Rogers, Bell, Telus). CDMA-network iPhones (some older Verizon plans) require carrier-side feature codes instead.
- Settings → Phone → Call Forwarding (Call Forwarding menu).
- Toggle Call Forwarding to ON.
- Enter the 10-digit destination number.
- Setting persists until manually disabled.
- If the menu doesn't appear, your carrier requires feature codes — see the per-carrier guides linked below.
Step-by-step on iPhone
The native iOS Call Forwarding menu is the cleanest way to configure forwarding on a GSM iPhone. The setting is stored on the carrier side, not on the device — so it survives device reboots and iOS updates.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Phone.
- Tap Call Forwarding (if visible — see notes below if it isn't).
- Toggle Call Forwarding to ON.
- Tap Forward To and enter the 10-digit destination number.
- Return to the Phone settings — the green toggle confirms the setting is active.
When the Call Forwarding menu doesn't appear
Some carriers and plan types don't expose the iOS Call Forwarding menu. This is most common on Verizon iPhones with CDMA-era plans, on prepaid plans, and on certain MVNOs. When the menu is hidden, you need to use the carrier's feature codes from the Phone keypad instead.
- Verizon postpaid/legacy CDMA: use *72 + destination from the dialer. *73 disables.
- AT&T: use *72 + destination from the dialer (or the iOS menu on GSM plans).
- T-Mobile / Rogers / Bell / Telus (GSM): use **21*[destination]# from the dialer when the menu is hidden.
- MVNOs: check the carrier's support docs — many use the same GSM codes as the underlying network.
What to forward to — an AI-enabled number
A VeraDial number is a useful destination because it adds an AI layer in front of the call: VeraDial answers, identifies itself as an AI assistant for your business, captures the caller's intent in their own words, and delivers a transcript and notification within seconds.
- VeraDial number with STIR/SHAKEN A-level attestation on the receiving side.
- AI call screening for emergency vs. routine triage.
- Voicemail transcription on captured messages.
- $9.99/mo per line, 100 monthly credits included, 7-day free trial.
iOS Focus modes and call forwarding
iOS Focus modes (Do Not Disturb, Sleep Focus, Work Focus, custom Focuses) silence inbound calls on the device but do not forward them — the call still goes to your voicemail. Call Forwarding is a carrier-side setting that routes the call before it ever rings your iPhone. The two are complementary: set Call Forwarding to an AI-enabled number for actual handling, and use Focus modes to control how your iPhone behaves when you're available.
FAQ
Why is the Call Forwarding menu missing from my iPhone Settings → Phone?
The iOS Call Forwarding menu appears only when the underlying carrier exposes the feature through GSM control codes that iOS can read. Some Verizon plans (legacy CDMA-era), some prepaid plans, and certain MVNOs don't expose the feature this way. In those cases, you use the carrier's star codes from the dialer instead — most commonly *72/*73 (Verizon, AT&T landline) or **21*/##21# (T-Mobile, Rogers, Bell, Telus, most GSM networks).
Will forwarding from my iPhone show the original caller's number?
When your carrier forwards a call to the destination, the destination typically receives the original caller's number as the caller ID — not your iPhone's number. For a VeraDial line on the receiving end, this means the AI can identify who is calling you and capture that in the transcript, even though the call routed via your iPhone's carrier forwarding.
Does iPhone call forwarding work over Wi-Fi or only on cellular?
Call Forwarding is a carrier-side feature — it happens on the network, not on your iPhone. As long as your carrier line is active and your phone is reachable on the carrier network (cellular or Wi-Fi calling), the forwarding routes correctly. If your iPhone is powered off or out of service, most carriers still forward based on the configured rule.
Can I forward only when my iPhone is busy or doesn't answer?
Yes, but not from the basic iOS Call Forwarding menu — that menu only handles unconditional forwarding (always forward). For conditional forwarding (busy / no-answer), use the carrier's feature codes from the dialer: **61*[destination]*11*[seconds]# for no-answer on GSM networks, **67*[destination]# for busy. See the per-carrier guides linked below for the exact codes on your network.
Does Call Forwarding use my iPhone's cellular minutes?
The forwarded leg (your iPhone's carrier number → the destination) counts as an outbound call on your carrier plan for billing purposes. If you have a capped minutes plan, those minutes apply. Unlimited-minutes plans aren't affected. Most modern business plans include unlimited domestic minutes, so the practical answer for most users is no extra cost.
Hear an AI call happen live.
Pick a scenario, verify by SMS, and watch the transcript stream as VeraDial places the call.