Forward all calls vs. forward missed calls
Carriers offer two kinds of forwarding. Forwarding all calls sends every call away and your phone never rings. Conditional forwarding ("no answer" or "busy") rings you first and only sends the call on if you don't pick up. For an answering service or AI receptionist you usually want conditional forwarding, so you still get first chance at every call.
The codes
| Carrier | Forward when you don't answer | Forward when busy | Turn forwarding off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | *71 then the 10-digit number (covers no-answer and busy) | Included in *71 | *73 |
| AT&T | **61* then the number then # | **67* then the number then # | ##004# |
| T-Mobile | **61* then the number then # | **67* then the number then # | ##004# |
Dial the code from the phone whose calls you want forwarded, then press call. You'll usually hear a confirmation tone or see a message. Carriers occasionally change how forwarding works on certain plans, so if a code doesn't work, your carrier's support line can turn on conditional forwarding for you.
Avoid this mistake
Don't use *72 (Verizon) or **21* (AT&T and T-Mobile) unless you really want every call to skip your phone. Those forward all calls, so you'd never get a chance to answer yourself.
Test it
- Turn on conditional forwarding with the code for your carrier.
- From a different phone, call your business number and let it ring without answering.
- Confirm the call reaches your answering service or receptionist.
- Call again and answer it yourself to confirm you still get first chance.
Using Riley
When you start Riley you get your Riley number and the exact code for your carrier right away. Your customers keep calling the number they already have; Riley only answers the calls you can't.
