How to Forward Calls on Verizon

Call forwarding is a handy option that you can use to redirect calls directed towards you to another number. Even better, you don’t have to redirect all of them. Instead, you can only redirect calls while you’re on the line.

The great thing about Verizon is the fact that you can activate or deactivate this function in numerous ways. However, keep in mind that you can only do it from your phone if you’re using a prepaid account.

Turn on Call Forwarding

From a Cellphone

Go to the Phone app.
Using the dial pad, type “*72” followed by a ten-digit number that you want to redirect calls to. If you’d like the calls to redirect only if there’s no answer, type “*71” instead.
Press the call button and wait until you hear a message that confirms you’ve activated call forwarding.

Using the My Verizon App

On your smartphone, go to the My Verizon app and tap on the “Menu” icon. It’s in the top-left corner of the screen.
Choose “Devices.”
If you have multiple devices on your Verizon account, tap on “Manage.” It’s located under the phone you’re looking to enable call forwarding on.
Select “Controls.”
Go to “Set Up Call Forwarding.”
Type the number you’d like to redirect the calls to.
Tap on the “Add number” button.

From a Computer

Go to My Verizon and open the “Call Forwarding” page.
See how many devices you have registered on My Verizon. If you have multiple, select the one you’d like to enable forwarding on.
Proceed to the “Options“ section and choose if you’d like all your calls forwarded or just those that you couldn’t answer. This includes both calls when there’s no answer and when you’re busy.
Click on the “Update Call Forwarding Status” button.
If you’re doing this for the first time, you need to select where you would like Verizon to send an Online Authorization Code for security and verification reasons.
Note: If there’s a number you can’t select, it will be gray. Chances are you’ll only be able to select your own number.
Click on “Send me the Code.”
You’ll receive the code on the number you’ve selected. Enter it on your computer and click on “Confirm.”

Turn Off Call Forwarding

From a Cellphone

Call “*73.”
Listen to the response message or tone. If you hear a busy number sound signal, that also means you’ve disabled call forwarding.

Using the My Verizon App

Open the My Verizon smartphone app and go to the menu.
Choose “Devices.”
Tap the “Manage” button under the cell phone you want to disable call forwarding on if you have multiple phones registered on My Verizon.
Select “Controls.”
Tap on the “Set Up Call Forwarding” button.
Find the number that has call forwarding enabled and tap the “X” next to it.

From a Computer

Go to My Verizon and open the “Call Forwarding” page.
Open the “Mobile Number” dropdown menu if you have multiple phones registered on My Verizon, then select the number you’d like to disable call forwarding for.
Click on the “Cancel Call Forwarding” button.

Things to Keep in Mind

It’s worth mentioning that call forwarding is billed normally if you don’t have a data plan that allows for unlimited minutes. Should the calls get redirected to a landline, you’re still going to be billed as if you’ve answered the call on your cell phone. There is no monthly fee, although there is a fee generally on some older data plans. If your plan has long-distance, it isn’t charged for calls that are forwarded either.

Unfortunately, you need to be located within the coverage area of the Verizon Wireless when enabling call forwarding. Additionally, if you are traveling, you can’t set up call forwarding from abroad. You can only do that before going into roaming mode.

As the name suggests, call forwarding only forwards calls, not messages. However, you can read text messages and reply to them online by using the Verizon Messages app.When it comes to numbers you want to forward calls to, the only restriction is that they need to contain exactly ten digits and that they must not be international numbers. To deal with this, add the area code to a local number if you’re planning on forwarding your calls there.

If people get a busy sound signal each time they call you, chances are you’ve made a typing error while entering the number to forward calls to. Try setting call forwarding again by calling “*72,” followed by the phone number you want to receive your forwarded calls on. Alternatively, you can edit this number inside of the My Verizon service interface.

Staying Available

Call forwarding is a handy option that most, if not all, mobile operators offer for a reason. If you’re unavailable because of work or travel, or because you’re simply busy at the moment, you can always redirect calls to your landline or another cell phone. This is also useful so you don’t fail to answer an important call because the sound on your main phone is turned off.

Are you satisfied with what Verizon has to offer? Is there anything you feel its service lacks? Tell us more about it in the comments below.