picIntroducing IVR for smoother call routing. Guide customers to the right support with clear, customizable menu options.

How to Set up Conditional Call Forwarding on iPhone and Android?

What is Conditional Call Forwarding? How to Turn It On/Off?

Table of contents


Call forwarding is essential in business communication, ensuring you never miss a call, even when away from your desk. It allows you to transfer calls to another number, keeping you connected wherever you are. However, you may not always want to forward every call, as not all calls demand an immediate response. Forwarding such calls only leads to disruptions. Conditional call forwarding filters and prioritizes calls, refining the basic idea of call forwarding. It offers better control over how and when to forward incoming calls.


What is Conditional Call Forwarding?

Conditional call forwarding is a telecommunication feature that automatically redirects calls to another number under specific conditions. Instead of forwarding all calls, it only delivers those that meet predetermined criteria, such as when you are busy on another line, or your number is unreachable. It ensures all important calls reach you or a designated recipient while optimizing call management.

When Use Conditional Call Forwarding?

You can use conditional call forwarding when you cannot answer the call at a particular time. It’s also helpful when your phone is unreachable due to network issues.

1. Busy Phone Line

When you’re already on a call, you can forward calls to different numbers. Nobody gets a busy signal as you direct the call conditionally to an answerable alternative line. It’s a smooth way to handle multiple calls.

2. Unanswered Phone Calls

Sometimes, calls go unanswered because you need more time to get to the phone or are busy with something else. With conditional call forwarding, you can divert these to another chosen number. It keeps your communication line open even when you’re busy.

3. Phone Not Reachable

You can utilize conditional call divert when your phone is unreachable due to network unavailability or a dying battery. It’s a great tool to avoid missed calls when your primary phone isn’t available.

Benefits of Conditional Call Forwarding

Conditional call forwarding diverts your call to the appropriate department when your primary line isn’t available; it improves responsiveness and customer engagement.

Improve Accessibility

Activating conditional call forwarding ensures that you or your team are accessible, no matter where you are. You can reroute your calls to your designated number, whether in transit, in a meeting, or away from your desk. It eliminates the common issue of missed connections due to unavailable lines and maintains open lines of communication with clients and team members.

High Call Satisfaction

Customers feel valued when they can easily reach your business and receive timely solutions. 
Conditional call divert upon not answering the phone on a particular line ensures that another agent promptly responds to the call. The quick and timely call response directly impacts customer satisfaction, resolving customer queries or issues on the first call.

Employee Satisfaction

Forwarding calls conditionally when the employee can’t attend the office offers flexibility and mobility for enhanced employee satisfaction. Employees are not bound to a single location; they can work remotely or move around without missing important calls. It allows them to manage their work more effectively, combining professional responsibilities with personal freedom.

Cost Efficiency

With conditional call forwarding, you can reduce the necessity for additional personnel dedicated solely to answering calls. It allows you to allocate resources more efficiently. It’s an effective strategy to enhance operational efficiency without incurring significant additional costs. Moreover, it prevents your business from the adverse financial impact of missed opportunities due to unanswered calls.

How to Set Up Conditional Call Forwarding on Android?

You can set conditional call forwarding on Android using its built-in phone app. The process is simple; follow the steps below to set up conditional call forwarding on your Android device.

 

Step 1: Access the Phone App on your Android device.

Step 2: From the top right corner, select the “More” section or the three dots menu.

Step 3: Select “Settings,” and go to “Call Settings.”

Step 4: Select the “Call Forwarding” option.

Step 5: Choose from the options - “Forward when unanswered,” “Forward when busy,” or  “Forward when unreachable” to activate call forwarding on your desired condition.

Step 6: Input the phone number to which you wish to divert the call.

Step 7: Tap on the ‘OK’ button to confirm.

 

Turning off call forwarding on Android involves the same steps, but the difference is that in the “Call Forwarding” option, you select “Turn off” or “Disable” the types of call forwarding you wish to deactivate.

How to Set Up Conditional Call Forwarding on iPhone?

Activating conditional call forwarding on your iPhone involves using the various vertical service codes from the dialpad. The code varies depending on your conditions to forward calls, whether for busy phone lines, network issues, or unanswered calls.

 

Step 1: Click the Green Phone icon on your iPhone’s home screen.

Step 2: Dial *67*phone number# for busy lines, *62*phone number# for unreachable calls, or *61*phone number# for unanswered calls.

Step 3: Press the dial button to activate the forwarding for the selected condition.
 

Forward Calls Easily with Calilio’s VoIP. Stay Connected Even When Your Phone Is Busy, Unreachable, or Unanswered.

Turning Off Conditional Call Forwarding on iPhone

To turn off conditional call forwarding on an iPhone, you’ll use specific codes through the dial pad, similar to how you activate it.

 

Step 1: Open the “Dialpad” on your iPhone.

Step 2: Dial ##61#, ##62#, and ##67# and click the call button to deactivate call forwarding for unanswered calls, unreachable calls, and busy lines, respectively.

Step 3: Wait for a notification or a beep confirming that conditional call forwarding has been turned off for the selected condition.

Tips for Using Conditional Call Forwarding

When forwarding phone calls conditionally, select the right conditions to ensure your call management strategy aligns with your availability and priorities. Test the settings after setup to ensure it works as intended, preventing missed calls or misrouted communications.

Choose the Right Conditions for Forwarding

Before forwarding the calls, identify the correct scenarios for effective call management. It involves understanding your daily schedule, peak business hours, and when you’re least available. Considering these factors ensures that important calls are rerouted to you or your team at the most convenient moments.

Prioritize the Calls for Forwarding

Not all calls are of equal importance, so it’s wise to prioritize them based on urgency or relevance. Set up conditional forwarding to recognize and forward calls from specific numbers first or during certain times of the day. It helps manage your workload while promptly attending to all your calls.

Managing Forwarded Call Destinations

Decide whether calls should go to a colleague, another office location, or your mobile device based on who can best address the caller’s needs. Choosing the right person or place for calls to go to means they’re always handled by the best person for the job.

Test the Settings

After setting up call forwarding, conduct tests to verify that the conditions work as expected. Make test calls from different numbers and in various scenarios to ensure correct forwarding of calls. It helps identify any setup issues or adjustments needed, ensuring the system functions smoothly and as intended.

Conclusion

Conditional call forwarding ensures calls reach you at the right time, making you accessible in various scenarios—whether in a meeting, on the move, or out of the office. It ensures you never miss important conversations, boosting both efficiency and customer satisfaction. You can set conditional call forwarding up through in-built device apps or specific dialing codes, depending on whether it’s an iPhone or Android device.

 

Leveraging call forwarding with VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology enhances its capabilities even more. Calilio facilitates advanced call forwarding that further refines call management. Customized routing options on our VoIP phone system allow you to prioritize call forwarding based on business hours, caller ID, or urgency. Sign up to Calilio and empower your business communications with innovative call-forwarding options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my phone show call forwarding?

Your phone displays 'call forwarding' because you’ve activated a feature that sends incoming calls to another number under certain conditions, like when your line is busy, you don’t answer, or you’re out of coverage.

Why does my phone say call forwarding unconditionally?

If your phone says 'call forwarding unconditionally,' it indicates that all incoming calls are being automatically redirected to another number without any conditions. This means no matter the status of your primary device, calls will not come through to it but to the forwarded number.

What are all conditional calls forwarding?

All conditional call forwarding refers to the setup where calls are forwarded based on specific scenarios—such as when your phone is busy, when you don’t answer within a certain number of rings, or when you’re unreachable. It doesn’t affect all calls universally, only those that meet the set conditions.

How do I remove conditional call forwarding?

On most devices, you can remove conditional call forwarding by going into your phone’s settings, finding the call or phone settings menu, selecting call forwarding, and then disabling the conditions you previously set. On iPhones, you can dial ##004# and call to disable all conditional forwarding.

How do I turn off call forwarding code?

To deactivate call forwarding, you typically dial a specific USSD code that varies by carrier and country. Common codes include ##21# to cancel all forwarding, ##61# to cancel forwarding when unanswered, ##62# for unreachable, and ##67# for when busy. Always check with your carrier for the correct codes.

How do I change my call forwarding back to normal?

To revert to normal (no call forwarding), disable all call forwarding settings in your phone’s call settings menu or dial ##21# to cancel all types of call forwarding. It ensures that incoming calls ring on your primary phone number as usual.


Latest Posts

From the blog

The latest news, technologies, and resources from our team.