How to forward calls in Australia: iPhone, Android, and landline codes

Call forwarding, or diverting as plenty of Aussies call it, sends calls for one number on to another phone. It takes about a minute once you know the right code for your phone and your network.

This page has all of them: iPhone and Android steps, the codes for Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, landlines, how to turn it off, and what it costs. It also has a free call forwarding code finder that writes out the exact codes for your phone and number.

Jump to: Code finder · iPhone · Samsung and Android · Telstra · Optus · Vodafone · amaysim · Landline · Turn it off · Costs · Not working

How do you find the call forwarding code for your phone?

Use the call forwarding code finder below. Pick your network, type the number you want calls to go to, and choose which calls to forward. It writes out the exact codes to dial for Telstra, Optus and Vodafone mobiles and Telstra home phones, plus the codes to turn forwarding off again.

Call forwarding code finder

1. Your phone

Telstra mobileOptus mobileVodafone mobileTelstra home phone

2. The number to forward to

3. Which calls

Calls I missAll calls

4. Dial these codes

Dial all three, one at a time. Dial each code from the phone you are forwarding, then press call. Unanswered calls ring for 15 seconds before they move.

When I don't answer

**61*[number]*11#Copy

When I'm on another call

**67*[number]*11#Copy

When my phone's off or out of range

**62*[number]*11#Copy

To turn them off later

##61###67###62#

How to use the call forwarding code finder:

1. Pick your phone: Telstra mobile, Optus mobile, Vodafone mobile or Telstra home phone.
2. Type the number you want calls to go to. Add the area code for a landline. The finder warns you about numbers your network can't forward to, like 1300 numbers on Vodafone.
3. Choose which calls: the calls you miss (no answer, busy, and off or out of range), or all calls.
4. Copy each code and paste it into your Phone app's keypad, or type it in, then press call. Do them one at a time, from the phone you're forwarding. On a home phone, lift the handset and dial it instead.
5. Test it by ringing your number from another phone.
6. Keep the turn-off codes it shows underneath, for when you want your calls back.

It works on any phone or computer, and nothing you type leaves the page.

What is call forwarding?

Call forwarding sends calls made to your number on to a different number. In Australia it's also called call diversion, or diverting. You choose when it kicks in:

Most people want the last three together. You still answer when you can, and only the calls you'd miss go somewhere else, like a business partner, an answering service or an AI receptionist.

How do you forward calls on an iPhone?

To forward calls on an iPhone, open Settings, tap Apps, then Phone, then Call Forwarding. Turn it on, tap Forward To, enter the number and tap Back.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps, then Phone. On older versions of iOS, Phone sits straight under Settings.
3. Tap Call Forwarding and turn it on.
4. If you have two SIMs, choose the line.
5. Tap Forward To, enter the number, then tap Back.

The call forwarding icon shows in the status bar at the top of the screen while it's on.

The catch: the iPhone's Call Forwarding switch forwards every call, and your phone won't ring at all. To forward only the calls you miss, type your network's codes (61, 67 and 62) into the Phone app's keypad instead. The codes for each network are below, or use the box at the top of this page.

Two more things Apple points out. You need mobile coverage when you turn forwarding on, or calls won't be forwarded. And for your protection, iPhone blocks links that try to switch call forwarding on, which is why the box on this page gives you a code to copy and paste into the keypad rather than a link.

How do you forward calls on a Samsung or other Android phone?

To forward calls on a Samsung Galaxy, open the Phone app, tap the three dots, then Settings, Supplementary services and Call forwarding. Pick when to forward, enter the number and tap Enable.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the three dots (⋮), then Settings.
3. Tap Supplementary services, then Call forwarding.
4. Choose when to forward: always, when busy, when unanswered or when unreachable.
5. Enter the number and tap Enable.

To turn it off, go back to the same option and tap Disable.

Other Android phones, like Google Pixel, keep call forwarding in the Phone app's settings too, though the menu names differ. If you can't find it, the network codes below work on any phone.

How do you forward calls on Telstra?

To forward calls on a Telstra mobile, dial ** and the forwarding code, then *, the number, and *11#. For example, **61*0412345678*11# forwards the calls you don't answer to 0412 345 678. Press call after each code.

• By text: send CFU ON and the number to 144 to forward all calls. CFU OFF turns it off.
• Ring time: unanswered calls ring for 15 seconds before they're forwarded.
• Back to MessageBank: dial **004*101# to send missed calls to your voicemail again.
• Cost: Telstra says call forwarding is included on all plans with unlimited calls.

Brands that use Telstra's network, like Boost Mobile, may use different steps, so check their help page if the codes don't work.

How do you forward calls on Optus?

To forward calls on an Optus mobile, dial ** and the code, then *, the number and #. For example, **61*0412345678# forwards the calls you don't answer. You can also set it up in the My Optus app.

• One code for missed calls: on Optus, 004 covers no answer, busy and no coverage in one go.
• Ring time: to choose how long it rings before forwarding, add ** and 05, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 seconds before the #, like **61*0412345678**20#.
• In the app: open My Optus, tap Services, your mobile, Settings, then Voicemail and call diversions. Pick when to divert, tap Another number, and enter it with the area code.
• Overseas: Optus suggests forwarding all calls (21) while you're roaming, and entering the number as +61.
• Cost: on postpaid, the forwarded part of the call is charged at your plan's rates, and you can't forward to an international number. On prepaid it's 10c a minute to Australian numbers.

How do you forward calls on Vodafone?

To forward calls on a Vodafone mobile, dial ** and the code, then *, the number and #, like **61*0412345678#. You can also do it in the My Vodafone app.

• Turn everything off: ##002# cancels every kind of forwarding at once, and ##004# cancels the no answer, busy and no coverage ones. Calling 1213 also cancels all-calls forwarding.
• Where you can forward: standard Australian mobile and landline numbers, voicemail, or Vodafone's Call Catcher. Not 13, 1300 or 1800 numbers.
• Prepaid: you can only forward to voicemail or Call Catcher.
• Cost: nothing extra in Australia. Overseas on Pay As You Go roaming, a forwarded missed call costs you the call to the country you're in plus the call back to Australia.

How do you forward calls on amaysim and other providers?

On amaysim, you turn on call forwarding in the amaysim app or My amaysim, under Settings, by entering the number in the Forward calls to box. Forwarded calls to Australian numbers cost 32c a minute: a 20c call forward surcharge plus amaysim's 12c standard rate. amaysim doesn't forward to international numbers.

Other smaller providers run on Telstra, Optus or Vodafone's network. Try the setting in their app first, then the standard codes, and check their help page for what forwarding costs, because some charge by the minute.

How do you divert a landline to a mobile?

To divert a Telstra home phone to a mobile, lift the handset and wait for the dial tone, dial *21, then the mobile number, then #, and hang up.

Dial these from the home phone itself, not your mobile. Busy is 24 on a Telstra home phone, not 67 like on mobiles.

On other nbn home phone providers, and on business phone systems that run over the internet, forwarding is usually set in the provider's app or online account rather than with codes. Look for call forwarding or call diversion in your account settings.

How do you turn off call forwarding?

To turn off call forwarding, dial ## and the code, then #. ##21# stops forwarding all calls, and ##61#, ##67# and ##62# stop the missed-call ones.

Still forwarding after you switched it off? The iPhone switch only controls forwarding of all calls. Missed-call forwarding set with codes stays on until you dial its turn-off code, so switch off the setting and dial the codes too. Then check with *#21# and *#61#, and your phone shows what's still on.

Want your voicemail back? Turning off missed-call forwarding also stops missed calls going to voicemail. On Telstra, **004*101# sends them to MessageBank again.

How much does call forwarding cost in Australia?

Call forwarding in Australia costs little or nothing on most plans. You don't pay for the call coming in, only the forwarded part, and plans with unlimited calls usually cover it.

Going overseas? Forwarding missed calls while you're roaming can mean paying for the call to where you are and the call back home. Forwarding all calls (21) before you leave stops your phone ringing overseas at all, which is what Optus suggests.

Why isn't call forwarding working?

Call forwarding usually fails for one of a handful of reasons. Work down this list:

• No area code. Landline numbers need it: 07 3123 4567, not 3123 4567.
• The wrong pattern for your network. Telstra mobiles need *11# on the end. Telstra home phones use 24 for busy, not 67.
• A 13, 1300 or 1800 number on Vodafone. Vodafone can't forward to them.
• Vodafone prepaid. It can only forward to voicemail.
• All calls is still on. If all-calls forwarding (21) is on, every call goes straight there and the missed-call codes never get a turn.
• No coverage when you set it. Your phone needs signal when you turn forwarding on.
• You haven't tested it. Ring your number from another phone and let it ring out, then decline a call, then switch your phone off and ring again.

How do you forward missed calls to an AI receptionist or answering service?

To forward missed calls to an AI receptionist or answering service, use the no answer, busy and unreachable codes with the number they give you, not all calls. You keep your number, you still answer when you can, and only the calls you'd miss go to them.

• Use a normal Australian number (02, 03, 07, 08 or 04) where you can. Vodafone can't forward to 1300 numbers.
• Test all three: let a call ring out, decline one, and switch your phone off and ring it.
• Check what they see. On some networks a forwarded call can show your number instead of the caller's, so a good receptionist asks for a callback number and reads it back.

That's how an AI receptionist answers your phone without you changing your number. Here's what an AI receptionist is and how it works, and what an AI receptionist for tradies should do when you're on the tools.

I'm building one at Matey: a phone matey that answers the calls you forward, books the job inside the hours and areas you work, and texts you the summary.