A Simple Guide to Conditional Call Forwarding

Conditional call forwarding is a very useful phone feature that many people do not know about. It does not send all your calls to another phone number. It is much smarter than that. This feature is like a helpful assistant. It sends calls to another number, but only when certain things happen that you choose.

Think about it. What happens when your phone line is busy, you do not answer, or your phone is off? That is when conditional call forwarding helps you.

So, What Exactly Is Conditional Call Forwarding?#

Have you ever been on an important phone call and seen another call coming in? You probably had to let the second call go to voicemail. Or maybe your phone's battery died, and you worried about who might have tried to call you. Conditional call forwarding is a simple and smart fix for these problems. It lets you control where your calls go when you cannot answer them yourself.

This is very different from regular call forwarding, which sends every single call to another number. With conditional forwarding, you make the rules. It is a more flexible way to manage your calls without giving up your main phone number.

How It Really Works#

The smart part of conditional call forwarding is its "if this, then that" setup. You are basically giving your phone company a list of instructions for different situations.

I like to think of it like leaving a note for a delivery driver. If you are home, the driver gives the package to you. But if you are not home, you might leave a note that says, "Please leave the package with my neighbor." It is the same idea for your phone calls. You decide who the "neighbor" is when you are not available to take the call.

This feature is a game changer for anyone with a busy schedule. A call from an important client can be sent to your coworker if you are already on the phone. An urgent family call can be sent to a different phone if your cell phone battery is dead.

The Three Core Conditions#

Most phone systems use three main reasons to forward a call. This is true for your cell phone or your office phone system. Learning these three reasons is the key to setting it up correctly.

The table below shows the specific situations that tell your phone to forward a call.

| When Does Conditional Call Forwarding Turn On | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Condition | What It Means | Example Scenario | | Busy | The call forwards when you are already on another call. | You are talking to a supplier, and a new customer calls. The new call goes straight to your assistant instead of hearing a busy signal. | | Unanswered | The call forwards after your phone rings a few times and you do not answer. | You are in a meeting and cannot pick up your phone. After four rings, the call is sent to your Eden virtual receptionist instead of your voicemail. | | Unreachable | The call forwards when your phone is off, in airplane mode, or has no signal. | You are on a plane or in a place with bad service. Any calls that come in are automatically sent to your office phone. |

By using these three simple conditions, you create a strong safety net for your calls.

It is not a surprise that people spent about $8.3 billion on call forwarding services in 2022. This number shows how important these features are for businesses and people who want to stay connected.

If you want to learn more about different forwarding setups, our comprehensive guide on call forwarding has more ideas you can use. It is a simple tool, but once you set it up, you will wonder how you ever got by without it.

Getting Your Smartphone Set Up to Forward Calls#

Let's be honest, your smartphone is like the main control center for your business. The good news is that setting up conditional call forwarding is usually easy. You do not need to be a tech expert. Often, you just have to type a special code into your phone's dial pad.

Think of these "star codes" as a direct command for your phone company. They are a fast and simple way to turn on forwarding without digging through a lot of settings menus.

This whole system is made to give you control. A call only gets sent to Eden when a rule you set is met, like when your line is busy. You are not just sending every call away without thinking.

This selective process makes sure you only forward the calls you truly cannot answer, which is exactly what you want.

The Magic of Star Codes#

For the fastest setup, you can use special codes typed right into your phone's keypad. It is just like you are dialing a phone number. These codes work for most phone companies, whether you have an iPhone or an Android.

Here are the three main codes you will need:

Forward When Unanswered: This is for calls you do not answer after a few rings. Dial *61*[10-digit number]# and press the call button.
Forward When Unreachable: This is great for when your phone is off or has no signal. Use *62*[10-digit number]# and press call.
Forward When Busy: This is for when you are already on another call. Dial *67*[10-digit number]# and press call.

Just remember to replace "[10-digit number]" with your actual Eden forwarding number. If you ever need to turn them off, it is just as easy. Just dial ##61#, ##62#, or ##67#.

Finding the Settings on Your Phone#

If you would rather not use codes, you can usually find these options in your phone's settings menu.

On an iPhone: Go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding. You can turn the feature on and type in the number there. Be careful, some phone companies hide this setting. That is why it is so useful to know the star codes.

On an Android: The exact steps can be different on different phones. But you will almost always start in the Phone app. Tap the three-dot menu, then look for something like Settings > Calling accounts > [Your Carrier] > Call forwarding. You should see separate options for "When busy," "When unanswered," and "When unreachable."

I have seen people get stuck trying to remember a number at the last minute. Before you start, write down the 10-digit Eden number you want to forward calls to. It is a simple tip that will save you from getting frustrated.

If you get stuck or things are not working right, do not worry. We have a guide with more specific instructions that can help you set up call forwarding.

And if that does not work, a quick call to your phone company can fix the problem. Just tell the person on the phone, "I need to set up conditional call forwarding for when my line is busy, unanswered, or unreachable," and give them your Eden number. They can set it up for you.

Configuring Forwarding for Home and Office Phones#

Conditional call forwarding is not just for your smartphone. It is also very useful for the phones you use at home or in the office. It does not matter if you have a regular landline or a modern phone system that uses the internet. You can set up smart rules to make sure you never miss an important call.

This is all about creating a safety net for your communications. Imagine a client calls your office while you are busy on another call. Instead of getting a voicemail, that call can be sent to a coworker or your Eden assistant automatically.

Setting Up on a Traditional Landline#

For a normal home or office landline, you usually have to dial "star codes." These are like the ones you use on a cell phone. They are just simple codes you type into the keypad to turn on or change settings.

The most common star code to forward calls when your line is busy or you do not answer is *92. To set it up, you just pick up the phone, dial *92, and then type the 10-digit number you want calls to go to, like your Eden number. Finish by pressing the # key.

Here is a quick tip. If the star codes do not seem to work, do not get upset. Some phone companies make you call them to turn on the feature. Just tell the customer service person, "I'd like to activate conditional call forwarding for when my line is busy or unanswered." They can usually turn it on for you in just a few minutes.

Managing Forwarding on Office VoIP Systems#

Many modern offices now use Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, phones. These phones make calls over your internet connection. These systems give you more powerful and flexible ways to manage your call forwarding.

Instead of dialing codes, you will usually log into your VoIP company's website. There, you will find a control panel where you can manage all your call settings. Think of it like setting up advanced rules for your email, but for your phone.

Every company's website is a little different, but the steps usually look something like this:

Find the right menu: After you log in, look for a section called "Call Handling," "Forwarding Rules," or "Answering Rules."
Create a new rule: You can set up very specific rules, like one that only works during business hours.
Choose the condition: Pick the reason for the forward, such as "When Busy" or "When Unanswered."
Enter the destination: Put your Eden forwarding number in as the final place for the call to go.

This level of control is a big reason why so many businesses are switching to VoIP. In fact, numbers show that between 2022 and 2025, up to 40-50% of business users in some places prefer conditional forwarding over other types. It helps them miss fewer opportunities without sending too many calls to the person or service getting the calls. You can discover more insights about call forwarding setup to see how this is changing business phones.

In the end, this control makes sure a call from a big client is not lost just because you were away from your desk. It is about sending calls to the right place at the right time.

Clever Ways to Use Your Call Forwarding#

So, you have learned the technical side of setting up conditional call forwarding. That is great. But knowing how to turn it on is one thing. Knowing how to use it smartly is what really makes a difference. This is not just about stopping a busy signal. It is about building a smarter communication system for your life or business.

Think of it as your personal call helper. Let's say you run a small business. Every ringing phone is a possible customer. If they call while you are on another line and get a busy tone, they might hang up and call someone else. With conditional forwarding, that second call automatically goes to a service like Eden. A live receptionist can then get the customer's information. Just like that, you have saved a potential sale.

Real-World Scenarios#

The real power of this feature is clear when you see how people use it to solve everyday problems. These are not just ideas. They are real fixes for common issues.

Imagine a freelance graphic designer. Her main business phone is linked to her home office, but she is often out meeting with clients. She sets up forwarding so any call to her office that she does not answer after three rings automatically goes to her cell phone. It is a simple setup, but it means she never misses a call about a new project, even if she is away from her desk for a few minutes.

The whole point is to make things easy for the person calling you. They should not have to guess which number to call or feel like they cannot reach you. When you do it right, smart call forwarding makes you seem more professional and always available, even when you are not.

Here is another example. A busy working parent is trying to manage a career and family. When a call comes in while they are already on another important work call, they have it set to forward to their partner’s phone. This little bit of teamwork makes sure an urgent call from their kid's school is never missed.

Smart Ideas for Your Setup#

Take a moment to think about your own day. When do you miss calls? When are you hardest to reach? Here are a few creative ways to make conditional call forwarding work for you.

The Frequent Traveler: If you travel on planes for work, your phone cannot be reached for hours. Set your "unreachable" calls to forward to a coworker you trust. They can handle anything important while you are in the air.
The Solo Business Owner: You do everything for your business: sales, customer service, and being the boss. Forward unanswered or busy calls to your Eden AI receptionist. It can book appointments or answer simple questions. This frees you up to do the work that helps your business grow.
The Work-Life Balancer: Want to have your evenings to yourself? Set up a rule where calls to your cell phone that you do not answer after 6 PM go straight to a work voicemail. This keeps your personal voicemail open for your real friends and family.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. For a deeper look at more strategies, you can check out our other articles on how people forward phone calls to better manage their communications. The key is to be creative and make your setup fit your own life and work.

Fixing Common Forwarding Problems#

So, you followed the steps, but your calls are not forwarding to Eden correctly. Do not worry, it happens. Even when you do everything right, technology can be tricky sometimes. Most of the time, the fix is very simple.

Maybe your calls are not forwarding at all. Or maybe they are going to your old personal voicemail instead of your new Eden number. You might even get a strange error message after you dial a star code. These are all common problems, and we can usually fix them in just a few minutes.

Start with the Simple Stuff#

Before you start messing with complicated settings, let's check the basics. From my experience, one of these quick checks will solve the problem about 90% of the time.

Is the feature on? First, check that conditional call forwarding is actually part of your phone plan and turned on. It is not always turned on automatically, so you might need to ask your phone company to activate it.
Did you type the number right? It sounds too simple, but typing one wrong number is the most common reason why forwarding fails. Make sure you entered the 10-digit Eden number perfectly.
Tried the classic restart? The old trick of "turn it off and on again" is not just for computers. Restarting your phone can often fix small software problems and get your forwarding to work right.

Here is a quick piece of advice. It is a smart habit to only forward calls to numbers and services you trust completely, like your Eden receptionist. I also suggest checking your forwarding settings every so often just to be sure nothing has changed without you knowing.

Keeping Your Forwarding Secure#

Your call forwarding settings are a powerful tool. That means it is very important to keep them safe. Because this feature can be used in bad ways if the wrong person gets control of it, security is always getting better.

These security worries have led to new tools that help check the forwarding status of a phone number. These improvements are what make conditional call forwarding a safe and trusted tool for your business. You can learn more about how call forwarding security is evolving to better protect users like you.

What to Do When Calls Go to the Wrong Voicemail#

This is probably the most common problem I see. A call goes to your personal voicemail or your phone company's voicemail instead of being forwarded to Eden. This almost always happens when you are using the "forward when unanswered" setting.

Here is what is happening. Your cell phone company has a timer that decides how long your phone rings before it sends the call to its own voicemail. If that timer is shorter than your forwarding timer, the company's voicemail will grab the call first.

To fix this, you will probably need to call your phone company. Ask them to make the ring time on your line longer. This will give the forwarding rule enough time to work and send the call to Eden.

Answering Your Call Forwarding Questions#

Even after you have set everything up, you might still have some questions. That is completely normal. Let's go over some of the most common things people ask so you can feel good about how your calls are being handled.

Does Conditional Call Forwarding Cost Extra?#

This is usually the first thing people want to know. The answer depends on your phone company.

For most big cell phone companies like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, the ability to set up conditional call forwarding is included in your normal monthly plan. It is a basic feature, so you should not see an extra charge for it.

But if you have a regular landline or certain office phone systems, they sometimes treat it as an extra service. In that case, you might have to pay a small fee each month.

The best way to get a clear answer is to check your latest bill or just call your phone company's support line. A simple question like, "Is conditional call forwarding included in my plan, or is there an additional cost?" can stop you from getting any surprise charges later.

Will I Still Get Voicemails on My Original Phone?#

This is a great question because the answer is not always simple. The voicemail system that finally answers the call is the one at the end of the forwarding path.

Let's say you have set up your phone to forward unanswered calls to your Eden number. When a call comes in and you do not pick up, it gets sent to Eden. If Eden is also not available for some reason, the caller will be sent to Eden's voicemail system. The call will not go to your personal cell phone's voicemail.

It is a good idea to plan out where you want your calls to go. This will make sure important messages end up in the right place.

How Do I Turn Off Conditional Call Forwarding?#

Turning off call forwarding is just as easy as turning it on. Most phone companies use turn-off codes that are similar to the turn-on codes. They usually start with a double pound sign (##).

Here is a quick list of the most common turn-off codes:

To turn off forwarding for unanswered calls: Dial ##61#
To turn off forwarding when your phone is unreachable: Dial ##62#
To turn off forwarding when your line is busy: Dial ##67#

And just like setting it up, you can always go back to your phone’s settings menu, find the call forwarding options, and just switch the feature off.

Can I Forward Calls to an International Number?#

While most phone companies let you do this, you need to be very careful.

Forwarding a call to a phone number in another country will almost always cost you international long-distance fees. Your phone company treats it the same as if you called that international number yourself. These costs can add up very fast. Before you even think about setting this up, I strongly suggest calling your phone company to ask about their specific international forwarding prices. It is the only way to avoid a huge phone bill.

Stop letting missed calls turn into lost business. With Eden, your 24/7 AI receptionist answers every call, books appointments, and captures leads so you never miss an opportunity again. Get started in minutes and see how much your business can grow. Discover what Eden can do for you.