All about Call Forwarding

With Call Forwarding features, you can stay connected by sending incoming calls to a phone you can answer.

 

Call Forwarding is a feature that allows you to send all the calls that come to your landline to another phone of your choosing. 

 

Selective Call Forwarding allows you to send selected incoming calls to a different number.

 

If you're having trouble with your Call Forwarding, try these troubleshooting tips.

How to use Call Forwarding

Call Forwarding allows you to send all the calls that come to your landline to another phone of your choosing. The directions below will guide you on using this feature.

How to turn on Call Forwarding

centurylink:regionalizer/regions/OOR,centurylink:regionalizer/regions/Q Only

To activate Call Forwarding:

 

  1. Listen for a dial tone, and press *72.
  2. Listen for a stutter dial tone followed by regular dial tone.
  3. Dial the number where you want your calls forwarded.
  4. When the phone is answered by either a person or voicemail, hang up. (You probably want to tell the person ahead of time what you're doing!)
  5. Your calls will now be forwarded to the number you dialed.

Note: If there's no answer, or the line is busy, hang up and repeat Steps 1, 2 and 3. (It may seem strange, but repeating Steps 1 and 2 within a couple minutes of your first attempt is another way to activate Call Forwarding.) You'll know you did it right and Call Forwarding is working when you hear a rapid busy tone.

centurylink:regionalizer/regions/CTL Only

You can activate Call Forwarding from any phone:

 

  1. Call the access number for your area. You should have been given this number when you ordered service. If you lost the number, please chat with an agent who can give it to you. 
  2. Dial your phone number, minus the area code.
  3. Enter the PIN 3
  4. Enter *72 to activate.
  5. Enter the number where you want your calls forwarded.
  6. Your calls will now be forwarded to the number you entered.

How to turn off Call Forwarding

centurylink:regionalizer/regions/OOR,centurylink:regionalizer/regions/Q Only

To deactivate Call Forwarding:

 

  1. Listen for a dial tone, and press *73.
  2. Listen for 2 short tones, then a regular dial tone.
  3. Call Forwarding is now off.

Tip: If you're not sure whether Call Forwarding is on or off, press *72. If it's on, you'll hear a rapid busy tone. If it's off, you'll hear a normal dial tone.

centurylink:regionalizer/regions/CTL Only

You can deactivate Call Forwarding from any phone:

 

  1. Call the access number for your area. You should have been given this number when you ordered service. If you lost the number, please chat with an agent who can give it to you. 
  2. Dial your phone number, minus the area code.
  3. Enter the PIN 3
  4. Enter *73 to deactivate.
  5. Your calls will no longer be forwarded.

Can I make outgoing calls while Call Forwarding is active?

You can still make outgoing calls while Call Forwarding is active. However, because all incoming calls are transferred immediately, you can't answer incoming calls on your original line when this feature is activated. If there are only some numbers you want to have forwarded, use Selective Call Forwarding instead.

 

You will hear a short ring on the original phone each time a call is forwarded. The number receiving the forwarded call then rings normally.

 

If you forward calls to a long distance or toll number, you'll be charged applicable rates.

Troubleshooting Call Forwarding

Try these tips if you're having trouble getting Call Forwarding to work:

 

  • Confirm the feature is turned on by dialing *72. You'll hear a fast busy tone if it's active, and a normal dial tone if it's off. 

  • You cannot forward calls to hotels, motels, pay phones or prisons.

  • You can forward calls to long distance numbers, but you must have long distance service.

  • If you have both Call Waiting and Call Forwarding, your call will be forwarded before Call Waiting can alert you to it.

  • If your number is listed as private or anonymous, you will need to unblock your number by pressing *82 before forwarding calls to a phone number with Anonymous Call Rejection.

  • If you receive a busy signal when you try to use Call Forwarding, you may need to change your phone's settings and double check that you're using the feature correctly. 

  • Make sure your phone is set to tone, not pulse. Many phones have a physical P/T switch located on the side, bottom or back of the unit. If you don't see a physical switch, go into the phone's setup menu and look for the P/T settings.

  • If you are unable to make outgoing calls when Call Forwarding is active, there's a problem with the service, and you need to contact us.

 

You can download the Call Forwarding - BasicSelective Call Forwarding and/or the Selective Call Forwarding - Enhanced user guides for more information about what Call Forwarding is and how to use it. For additional assistance, contact us. We're here to help!

Was this information helpful?