Learn how to turn off call forwarding on any device. This 2026 guide covers simple steps for iPhone, Android, landlines, and carrier short codes like *73.
How to Turn Off Call Forwarding on Any Device (2026 Guide)
How to Turn Off Call Forwarding on Any Device (2026 Guide)
How to Turn Off Call Forwarding on Any Device or Carrier (2026 Guide)
To turn off call forwarding, you generally need to access your phone’s call settings or dial a specific carrier short code directly on your keypad. Knowing exactly how to turn off call forwarding ensures you receive your calls on the right device without unnecessary delays. In this comprehensive 2026 guide, you will learn the exact steps to deactivate this feature across iPhones, Android smartphones, traditional landlines, and major cellular carriers. We will also cover common Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes—often called short codes or star codes—so you can manage your settings instantly.
Summary
In this guide, you will find straightforward instructions for disabling call forwarding across all major platforms and networks. Whether you are using a smartphone, a home phone, or need specific network codes, you will discover exactly what you need to regain control of your incoming calls quickly and efficiently.
TLDR
- On an iPhone, you can turn this off by navigating to your Settings app, tapping Phone, selecting Call Forwarding, and toggling the switch off.
- On an Android device, you can disable it by opening the Phone app, going to Settings, tapping Calling Accounts or Supplementary Services, and turning off the forwarding option.
- For many major US carriers, you can quickly deactivate the feature by dialing *73 on your keypad and pressing call.
- If you are on a landline, you generally just need to pick up the receiver, listen for a dial tone, and dial *73.
📋 Table of Contents
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- What is Call Forwarding and Why Turn It Off?
- How to Turn Off Call Forwarding on iPhone
- How to Turn Off Call Forwarding on Android Phones
- How to Turn Off Call Forwarding on a Landline
- How to Turn Off Call Forwarding With Carrier Short Codes
- What to Do When You Can’t Turn Off Call Forwarding
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Call Forwarding and Why Turn It Off?
Call forwarding is a telecommunications feature that redirects your incoming phone calls to another destination number, such as a different mobile device, a landline, or a voicemail box. Knowing exactly why turn off call forwarding is important for managing your communication effectively. You might want to disable it to ensure you do not miss important calls when returning to your primary device, or to avoid extra carrier charges associated with routed minutes. Furthermore, understanding how to manage these network settings is a crucial step in learning how to avoid scam calls, as fraudsters sometimes trick victims into forwarding their numbers to intercept sensitive information and verification codes.
How to Turn Off Call Forwarding on iPhone
In order to turn off call forwarding on iPhone you need to access the native phone settings menu. Whether you want to know how to turn off call forwarding on iPhone 16 or how to turn off call forwarding on iPhone 17, the process remains consistent across all modern iOS devices in 2026.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone home screen.
Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Phone.
Step 3: Select Call Forwarding and toggle the switch to the off (gray) position.
💡 Carrier Specific Note: If you are wondering how to turn off call forwarding on iphone verizon or other CDMA networks, you might not see the toggle switch in your settings. In these cases, you will need to dial a carrier short code directly on your keypad.
How to Turn Off Call Forwarding on Android Phones
In order to turn off call forwarding on an Android phone you need to navigate through your default dialer application. While Android interfaces can vary slightly by manufacturer, the core steps remain highly similar across the board.
- Open the native Phone app on your device.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner and select Settings.
- Tap on Calling Accounts or Calls.
- Select Call Forwarding.
- Toggle off all active forwarding options (such as “Always forward” or “Forward when busy”).
📱 Samsung Devices
If you are specifically looking for how to turn off call forwarding on samsung or how to turn off call forwarding for samsung devices, the path is slightly different. Open the Phone app, tap the three dots, select Settings, tap Supplementary Services, select Call Forwarding, and disable the active options.
How to Turn Off Call Forwarding on a Landline
In order to turn off call forwarding on a landline you need to use your physical telephone receiver and listen for the dial tone. If you are searching for how to turn off call forwarding on landline or how to turn off call forwarding landline, follow this universal process:
📞
1. Pick Up
Pick up the receiver and listen for a clear dial tone.
1. Pick Up
Pick up the receiver and listen for a clear dial tone.
🔢
2. Dial Code
Dial *73 on the keypad.
2. Dial Code
Dial *73 on the keypad.
🎵
3. Listen
Listen for two short confirmation beeps.
3. Listen
Listen for two short confirmation beeps.
☎️
4. Hang Up
Hang up the receiver to finalize the deactivation.
4. Hang Up
Hang up the receiver to finalize the deactivation.
How to Turn Off Call Forwarding With Carrier Short Codes
If you are wondering what code to turn off call forwarding or how to turn off call forwarding with code, you are in the right place. Dialing a simple star code on your keypad is often the fastest method to regain control of your incoming calls, overriding internal device settings.
US Carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Spectrum)
Verizon: To learn how to turn off call forwarding for Verizon or with Verizon, simply open your dialer, punch in *73, and press call.
AT&T: If you need to know how to turn off call forwarding for AT&T or with AT&T, you will typically dial #21#. For older basic forwarding, *73 may also work.
T-Mobile: To figure out how to turn off call forwarding for T-Mobile or with T-Mobile, dial ##21# to erase unconditional forwarding.
Spectrum: For those asking how to turn off call forwarding for Spectrum or with Spectrum Mobile, dial *73 and wait for the confirmation tone.
International Carriers (Airtel, Jio, MTN, Telstra, Bell)
- Airtel
- If you are searching for how to turn off call forwarding in airtel or for airtel, open your dialer and enter ##21# to deactivate all forwarding.
- Jio
- To understand how to turn off call forwarding in jio, dial *413 to stop unconditional forwarding on their network.
- MTN
- For those needing to know how to turn off call forwarding for mtn, the standard USSD code is ##21#.
- Telstra
- To learn how to turn off call forwarding telstra or with telstra, dial #21# from your mobile device.
- Bell
- If you want to know how to turn off call forwarding with bell, dial *73 and wait for the confirmation beeps.
What to Do When You Can’t Turn Off Call Forwarding
If you can’t turn off call forwarding, you should start by restarting your device to refresh its network connection. Sometimes, a simple reboot resolves temporary glitches between your phone and the carrier’s towers.
Troubleshooting Steps:
- Restart Your Device: Power down your phone completely and turn it back on.
- Check for Outages: Verify if your carrier is experiencing a local network outage that prevents settings from updating.
- Reset Network Settings: If you still can t turn off call forwarding, or specifically can t turn off call forwarding iphone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. (On Android: Settings > System > Reset Options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth).
- Contact Support: Call your carrier’s customer service line. They can manually remove the forwarding feature from their backend systems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does *73 disable call forwarding?
Yes, *73 disables call forwarding for many major US carriers, including Verizon and Spectrum. Simply dial the code and wait for the confirmation beeps.
How do I turn off *72 call forwarding?
Because *72 is the code used to activate call forwarding, you must dial *73 to turn it off. Dialing *72 again will not deactivate the feature.
How do I turn off call forwarding *#21?
The *#21# sequence is an interrogation code used to check your current forwarding status, not to disable it. To turn it off, you usually dial ##21# or #21# depending on your carrier.
Can you turn off call forwarding remotely?
Yes, you can turn off call forwarding remotely by logging into your carrier’s web portal or mobile app from another device. From the dashboard, navigate to your line settings and disable the forwarding option.
How to turn off call forwarding when unreachable?
Conditional call forwarding (when unreachable) can usually be turned off via your phone’s advanced call settings or by dialing a carrier-specific code (like *73 or ##62#). Check your carrier’s specific USSD codes for conditional forwarding deactivation.
How do I deactivate my call forwarding?
To deactivate your call forwarding, navigate to your phone’s call settings and toggle the feature off, or dial your carrier’s deactivation short code on your keypad. For most US networks, dialing *73 or ##21# will instantly remove the forward.
Written by
Conor Byrne
