A caller tells you their call went somewhere else. Your phone rings once and drops to voicemail faster than it should. Somebody claims they’ve been trying to reach you but you never received anything. Most people assume it’s a network glitch and move on. Often, it isn’t.
Call forwarding being active without your awareness is genuinely common. A setting gets changed during a trip abroad. An app with phone permissions adjusts it in the background. A carrier-side configuration carries over from a previous plan. Sometimes a family member accidentally toggles it while browsing phone settings. Whatever the cause, checking your call forwarding status takes under sixty seconds — and the methods below work on every major platform and network.
Quick Overview
| Method | Works On | Time Required | Internet Needed |
| Dial *#21# | Android, iPhone, all networks | 10 seconds | No |
| Phone App Settings | Android | Under 1 minute | No |
| Settings → Phone | iPhone | Under 1 minute | No |
| Carrier USSD Codes | All phones | 10 seconds | No |
| Carrier App / Website | All phones | 2 minutes | Yes |
The Fastest Method: Dial *#21#
Open your phone’s dialler — the same app you use for regular calls — and type *#21#, then press the Call button. Within a few seconds, your carrier returns a status message directly on screen.
If call forwarding is inactive, the screen confirms that. If it’s active, the screen shows you exactly which number your calls are being redirected to. This works on Android and iPhone, on prepaid and postpaid plans, across Airtel, Jio, Vi, and most global carriers. No internet connection required. No app needed. Just a functioning SIM card.
This single code checks unconditional call forwarding — the type that redirects every incoming call regardless of whether your phone is ringing or not. It’s the most common type that gets accidentally enabled and the most disruptive when it is.
Checking Conditional Call Forwarding
Conditional forwarding works differently. Rather than redirecting all calls immediately, it only kicks in under specific circumstances. There are three types, and each has its own check code:
*#61# — Checks forwarding when a call goes unanswered. If this is set, calls that ring without being picked up after a certain number of seconds get redirected to the saved number.
*#62# — Checks forwarding when your phone is unreachable. This activates when your phone is switched off, in Airplane Mode, or has no cellular signal.
*#67# — Checks forwarding when your line is busy. If you’re already on a call, incoming calls during that time get redirected.
Dial each code separately to check each condition’s status. On most networks, the screen response tells you whether the forwarding rule is enabled and shows the destination number if it is.
Checking Call Forwarding on Android
Open the Phone app on your Android device. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner and go to Settings. Look for Calls, then tap Call Forwarding.
On dual-SIM Android phones, you’ll be prompted to choose which SIM you want to check before entering the Call Forwarding menu. Select the relevant SIM and proceed.
The menu displays four forwarding conditions: Always Forward, Forward When Busy, Forward When Unanswered, and Forward When Unreachable. Each line shows its current status — either disabled, or a phone number if active. Tap any active condition and select Turn Off or Disable to deactivate it.
Note that the exact path varies slightly between Android manufacturers. On Samsung devices, the route is Phone App → Three-dot Menu → Settings → Supplementary Services → Call Forwarding. On Oppo and OnePlus devices running ColorOS, it’s Phone App → Settings → Call Settings → Call Forwarding. The destination is the same across all of them.
Checking Call Forwarding on iPhone
Go to Settings, scroll down and tap Phone, then tap Call Forwarding. If the toggle is green and a number appears underneath it, call forwarding is currently active on your device. Tap the toggle to turn it grey — the forwarding number disappears and the feature is disabled.
On some iPhone models and carrier combinations, the Call Forwarding option doesn’t appear in Settings at all. This isn’t a fault — certain carriers manage call forwarding entirely at the network level rather than through the device. In those cases, the *#21# dialler code is the reliable fallback, and your carrier’s app or customer support is the route to making changes.
USSD Codes That Work Across All Networks
Beyond the check codes, there are action codes worth knowing:
##21# — Cancels unconditional call forwarding.
##61# — Cancels forwarding for unanswered calls.
##62# — Cancels forwarding for unreachable scenarios.
##67# — Cancels forwarding for busy line conditions.
##002# — The nuclear option. This single code disables all active call forwarding rules simultaneously — unconditional and all conditional types in one move. Useful when you want a clean reset and don’t want to cancel each condition individually.
These codes are based on GSM standards and work across the vast majority of carriers worldwide, including Airtel, Jio, Vi, BSNL in India, and most European and US operators.
When to Suspect Call Forwarding Is Active
A few signs that call forwarding may be running without your knowledge:
Your phone’s battery drains faster than usual without explanation. Calls from people who reached you regularly suddenly stop coming through. Someone reports hearing a different voicemail greeting than yours when they call. Your phone shows a carrier icon change or an unusual status indicator. Any of these warrant a quick *#21# check before assuming something more complicated is wrong.
FAQs
Q: Can someone enable call forwarding on my phone without my knowledge?
A: Yes, if they have physical access to your device or your carrier account credentials. Dial *#21# to verify your current forwarding status anytime you’re unsure.
Q: Does ##002# also disable voicemail?
A: It can on some networks, since voicemail typically runs through conditional forwarding at the carrier level. If voicemail stops working after using ##002#, contact your carrier to restore it.
Q: Will checking call forwarding with USSD codes cost me anything?
A: No. USSD codes run over the carrier’s signalling channel, not your data or calling minutes. They’re free to dial on all major networks.
Q: My iPhone doesn’t show a Call Forwarding option in Settings. Is my phone broken?
A: No. Some carriers don’t expose call forwarding through iPhone Settings and manage it entirely at the network level. Use *#21# to check status and contact your carrier to make changes.
Q: What’s the difference between unconditional and conditional call forwarding?
A: Unconditional forwarding sends every call immediately to another number — your phone never rings. Conditional forwarding only redirects calls in specific situations like when you’re busy or unreachable, letting normal calls come through first.