Before you start
- Your phone with its SIM card inserted
- Mobile signal (the change is saved by your carrier, not on the phone)
What call divert is and why it gets switched on
Call divert (also called call forwarding) tells your mobile network to send incoming calls somewhere else: another number, or your voicemail. There are four kinds:
- Always / unconditional: every call is forwarded and your phone never rings.
- When busy: forwarded when you are already on a call.
- When unanswered: forwarded if you don’t pick up after a few rings.
- When unreachable: forwarded when your phone is off or has no signal.
Divert is often switched on by accident (a code typed by mistake, a new SIM, a carrier setting) or by an app. If people tell you your phone goes straight to voicemail or to an unknown number, check divert first.
Method 1 Cancel every divert with a code (works on most phones)
This is the fastest fix and works on Android phones and iPhones on GSM, 4G and 5G networks in most countries.
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Step 1: Open the dialler
Open the Phone app and go to the keypad, just as if you were making a call.
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Step 2: Dial ##002#
Type ##002# and press the call button. This is the standard GSM code that erases all call diverts on your line in one go.
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Step 3: Read the confirmation
After a few seconds a pop-up should say something like “Erasure was successful” or “Call forwarding deactivated”. Tap OK.
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Step 4: Test it
Ask someone to call you, or call your number from another phone. It should ring normally.
Method 2 Turn off call forwarding on Android
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Step 1: Open Phone settings
Open the Phone app, tap the three dots (⋮) at the top right and choose Settings.
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Step 2: Find Call forwarding
On Google Pixel and most Android phones, tap Calls (or Calling accounts) > your SIM > Call forwarding. On Samsung Galaxy phones, tap Supplementary services > Call forwarding > Voice call.
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Step 3: Choose your SIM
If you use two SIM cards, pick the SIM whose calls are being diverted.
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Step 4: Disable each rule
Your phone checks the current settings with your carrier. Tap each option that shows a number (Always forward, When busy, When unanswered, When unreachable) and tap Turn off or Disable.
Method 3 Turn off call forwarding on iPhone
The iPhone switch only controls unconditional forwarding. If calls still divert when you’re busy or don’t answer, dial ##002# as well.
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Step 1: Open Settings
Open the Settings app. On iOS 18 and later, scroll down and tap Apps, then Phone. On older versions, tap Phone directly.
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Step 2: Tap Call Forwarding
Under Calls, tap Call Forwarding.
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Step 3: Switch it off
Turn off the Call Forwarding switch. Wait for the spinning icon to stop: your iPhone is saving the change with your carrier.
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| ##002# | Cancels all call diverts |
| ##21# | Cancels unconditional (always) divert |
| ##67# | Cancels divert when busy |
| ##61# | Cancels divert when unanswered |
| ##62# | Cancels divert when unreachable |
| *#21# | Shows whether unconditional divert is on |
Troubleshooting
I get a “Connection problem or invalid MMI code” error
Make sure you have signal and aren’t in airplane mode. If you have two SIMs, the code may have been sent from the wrong one: open the dialler, choose the right SIM and try again. Turning off Wi-Fi Calling for a moment can also help, because some carriers only accept these codes over the mobile network.
Calls still go to voicemail after I removed the divert
Check that Do Not Disturb, a Focus mode or call blocking isn’t silencing callers. Also check Settings > Apps > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone. If the problem stays, your voicemail may answer too quickly: ask your carrier to increase the ring time.
The settings screen shows an error reading call forwarding settings
Restart your phone and try again with mobile data on. If it keeps failing, use ##002#, which talks to the network directly.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to dial ##002#?
Yes. It only removes forwarding rules. The only side effect is that missed calls may no longer go to voicemail; your carrier usually restores voicemail automatically, or you can set it up again in their app.
How can I check if my calls are being diverted?
Dial *#21# and press call. Your phone shows whether unconditional forwarding is active and to which number. On Android you can also open the Call forwarding screen, which lists each rule.
Can someone divert my calls without my phone?
Call divert codes have to be dialled from your own phone, or changed by your carrier. If a divert you didn’t set keeps coming back, contact your carrier, change your account PIN and ask whether anyone requested changes to your line.
Does removing call divert cost anything?
No. Cancelling a divert is free. Forwarded calls themselves can cost money on some plans, which is another reason to turn diverts off when you don’t need them.
Summary
The quickest way to stop call divert is to dial ##002#. If you’d rather use settings, go to Phone > Settings > Calls > Call forwarding on Android or Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Forwarding on iPhone, then call yourself to make sure your phone rings.
