How To End Forward Calls | Disable It On Any Device

Ending call forwarding on an iPhone, Android, or Samsung Galaxy requires turning off each forwarding option in the Phone settings or dialing a carrier deactivation code like ##002# or *73, and verifying with a test call to confirm incoming calls ring again.

One missed call from someone important is enough to hunt down why your phone silently sent it somewhere else. Call forwarding is useful until you forget it’s on—then it’s a reception black hole. The fix lives in two places: your phone’s settings and a short dialer code that talks directly to your carrier’s network. Here’s how to kill forwarding on every major device and plan in the US, plus the one step people skip that leaves it secretly active.

Where Call Forwarding Lives In Your Settings

Every device hides the toggle in a slightly different menu, but the logic is the same: find the Phone or Call settings, locate Call Forwarding, and switch each option off. Never assume toggling “Always Forward” does the whole job—conditional forwarding (when busy, unanswered, or unreachable) often stays on independently.

How To Turn Off Forwarding On An iPhone (iOS 17+)

Apple puts the master switch in Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding. Toggle it Off (green switch shows ON; off shows no color). If the toggle is grayed out, missing, or doesn’t stick, dial a code instead.

1. Open Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding.
2. Set the toggle to Off.
3. Double-check by dialing ##62# and pressing Call to disable forwarding when unreachable.
4. For unconditional forwarding (all calls), dial ##21#.

On Dual SIM iPhones, verify you’re adjusting the active line by tapping the line label under Call Forwarding before changing the toggle.

How To Turn Off Forwarding On Android (General & Google Phone App)

The Google Phone app (stock on Pixel and many US Androids) buries forwarding in a three-dot menu. You must clear each condition individually—”Always forward” being just one of four.

1. Open the Phone app > tap ⋮ (three dots) > Settings > Calls > Call forwarding.
2. Tap each option: Always forward, Forward when busy, Forward when unanswered, Forward when unreachable.
3. For each, select Remove or set the toggle to Off.

How To Turn Off Forwarding On A Samsung Galaxy

Samsung rearranges the menu under “Supplementary services,” and you’ll pick a SIM before seeing the forwarding list.

1. Open the Phone app > tap ⋮ > Settings > Supplementary services > Call forwarding.
2. Select SIM1 or SIM2 (choose the line receiving forwarded calls).
3. Select Voice calls, then tap each forwarding rule and choose Disable.

Carrier Deactivation Codes That Work On Any Phone

When the settings menu fails—or you want a nuclear option—carrier codes work at the network level. Dial the code, press Call, and wait for a tone or confirmation message. These codes bypass the phone’s software and talk directly to your carrier’s switch.

If the code returns an error, append your voicemail number for Mint Mobile: dial ##66*[voicemail number]# instead. Never use *21—that enables forwarding for all calls.

The Two Most Common Reasons Forwarding Won’t Turn Off

Three quarters of “why is my call forwarding still on” searches come down to one of two things: conditional forwarding you never touched, or forwarding set at the carrier level through a web portal.

Conditional forwarding traps. You toggled off “Always forward,” but “Forward when unreachable” is still active. Your phone rings fine when you’re home but sends calls to voicemail or another number the second you enter a dead zone. Fix: open call forwarding and disable every single condition—busy, unanswered, unreachable, all of them.

Carrier portal override. Some carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) let you set forwarding rules from a website or app. The device toggle shows Off, but the network is still forwarding. Open your carrier’s app or account portal, find Call Forwarding or Routing Rules, and turn off everything there too. Dialing ##002# from your phone also clears network-level forwarding on GSM carriers.

Test by calling your own number from a friend’s phone or a Google Voice line. If it rings through, you’re done. If it still redirects, call your carrier and ask for a “network-level forwarding reset.”

Quick Checklist: Ending Call Forwarding Completely

• Toggle off every forwarding condition in your device settings—not just “Always forward.”
• Dial ##002# (GSM) or *73 (Verizon/landline) as a network reset.
• Check your carrier’s online portal or app for any forwarding rules set there.
• Restart your phone or toggle Airplane Mode to refresh the network connection.
• Test with an external call to verify direct ringing.
• If still active after all steps, contact your carrier for a network-level reset—it’s a five-minute support request.