What Is Call Divert? Meaning, How It Works, Codes, Settings & Uses

Not every incoming call can be answered on the same phone or by the same person. You may be busy on another call, away from your desk, travelling, or temporarily unavailable.

Call divert helps in such situations by automatically redirecting incoming calls from your primary number to another number where they can be answered.

For example:

Customer calls your main number → Call is diverted → Another number rings

This feature is useful for both individuals and businesses that want to avoid missed calls and stay reachable even when the original number cannot be answered.

In this guide, we explain what call divert is, how call divert works, how to set it up on Android and iPhone, how call divert codes work, and how to disable or remove call divert when you no longer need it.

What Is Call Divert and What Does It Mean?

Call divert is a phone feature that automatically redirects incoming calls from one number to another number or destination.

It is also commonly known as call forwarding.

For example, if customers normally call your office number but nobody is available there, you can divert those calls to a mobile number.

The call flow would look like this:

Caller → Office Number → Call Divert → Mobile Number

The caller continues dialing the original number. The redirection happens automatically in the background.

In simple terms, the call divert meaning is:

Redirecting an incoming call from the number being called to another configured number.

How Does Call Divert Work?

Call divert works by following a forwarding rule that you set for your phone number. The process usually happens in these steps:

Step 1: Someone Calls Your Number

A caller dials your regular mobile, landline, or business number.

Step 2: The System Checks Your Call Divert Setting

Your telecom network or phone system checks whether any call divert rule is active on that number.

Step 3: The Selected Condition Is Checked

The system checks when the call should be diverted. For example, you may have selected:

• Divert all calls
• Divert when busy
• Divert when unanswered
• Divert when unreachable

Step 4: The Call Is Redirected

If the selected condition is met, the call is automatically redirected to the number you have configured.

For example:

Customer calls → Your phone rings → No answer → Call is diverted to another number

If you have enabled divert all calls, the call is redirected immediately without first ringing on your original phone.

Step 5: The Call Rings on the Destination Number

The person receiving calls on the forwarded number can then answer the call normally.

The caller usually does not need to do anything differently. They continue calling your original number, while the redirection happens automatically in the background.

What Are the Different Types of Call Divert?

Most call forwarding systems provide different options depending on when you want the call to be redirected.

1. Call Divert for All Incoming Calls

This option redirects every incoming call immediately to another number.

For example:

Business Number → Employee Mobile

This can be useful when nobody is available to answer the original phone.

2. Call Divert When the Number Is Busy

This option redirects calls when your number is already busy on another call.

For example:

Customer A → Salesperson

While the salesperson is busy:

Customer B → Backup Number

3. Call Divert When a Call Is Not Answered

With this setting, your original phone rings first.

If nobody answers, the call is redirected to another number.

For example:

Customer → Employee A → No Answer → Employee B

4. Call Divert When the Phone Is Unreachable

This option may redirect calls when your phone cannot be reached.

Depending on your network, this can apply when the phone is switched off, outside network coverage, or otherwise unavailable.

How to Set Up Call Divert on Android Phones

The exact call divert setting on Android can vary depending on the phone manufacturer, Android version, and mobile network. There is no single menu path that applies to every Android phone.

For example, on supported Samsung Galaxy phones, call forwarding can be set up as follows:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu and select Settings.
3. Tap Supplementary Services.
4. Select Call Forwarding.
5. Select the SIM you want to configure, if applicable.
6. Tap Voice Calls.
7. Choose when calls should be forwarded:
   • Always Forward
   • Forward When Busy
   • Forward When Unanswered
   • Forward When Unreachable
8. Enter the phone number where you want the calls to be forwarded.
9. Tap Enable.

Samsung notes that the exact menu names and steps may vary depending on the Galaxy model and software version.

On other Android phones, the call divert option may appear under settings such as Calling Accounts, Call Settings, SIM Settings, or Supplementary Services. If you cannot find the option, check the instructions provided by your phone manufacturer or mobile operator, as call forwarding availability can also depend on your network.

How to Set Up Call Divert on an iPhone

On an iPhone, call forwarding can be configured through the Phone settings when the feature is supported by your mobile network.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Select Phone.
4. Tap Call Forwarding.
5. Turn on Call Forwarding.
6. If you use Dual SIM, select the line you want to configure.
7. Tap Forward To.
8. Enter the phone number where you want your calls to be forwarded.
9. Tap Back to save the number.

Apple states that you need to be within your cellular network’s range when setting up call forwarding.

The built-in iPhone setting should also not be assumed to provide every type of conditional forwarding. Options such as forwarding calls when the line is busy or unavailable can depend on your mobile operator and may require a carrier-specific setup method.

If Call Forwarding does not appear in your iPhone settings, contact your mobile operator to confirm whether the feature is available on your line.

What Are the Call Divert Codes for Jio, Airtel, Vi, and BSNL?

Some telecom operators allow call forwarding to be managed directly from the phone dialer using network service codes. These are often referred to as call divert USSD codes, although many technically function as MMI or supplementary-service codes.

The available codes and activation methods can differ between telecom operators, so it is important to use the instructions provided by your own network.

What Are the Vi Call Divert Codes?

Vi officially provides separate call forwarding codes for all four common forwarding conditions.

Call Divert Type	Activation Code	Deactivation Code
Divert all incoming calls	*21*<number>#	##21#
Divert calls when busy	*67*<number>#	##67#
Divert unanswered calls	*61*<number>#	##61#
Divert calls when unreachable	*62*<number>#	##62#

Replace <number> with the phone number where you want the incoming calls to be forwarded.

Vi also provides:

##002#

to deactivate all call forwarding settings at once.

You can check the status of individual forwarding conditions using:

• *#21# — unconditional forwarding
• *#67# — forwarding when busy
• *#61# — forwarding when unanswered
• *#62# — forwarding when unreachable

How Can You Activate or Deactivate Call Divert on Jio?

Jio supports four types of call forwarding: unconditional, unanswered, busy, and unreachable.

For activation, Jio currently recommends using your phone’s Call Forwarding settings or the MyJio app.

In the MyJio app, go to:

Profile → Mobile Settings → Service Settings → Call Forwarding

Select the type of forwarding, complete SIM verification, and enter the 10-digit number where you want the calls to be forwarded.

Jio officially lists the following codes for deactivating call forwarding:

Call Divert Type	Deactivation Code
Unconditional forwarding	*402
Forwarding when unanswered	*404
Forwarding when busy	*406
Forwarding when unreachable	*410
Disable all call forwarding	*413

How Can You Manage Call Divert on Airtel?

Airtel supports unconditional, busy, unanswered, and unreachable call forwarding.

Airtel’s current online guidance provides dialer-based instructions, but the exact activation-code formatting is not presented consistently across its official pages. Because of this, it is safer to configure forwarding through your handset’s Call Forwarding settings or follow the latest instructions provided by Airtel for your connection.

Airtel does clearly list the following cancellation codes:

Call Divert Type	Deactivation Code
Unconditional forwarding	##21#
Forwarding when busy	##67#
Forwarding when unanswered	##61#
Forwarding when unreachable	##62#

Airtel also lists *#21# for checking the status of unconditional call forwarding.

How Can BSNL Users Manage Call Divert?

BSNL provides call forwarding on its mobile services, but a current pan-India official code table is not consistently published across its public support material.

For this reason, BSNL users should use the Call Forwarding settings available on their phone or confirm the current call divert activate code with BSNL before dialing a code found on a third-party website.

This is particularly important because service availability and configuration can differ depending on the connection and network setup.

What Should You Check Before Using a Call Divert Code?

After activating call forwarding, make a test call from another phone to confirm that calls are reaching the intended number.

You should also avoid dialing call forwarding codes provided by unknown callers. Fraudsters can misuse call forwarding by convincing users to redirect incoming calls to another number.

If someone claiming to be from customer support, a courier company, or another organisation unexpectedly asks you to dial a code containing a phone number, verify the request directly with the company before doing anything.

What Is the Difference Between a Call Divert Code and Call Divert Setting?

Both methods can be used to configure call forwarding, but the way you activate them is different.

Method	How It Works
Call Divert Setting	Call forwarding is configured through your phone’s settings
Call Divert Code	A supported code is entered through the phone dialer

For most users, phone settings are easier because the available call divert options are visible on screen.

A call divert code can be useful when your operator specifically supports or recommends it.

What Is the Difference Between Call Divert and Call Transfer?

Call divert and call transfer both move a call to another destination, but they work differently.

Call divert happens automatically based on a predefined forwarding rule.

For example:

Customer → Main Number → Automatically redirected to another number

Call transfer usually happens after someone has already answered the call.

For example:

Customer → Receptionist answers → Call is transferred to Sales

So, if someone searches how call transfer to another number, they are usually looking for a live-call transfer feature rather than automatic call diversion.

Why Do Businesses Use Call Divert?

Businesses use call divert to ensure incoming calls do not depend entirely on one employee or one phone.

A person responsible for answering calls may be:

• Already speaking with another customer
• Attending a meeting
• Working remotely
• Travelling
• On leave
• Temporarily unavailable

Instead of allowing the call to go unanswered, the business can call divert to another number where someone else can respond.

What Are the Main Benefits of Call Divert for Businesses?

1. Call Divert Can Help Reduce Missed Calls

If the primary phone cannot be answered, the call can be redirected to another number.

This gives the business another opportunity to speak with the caller.

2. Call Divert Allows Businesses to Keep One Public Number

Customers can continue calling the same business number even when the person handling calls changes.

The forwarding destination can be updated without changing the number customers already know.

3. Call Divert Supports Remote and Mobile Teams

Incoming calls can be redirected to employees who are working away from the office.

4. Call Divert Provides a Backup for Important Calls

Conditional forwarding can send calls to another number when the first person is busy, unavailable, or unable to answer.

5. Call Divert Reduces Dependence on a Single Phone

A business number does not have to depend entirely on one employee’s mobile phone or desk phone.

When Does a Business Need More Than Basic Call Divert?

Call divert becomes less effective when several employees need to manage a large number of incoming calls.

For example, if a sales number receives many enquiries, forwarding every call to one salesperson simply moves the workload from one phone to another.

A growing business may need more advanced call management features such as:

• IVR
• Call routing
• Ring groups
• Call queues
• Extensions
• Call recording
• Call tracking
• Call analytics

The call flow can then look like this:

Customer

↓

Business Number

↓

IVR

↓

Sales or Support Team

↓

Available Agent

This gives the business more control than basic call forwarding.

How CallerDesk Helps Businesses Go Beyond Basic Call Divert

Basic call divert is useful when calls only need to move from one number to another.

But businesses with larger sales or support teams often need more structured call handling.

With CallerDesk, businesses can use a virtual business number and decide how incoming calls should reach different employees or departments.

For example:

Customer calls the business number

↓

IVR identifies the requirement

↓

Call is routed to the appropriate team

↓

Available employee answers

Businesses can also use features such as call routing, call recording, call tracking, and call analytics to manage customer conversations more efficiently.

For simple requirements, basic call divert may be enough.

For growing teams, cloud telephony provides greater control over where calls go, who answers them, and what happens when the first destination is unavailable.

Conclusion

Call divert is a simple way to redirect incoming calls from one phone number to another when the original number cannot be answered.

You can divert all incoming calls or only redirect calls when your phone is busy, unanswered, or unreachable.

For individuals, freelancers, and small businesses, a basic call divert setting may be enough.

However, businesses handling a larger number of customer calls may need more than simple forwarding.

CallerDesk helps businesses create structured call flows using features such as virtual numbers, IVR, call routing, call tracking, call recording, and analytics—so incoming calls can reach the right person without depending on a single phone.