Call Forwarding Unconditional & Conditional: Meaning, Codes and How to Turn It Off

Have you ever checked your phone and seen a message like “Call forwarding unconditional active” or “Conditional call forwarding active”? You may wonder why this message appears and whether your calls are going to another number.

These two messages have different meanings. One means all your incoming calls may be sent to another number, while the other means calls are sent to another number only in certain situations, such as when you are busy or cannot answer.

In this guide, you will learn what these messages mean, how unconditional and conditional call forwarding differ, and how to check or turn off call forwarding on your phone.

What Is Call Forwarding?

Call forwarding is a phone feature that redirects incoming calls from your mobile number to another number you choose. When someone calls you, the call is automatically sent to that number instead of ringing on your phone, depending on your call forwarding settings.

For example: If you are unable to answer calls on your personal number while at work, you can forward them to your office phone. This allows you to receive calls on another number without asking people to change the number they call.

Types of Call Forwarding

The two main types are unconditional call forwarding and conditional call forwarding. The difference is whether every call is forwarded or only calls that meet a certain condition.

1. What Is Unconditional Call Forwarding?

Unconditional call forwarding sends all incoming calls to another number, no matter whether your phone is busy, switched off or available. Your phone will not ring for those calls while the setting is active.

Example

Suppose you are travelling and want to receive calls on your second SIM. You can forward all calls from your main number to the second number. People can keep calling your usual number, but the calls will ring on the phone with the second SIM.

Unconditional forwarding can be useful when:

• You are using another phone for a short time.
• A colleague or assistant is answering your calls.
• You want to send all calls to an office number.
• You need your phone to stay silent for a while.

If your phone shows “Call forwarding unconditional active,” check which number is listed in your phone settings or operator app. If you do not recognise the number, turn forwarding off and contact your operator.

What Is Conditional Call Forwarding?

Conditional call forwarding sends calls to another number only when a particular condition is met. Your phone may ring first, depending on the setting.

Forwarding condition	What happens
When busy	The call is sent to another number while you are on a different call.
When unanswered	Your phone rings first. If you do not answer within the time set by the network, the call is forwarded.
When unreachable	The call is forwarded when your phone is switched off or outside network coverage.

You can set one condition or several. For example, you might keep calls on your phone when it is available but send unanswered calls to voicemail.

Unconditional vs Conditional Call Forwarding

	Unconditional forwarding	Conditional forwarding
When does it forward a call?	Every time someone calls	Only when a selected condition applies
Will your phone ring?	No	It may ring first
Example	Send every call to your work phone	Send unanswered calls to voicemail

The simple difference is this: unconditional forwarding sends every call; conditional forwarding sends only certain calls.

What Do Common Call Forwarding Messages Mean?

The exact wording can vary by phone, network and SIM. These are common messages and their usual meanings:

Phone message	What it usually means
Voice: Not forwarded	Forwarding is off for the voice-call condition shown.
Erase successful	The network accepted a request to remove a forwarding setting.
Registration successful	The network accepted a request to turn a forwarding setting on.
Call forwarding unconditional active	All incoming calls for the service shown may be going to another number.
Conditional call forwarding active	One or more conditions, such as busy or unanswered, may have forwarding enabled.
This call is forwarded	The phone or network is indicating that the call has been redirected. The wording can differ by device.

A message such as “all basic services” refers to the type of phone service covered by the setting. It is not, by itself, a sign that your phone has been hacked. Check the destination number and contact your operator if it looks unfamiliar.

How to Check Whether Call Forwarding Is On

If you want to know whether your calls are being forwarded to another number, you can check your phone settings or your mobile operator’s app. The steps depend on whether you use an Android phone or an iPhone.

1. How to Check Call Forwarding on Android

Follow these steps to check your call forwarding settings:

1. Open the Phone app on your Android device.
2. Tap the three-dot menu and select Settings.
3. Look for Call settings, Calling accounts or Supplementary services.
4. Select the SIM card you want to check, if you use a dual-SIM phone.
5. Tap Call forwarding to view the available forwarding settings.
6. Check whether any forwarding option is enabled and review the number to which calls are being redirected.

The menu names may vary depending on your phone brand and Android version. On Samsung Galaxy phones, you can usually find these options in the Phone app settings.

2. How to Check Call Forwarding on iPhone

If you use an iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Go to Apps → Phone → Call Forwarding.
3. Turn on the option if needed to view the forwarding settings.
4. If you use two SIMs, select the mobile line you want to check.

If you cannot find the setting or want to check forwarding when your phone is busy or unreachable, contact your mobile operator. These options depend on your carrier’s support.

3. How to Check Call Forwarding Using a Dial Code

Some mobile operators provide dial codes to check call forwarding settings. For example, Airtel lists *#21# for checking unconditional call forwarding, while Vi provides codes for checking different forwarding conditions.

However, these codes may not work on every network or mobile plan. Before using a code, check your operator’s official instructions. You can also use your phone settings or operator app to check whether call forwarding is active.

How to Turn Call Forwarding Off

The steps depend on your phone and operator. If a code does not work, use your phone settings or operator app instead.

1. Turn It Off on Android

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu and select Settings.
3. Open Calling accounts, Call settings or Supplementary services.
4. Select the correct SIM.
5. Tap Call forwarding.
6. Turn off each active condition, such as Always forward, When busy, When unanswered or When unreachable.

If you have two SIMs, check both. Forwarding may be active on one SIM but not the other.

2. Turn It Off on iPhone

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps → Phone → Call Forwarding.
3. Turn off Call Forwarding.
4. If you have two lines, confirm that you selected the right one.

This setting controls unconditional forwarding. For conditional forwarding, check with your operator.

3. Turn It Off on Jio

Jio customers can use the MyJio app:

1. Open MyJio and sign in with your number.
2. Go to Profile → Mobile Settings → Service Settings.
3. Select Call Forwarding, then choose Voice or Video.
4. Choose the active forwarding condition and complete SIM verification.
5. Tap Disable, then confirm.

Jio also lists these short codes for deactivating forwarding:

Forwarding setting	Code listed by Jio
Unconditional	*402
When unanswered	*404
When busy	*406
When unreachable	*410
All forwarding	*413

These codes and app steps are listed on Jio’s call forwarding support page. If a code does not work, use MyJio or contact Jio support.

4. Turn It Off on Airtel or Vi

Airtel and Vi list these codes for disabling specific forwarding conditions:

Forwarding setting	Code listed by Airtel and Vi
Unconditional	##21#
When busy	##67#
When unanswered	##61#
When unreachable	##62#

Vi also lists ##002# to disable all call forwarding settings at once. Read the instructions for your own operator before using a code, since the available options can differ.

5. What About BSNL and MTNL?

Use your phone’s call settings or contact BSNL or MTNL to confirm the current method for your number. Do not assume that a code listed for Jio, Airtel or Vi will work on another network.

Important: Call Forwarding Codes May Not Work Everywhere

Use the Department of Telecommunications notice as the main authority link. It says operators must discontinue existing USSD-based call-forwarding services from 15 April 2024 until further notice.

Read the DoT notice on USSD-based call forwarding

To support the next sentence about operator pages still listing codes, you can also link to the official Airtel, Vi and Jio instructions. The difference between those pages and the DoT notice is why the article advises readers to check with their operator.

Is Call Forwarding Safe?

Call forwarding is a standard phone feature. The risk comes when someone turns it on without your knowledge.

DoT has warned about calls where a person pretends to be from a telecom provider or technical support team and asks the customer to dial a code beginning with *401#, followed by a phone number. This can redirect incoming calls. Jio also warns customers not to dial codes at the request of an unknown caller.

Follow these steps to protect your number:

• Do not dial a code because an unknown caller asks you to.
• Check your forwarding settings if you see an unfamiliar message.
• Turn off any setting that you do not recognise.
• Contact your operator if an unknown number appears as the forwarding destination.
• Report suspected fraud communications through Sanchar Saathi’s Chakshu facility.

Troubleshooting Common Call Forwarding Problems

1. Calls Still Ring on Your Phone

If your phone continues to ring, you may have enabled call forwarding only for specific situations instead of forwarding all incoming calls.

To fix this, open your phone’s call forwarding settings and check whether Always forward is enabled. Also, make sure you have selected the correct SIM card.

2. Calls Are Not Reaching the Forwarded Number

This may happen if call forwarding is disabled, the destination number is incorrect, or your operator does not support the selected forwarding option.

Check whether forwarding is enabled for the correct condition and verify the destination number. If the problem continues, contact your mobile operator.

3. The Call Forwarding Dial Code Is Not Working

A dial code may not work because your operator does not support it or has changed the available method for managing call forwarding.

Try using your phone settings or operator app instead. If the problem persists, contact customer support to confirm the method available for your number.

4. “Conditional Call Forwarding Active” Keeps Appearing

This message usually means that one or more conditional forwarding settings may be active. For example, calls may be forwarded when your phone is busy, you do not answer, or your phone is unreachable.

Check the call forwarding settings for your SIM to identify the active conditions. If you cannot find them, contact your operator for help. Disabling conditional forwarding may also affect how unanswered calls are sent to voicemail.

5. Call Forwarding Is Not Turning Off

If calls continue to be forwarded after you disable the setting, check whether other forwarding conditions are still active.

Open the call forwarding menu, review each option and turn off any unwanted settings. If the issue continues, ask your mobile operator to check the forwarding status for your number.

Managing Business Calls with Call Forwarding

Forwarding calls from one personal number can work well for one person. A business that receives calls for sales, support and other teams may need more ways to route and track them.

A cloud telephony service such as CallerDesk can help a business use one number for customer calls, route callers through an IVR menu and send calls to available team members. 

Conclusion

Unconditional and conditional call forwarding work differently. Unconditional call forwarding redirects all incoming calls, while conditional call forwarding redirects calls only in specific situations, such as when your phone is busy, unanswered or unreachable.

If you see a call forwarding message or your calls are being redirected unexpectedly, check the settings for the correct SIM and confirm the forwarding number. You can usually manage these settings through your phone or mobile operator’s app. Keep in mind that available dial codes may vary by operator.

If you want to understand how call forwarding differs from directing calls through a business phone system, read our guide to call forwarding vs. call routing.