--- title: "Call Forwarding Setup - Auto-Respond Docs" description: "Point your existing business phone line at your voice agent number using carrier forwarding codes." source: https://auto-respond.com/docs/voice-agent/call-forwarding-setup/ --- ![Call Forwarding Setup documentation guide](https://auto-respond.com/assets/docs/voice-agent-call-forwarding-setup.svg "Call Forwarding Setup Documentation") A visual guide to the Call Forwarding Setup documentation, covering the setup, configuration, and workflow details explained on this page. Documentation illustration for Call Forwarding Setup. # Call Forwarding Setup Most businesses keep their established phone number and forward unanswered or after-hours calls to a voice agent. This page covers the common forwarding codes and recommendations for setting that up. ## Getting here The phone number you forward to is your voice agent’s assigned number. Find it in Auto-Respond under **Voice Agent** → **Manage Business Phones**. See [Phone Numbers](https://auto-respond.com/docs/voice-agent/phone-numbers/). ## How forwarding works Customer dials your office line → office line rings for a configured time → if unanswered (or always, or only when busy, depending on the rule) → the call forwards to your voice agent’s number → the agent answers. ℹ️ Carrier specifics vary. The codes below are common US defaults for landlines and many VoIP systems. Always check your carrier’s current documentation before relying on a specific code - AT\&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and smaller carriers each have their own variations. ## Common US forwarding codes ### Unconditional forwarding (always forward) All calls forward immediately, no ringing on your office line. - **Turn on:** dial `*72`, wait for tone, then enter the voice agent number. - **Turn off:** dial `*73`. Use when you’re out of the office for an extended period and want the agent to handle everything. ### When-busy forwarding Calls forward only when your office line is already on another call. - **Turn on:** dial `*68`, then enter the voice agent number. - **Turn off:** dial `*88`. Good for overflow - your team picks up when they can, busy calls go to the agent instead of hitting a busy signal. ### No-answer forwarding Calls forward after your office line rings a configured number of times with no pickup. - **Turn on:** dial `*92`, then enter the voice agent number. - **Turn off:** dial `*93`. The most common business setup. Your team answers when they can; unanswered calls go to the agent. ### When-unreachable forwarding Calls forward when your phone is powered off, out of coverage, or otherwise unreachable. Behavior varies by carrier. ## Choosing the right rule - **Have a team that answers most calls:** use **no-answer forwarding**. Set your ring count to 3–4 rings. - **One-person business, often on another call:** combine **when-busy** + **no-answer**. - **Out of office or after-hours-only coverage:** use **unconditional forwarding**, or keep no-answer forwarding on permanently and let your office answering machine pick up in business hours. ## VoIP and mobile systems If your office line is on a VoIP platform (RingCentral, Nextiva, 8x8, Vonage, etc.), forwarding is usually configured in the platform’s admin console rather than with star codes. Look for a setting named **Call Forwarding**, **Call Handling**, **Auto Attendant**, or **Call Flow** and set the “unanswered” or “busy” destination to your voice agent number. Mobile carriers also support forwarding codes, though the exact codes and timing vary. Check your carrier’s website for “call forwarding codes” if the standard `*72/*73` don’t work. ## Using caller ID verification to match your brand When the agent makes outbound callbacks or responds to leads, the customer normally sees the system voice agent number. If you’ve also set up **Caller ID verification**, outbound calls can show your real business number instead - the one customers recognize from your marketing. See [Caller ID & Trust Hub](https://auto-respond.com/docs/voice-agent/caller-id-and-trust-hub/) for the verification flow. 💡 A strong setup for most businesses: inbound calls are forwarded to the voice agent (so the agent answers when your team can’t), and outbound calls from the agent use your verified caller ID (so customers always see your real number). Consistent caller ID meaningfully lifts answer rates. ## Testing your forwarding ### Call your office line from a different phone Use a mobile phone or a different line - not the line you’re forwarding from. ### Let it ring Don’t answer. Let the configured ring count elapse. ### Confirm the agent picks up The voice agent should answer with its Custom Greeting. If it does, forwarding is working. ### Try a conversation Ask about a service, request pricing, or attempt to book an appointment. Then end the call. ### Check Call Logs Open **Voice Agent** → **Call Logs**. Your test call should be there with the transcript and recording. See [Call Logs & Analytics](https://auto-respond.com/docs/voice-agent/call-logs-analytics/). ## Troubleshooting **The forwarding code didn’t seem to work.** Carrier-specific codes often differ from the defaults above. Check your carrier’s documentation or call their support line. **Forwarded calls drop before the agent answers.** This is usually an issue on your office phone system, not the agent. Confirm the forwarding destination is the full E.164 voice agent number (with country code and leading `+` if your system requires it). **The agent answers but the caller hears an echo or delay.** A known symptom of some forwarding configurations, particularly cascading forwards (office → cell → agent). Simplify to one forwarding hop if possible. **The agent picks up but says it’s outside business hours.** That’s your agent’s **Timing** (call hours) in action - the forwarded call is being handled by the voicemail behavior. Either widen the agent’s call hours or accept that out-of-hours calls go to voicemail. See [Inbound Call Handling](https://auto-respond.com/docs/voice-agent/inbound-call-handling/). *** Questions? Email . Last updated: April 21, 2026