Call forwarding service
Forward business calls to your mobile phone, a landline, or a teammate with Dialpad. Add up to five forwarding numbers that ring together with your Dialpad number, so you can answer wherever you are.
What is a call forwarding service and how does it work?
A call forwarding service sends calls made to one phone number to another number or device, such as a mobile phone, landline, or colleague's line. For businesses, it means customers can reach you on your business number while you answer from wherever you are, without sharing a personal number.
Call forwarding can send every call to another number, or only calls you miss, such as when you're busy, away, or outside business hours. Most VoIP phone systems include call forwarding as a standard feature, so you don't need a separate call forwarding app.
Call forwarding vs. simultaneous ring vs. call transfer
These three features are related but handle calls differently:
Call forwarding sends calls from your number to another number, such as your mobile phone.
Simultaneous ring rings several devices at once, and the call goes to whichever one answers first.
Call transfer moves a call you've already answered to someone else.
In Dialpad, forwarding numbers work together with simultaneous ring: your forwarding numbers ring at the same time as your Dialpad number, so you can pick up on whichever device is closest.
Get more than just call forwarding with Dialpad
With Dialpad, call forwarding is part of a full business phone system, not a standalone app. Here are a few things that come with it:
Easy setup
Add up to five forwarding numbers, including mobile phones and landlines, in a few clicks from your Dialpad settings. Like many features in Dialpad, you can set it up on your own without IT help.
Gives small business a big presence
Let's say you're located in California but do lots of business in other states. A virtual phone number with a local area code can receive calls and forward them to you, giving your business a local presence wherever your customers are.
Better after-hours coverage
Some teams, like repair services or tech support, don't work a standard 9-to-5. With business hours and routing rules in Dialpad, calls outside normal hours can go to the staff on duty instead of a closed office.
When no one is available to take a forwarded call, an AI receptionist can answer instead, help callers with common questions, and route them to the right person.
Voicemail forwarding
You can forward voicemail messages to other people, too. And with Dialpad's visual voicemail, you can read transcribed messages instead of listening to each one.
Custom call routing
Route callers to the right person or team based on how your business is set up. An auto attendant or interactive voice response (IVR) menu can also help callers find answers or reach the right department without being forwarded at all.
Call recording
Record calls and meetings with a click. Dialpad's AI transcription turns conversations into searchable transcripts, so you can revisit details later without replaying the whole recording.
Desktop and mobile apps
Dialpad's app works across iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. Make and receive calls, send business text messages, start video meetings, and more, all in one app.
How to set up call forwarding in Dialpad
If you have a Dialpad number, you can add up to five forwarding numbers. These can be a mobile phone, a landline, or another number where you'd like to take calls.
Go to Your Settings and select Your devices.
Select Add new, then Add a forwarding number.
Enter the number and select Verify. Dialpad will call the number. Answer it and press 1.
Once verified, the forwarding number rings together with your Dialpad number whenever you get a call, so you can answer on whichever phone is closest. International forwarding numbers are supported, though calls forwarded internationally may be charged at standard rates.
Customize forwarding behavior
In Your devices, select Advanced Settings to fine-tune how forwarded calls work:
Forwarding prompt: Turn on a prompt that asks you to press 1 to accept a forwarded call. This keeps calls in Dialpad instead of going to your mobile carrier's voicemail.
Incoming caller ID: Choose whether forwarded calls show the caller's number or your Dialpad number, so you can tell business calls from personal ones at a glance.
How to turn off call forwarding in Dialpad
To stop forwarding calls to a number:
Go to Your Settings and select Your devices.
Find the forwarding number in your list of devices.
Select Remove.
You can add the number back at any time if your plans change.
Call forwarding on iPhone and Android
Dialpad's call forwarding works the same way across desktop, tablet, and mobile, whether you use an iPhone or Android. You can also set up basic call forwarding through your phone itself, though it's usually limited to a single forwarding number.
Call forwarding on iPhone
If your carrier supports it, you can forward calls on iPhone in a few steps:
Go to Settings and select Phone.
Tap Call Forwarding and turn it on.
Enter the number you want to forward calls to.
While call forwarding is on, an icon appears in your status bar.
Call forwarding on Android
On Android phones that use the Google Phone app:
Open the Phone app and tap the menu icon (three dots) at the top right.
Select Settings, then Calling accounts.
If you have more than one SIM or eSIM, choose the one you want to forward calls from.
Select Call forwarding and choose an option: Always forward, When busy, When unanswered, or When unreachable.
Enter the number you want to forward calls to and tap Turn on.
Menu names can vary by phone manufacturer and Android version.
Forwarding calls with star codes
Many US carriers also support star codes for call forwarding. On many networks, dialing *72 followed by a phone number turns forwarding on, and dialing *73 turns it off. Codes vary by carrier, so check with yours before relying on them.
Phone-based forwarding works for a single number, but it ties forwarding to your carrier and personal device. With Dialpad, you can forward your business number to up to five numbers, manage everything from one place, and keep your business and personal calls separate.
Want to try an easy-to-use call forwarding service?
Sign up for a 14-day free trial of Dialpad Connect to get a business phone number and start forwarding calls today.