How to Forward Calls Without Having the Phone With You

Missing important calls can be frustrating, especially when you don’t have your phone with you. Maybe your phone is lost, left at home, or simply turned off.

In these moments, not being able to answer business calls can hurt your relationships with customers or cause you to miss time-sensitive updates.

The good news is, you can still stay connected. With call forwarding, there are ways to send your calls to another number even if you don’t have your main phone next to you.

In this article, we’ll show you how to forward calls without having the phone with you.

What Is Call Forwarding?

Call forwarding lets you send all the calls coming to your main business phone number to another number. This can be helpful if you’re out of the office or using a different device.

For example, you can forward calls from your desk phone to your mobile or another external number, so you never miss important calls.

There are many forwarding options. You can forward calls right away, after a few rings, or only when you’re busy. Some business communication solutions even let you choose forwarding rules based on time or caller.

You can also set a forwarding number for each user or use manager privileges to control how calls are handled across your team.

Call forwarding helps business owners stay connected. You can manage device settings from a desktop or app and make changes anytime. If you need to stop forwarding, it only takes a few clicks.

This feature is great for people who work in different places or who use more than one phone. It keeps communication smooth and straightforward.

See how Talkroute’s advanced call forwarding keeps your team connected across locations with zero hassle.

4 Ways to Forward Calls to Another Number

There are several ways to forward calls to another number, even if you don’t have your main phone with you.

Whether you use a traditional landline, mobile phone, or a business phone system, there’s usually a method that fits your setup.

Below are five simple ways to get your calls sent to another number, so you never miss anything important.

1. Via Carrier’s Website or Online Account Management

Most mobile carriers, like Verizon, let you turn on call forwarding from your online account. This can be helpful if you don’t have your phone with you or want to manage it from a computer. It works best if you’re forwarding calls to just one number.

Here’s how to do it with Verizon:

1. Go to Verizon’s call forwarding page.
2. Sign in with your account details. You must be the account owner or manager.
3. Find the phone you want to manage and click “Manage device.”
4. Scroll to “Call forwarding” and select “Manage.”
5. Type in the number you want to forward calls to, including the area code.
6. Click “Update Call Forwarding Status.”
7. Verizon will ask you to confirm this change. You’ll get a link by email or a push notification from the My Verizon app.

Once done, all incoming calls to your mobile number will go to the new number until you turn the setting off again.

2. Contacting Carrier Customer Service to Set Up Call Forwarding

If you can’t access your provider’s online portal or don’t have access to your phone, you can still set up call forwarding by calling your carrier’s customer service. Most major providers offer this option, especially for landline users.

When you call, you’ll likely need to verify your identity. This may include sharing your account number, billing info, or answering a security question.

Once verified, the support agent can turn on call forwarding for you and set it to the telephone number you choose.

Here’s how to set up call forwarding through customer service:

• Call your phone carrier’s customer support line
• Give your account or billing details to verify your identity
• Ask the agent to activate call forwarding
• Share the forwarding number where calls should be sent
• Confirm that the feature is turned on before ending the call

This method is useful if you’re locked out of your account, don’t have access to your device, or just prefer speaking to someone directly. It’s another simple way to make sure you never miss important calls.

3. Using Access Numbers

If your main business phone is a landline, some providers like AT&T let you turn on call forwarding with special access numbers. These access numbers can be dialed from any phone, not just the one you’re forwarding from.

This is useful when you’re away from your landline but still want to send all the calls to another number.

Here’s how to do it:

• Find the access number from your service provider (like AT&T)
• Dial the access number from any phone
• Enter your landline number (if asked)
• Enter the forwarding number where you want calls to go
• Type in your PIN if required
• You’ll hear a message or tone when call forwarding is active

It’s a simple way to stay reachable, even if you’re not near your main phone. This is helpful for business owners who travel, work from different locations, or just want more control.

4. Using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or Business Phone System

One of the most significant benefits of VoIP is that you can make and take calls using just an internet connection. You don’t need a regular phone line.

Many business phone systems today use these virtual phone systems because they offer more control, better features, and the ability to work from anywhere.

With VoIP, you don’t need your main phone to forward calls. You can log in to your provider’s app or dashboard from any device to manage call settings.

How to forward calls using VoIP or business phone systems:

• Log in to your VoIP provider’s dashboard or app
• Go to the call settings or forwarding section
• Choose a virtual number or device to forward calls to
• Set rules or time-based forwarding if available
• Save the changes and test to confirm it’s working

Most systems let you choose where to send your calls, set up an IVR system, and even route calls to virtual numbers. These numbers work just like real phone numbers but are not tied to a specific device.

From desk phones to mobile devices, see how Talkroute gives you full control over where your calls go.

Traditional Call Forwarding vs Modern Call Forwarding

Let’s take a closer look at how traditional call forwarding compares to modern call forwarding and why the newer method offers several advantages for busy teams and remote work.

What Is Traditional Call Forwarding?

Traditional call forwarding sends incoming calls from one telephone number to another. It usually works through your phone carrier and is often set up using codes on a landline or mobile phone. You might dial a star code to forward calls from your desk phone to your mobile.

It’s simple but limited. You can’t choose when or how to forward based on your schedule, and there’s no smart control. On basic feature phones and landlines, the options are restricted and fixed.

Setting Up Call Forwarding Using the *72 Code

Some phone carriers let you turn on call forwarding by dialing a special code, usually *72 followed by the forwarding number, then #. When you dial this code, it activates call forwarding on your line. Once set, all calls will go to the number you entered.

These codes can be different depending on your carrier and location. Some may also require you to enter your phone number or a PIN. It’s a good idea to check your provider’s instructions before using this method.

Here is how activating call forwarding with a carrier code usually works:

• Find your carrier’s call forwarding code (like *72)
• Dial the code and enter the number where you want calls forwarded
• Press # to finish the setup
• Wait for a tone or message that confirms it’s active

What Is Modern Call Forwarding (Cloud or VoIP-Based)?

Modern call forwarding gives you more control and flexibility. It works through cloud-based phone systems that offer several advantages.

You can forward calls to multiple phones, create schedules, and even send calls to teams based on rules.

It supports Android phones, iPhones, desktop apps, and more, allowing you to stay connected anywhere. It also brings added remote features, like voicemail, caller ID, and team call routing.

Key Differences at a Glance

The big difference between traditional and modern call forwarding is in control and features. Traditional call forwarding is basic and manual.

Modern call forwarding improves operational efficiency and customer experience by letting you manage calls from any device, with more options, all in real time. Here is a table that summarizes their differences:

Feature	Traditional	Modern VoIP/Cloud
Setup	Manual (*72 code)	App/web dashboard
Devices	One number only	Multiple phones/devices
Rules	No conditions	Forward by time, caller, etc.
Features	Basic	Voicemail, call logs, and schedules
Cost	May cost extra	Included in VoIP plans

Recommended reading:

A Simple Guide to Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS)

The Future of VoIP: Trends to Look Out For in 2025

VoIP vs UCaaS: A Complete Guide For Businesses

Stay Connected Anywhere You Go With Talkroute

Talkroute makes it easy to run your business from anywhere. You don’t need to be in the office. You don’t even need to carry a second phone. Just use the devices you already have to stay connected with your team and your customers.

Whether you’re at home, at a coffee shop, or traveling, Talkroute gives you the freedom to answer business calls on your computer, your mobile phone, or even a landline. You can move between devices without missing anything.

Use Your Computer Like a Business Phone

With the Talkroute desktop app, your computer becomes part of your phone system. You can take calls, send texts, and check voicemail right from your laptop or desktop.

It works on Mac, Windows, and Linux, so your team can stay connected no matter what kind of computer they use.

For example, if you’re working from your home office, you can take business calls on your laptop while replying to texts in the same window. There’s no need to switch devices or open extra tabs.

Forward Calls to Your Mobile Phone

Need to leave the office? No problem.

You can set Talkroute to forward calls to your personal phone. The person calling won’t know the difference. They’ll hear your business greeting, and you’ll answer like normal.

You can even set it to ring more than one phone. For instance, you might want your call to go to your mobile first, then to a coworker if you don’t answer. It helps you stay available without being tied to your desk.

Add Your Team and Route Calls Where You Want

You can route incoming calls to different team members based on time, day, or department. For example, calls that come in before noon can go to one person.

After that, they can go to someone else. You can also route calls to different team members based on menu options like “press 1 for sales, press 2 for support.”

This kind of setup keeps your callers happy and makes sure they always reach the right person.

No Special Equipment Needed

You don’t need to buy any new phones or install phone hardware. Everything works with your current devices. That means you can set up your business phone system without spending extra money or waiting for a technician.

Just download the Talkroute app on your devices, and you’re ready to go.

One Price Covers Everything

Talkroute plans start at $19 per month. This monthly plan is not charged per user, so your whole team can get access without the cost going up for each person. There are no contracts and no hidden fees. You can also add extra phone numbers if you need them for just $5 a month.

When your business calls come to every device, you stay available and ready. Try Talkroute free for seven days and test call forwarding to your mobile, desk phone, or any team member.

FAQs About How to Forward Calls Without Having the Phone

How to forward calls on iPhone to another phone without having the original phone with you?

To forward calls on your iPhone to another number without having the original phone with you, you can use your service provider’s call forwarding feature. Most mobile carriers offer remote access options that let you manage call forwarding settings from a different phone.

You’ll usually dial a specific access number, enter your mobile number, and then follow prompts to redirect phone calls to another number.

How to forward calls without my phone?

If you want to forward calls without having the phone in your hand, you can often do it through your carrier’s call forwarding services.

Some providers let you control forwarding settings online or from another cell phone using remote access codes. This is useful when you’re away from your mobile device but still want to receive calls on a different phone.

Can I forward my calls and texts to another cell phone?

You can forward calls to another cell phone using the call forwarding feature through your phone settings or by using your carrier’s forwarding services.

Text messages, however, don’t follow the same path and usually need third-party apps or a virtual phone system with additional features to forward SMS messages.

How to forward calls using *72?

To forward your phone calls using *72, just dial *72 followed by the phone number you want to send incoming calls to, including the area code. After you hear a confirmation tone or the call rings once, call forwarding is active.

To stop redirecting calls, dial the deactivation code, usually *73, and check your forwarding status in your call settings.