How to Forward Calls to Your AI Receptionist

To send your calls to an AI receptionist, you forward your existing number to the dedicated number you're given at setup — usually by dialing *72 followed by that number. It takes under two minutes, works on both cell and landline, and you keep your own number the whole time. This guide gives you the exact codes for every major U.S. carrier, plus how to choose between forwarding all calls and only the ones you miss.

First, pick your forwarding type

There are two flavors, and choosing the right one matters more than the code itself.

• Unconditional (always) forwarding — every call routes to the AI immediately. Best for full 24/7 coverage where the AI is your front desk.
• Conditional forwarding — calls route to the AI only when your line is busy, unanswered, or unreachable. Best if you want to grab calls yourself first and only hand off the ones you can't take.

Most service businesses running an AI as their primary receptionist use unconditional forwarding. If you're keeping a human answering during the day and only want after-hours coverage, conditional is your friend. You can also set business hours inside the AI itself so it only takes over nights and weekends.

The universal codes (work on most carriers)

These GSM/CDMA feature codes are standardized across most U.S. networks:

Action	Code	Notes
Turn on always-forward	*72 + number, press call	Wait for confirmation tone
Turn off always-forward	*73	Cancels unconditional forwarding
Forward when unanswered	*71 + number	Conditional (some carriers)
Forward when busy	*90 + number	Varies by carrier
Forward when unreachable	*92 + number	Off/no-signal

Dial the code, enter the forwarding number with no spaces or dashes, press call, and listen for a short confirmation tone or message. That tone means it worked.

Carrier-by-carrier

Verizon

• Always forward: *72 + 10-digit number, press Call, wait for the tone, then hang up.
• Turn off: *73, press Call.
• Conditional: Verizon calls it "No Answer/Busy Transfer" — set it in the My Verizon app under Call Settings if the star codes don't stick.

AT&T

• Always forward: *21* + number + #, press Call. (Newer AT&T lines use the **21* GSM format.)
• Turn off: #21#, press Call.
• Conditional (no answer): **61* + number + #.

T-Mobile

• Always forward: **21* + number + #, press Call.
• Turn off: ##21#, press Call.
• When unanswered: **61* + number + #; when busy: **67* + number + #; when unreachable: **62* + number + #.

Landline / VoIP (Spectrum, Comcast Business, RingCentral, etc.)

• Most landlines use *72 to enable and *73 to disable.
• VoIP systems (RingCentral, Grasshopper, 8x8, Ooma) usually have a call-handling or forwarding toggle in the web dashboard — set the forwarding destination to your AI number there instead of dialing a code.

If your carrier isn't listed or the code returns an error, the fastest path is your carrier's app: look for Call Forwarding or Call Settings and paste in the AI number. Every carrier supports forwarding; only the syntax differs.

Test before you walk away

Forwarding silently is the one mistake to avoid. Always confirm:

1. From a different phone, call your business number.
2. Confirm the AI answers in your business name within a couple rings.
3. Ask it a real question and confirm it offers to book.
4. Hang up and check that you got the call summary / text-back you expect.

If all four happen, you're live. This whole flip is the last step of a 5-minute setup — the receptionist itself is already built and knows your business before you ever dial the code.

Troubleshooting the common snags

• No confirmation tone? The code didn't take. Try the app-based toggle instead.
• Calls still ring to you? You may have used a conditional code (*71) expecting unconditional (*72), or vice versa.
• "Feature not provisioned"? Some business lines need forwarding enabled by the carrier once — a quick call to their support unlocks it.
• Want to reverse it? *73 (or ##21# on GSM carriers) turns forwarding off instantly. You're never locked in.

Because forwarding is native to your carrier, you keep your existing number and your caller ID — nothing about how customers reach you changes. More on that in keep your existing phone number.

Why this is worth two minutes

Every unforwarded hour is a leak. 62% of calls to small businesses go unanswered, and 78% of callers hire whoever responds first. Forwarding is the single action that turns your ringing-out line into a line that books jobs 24/7 — no new hardware, no new number, no contract with your carrier.

Want us to set the forwarding up with you on the phone and confirm the test call together? Book a walkthrough, see how it works, or call (888) 412-9101 and we'll get your line answering today.