T Mobile Conditional Call Forwarding: Codes and Setup

There are two main kinds of call forwarding. Unconditional forwarding sends every call to another number, no matter what. Conditional forwarding only sends calls in specific situations, which is useful when you want to answer your own phone most of the time and only catch the calls you miss.

Conditional forwarding has three common triggers. No-answer forwarding kicks in when the phone rings without anyone picking up. Busy forwarding applies when you are already on a call. Unreachable forwarding applies when your phone is off or out of coverage. Each trigger is set separately on T-Mobile, so you can use one, two, or all three.

• No answer: the phone rings but nobody picks up.
• Busy: you are already on another call.
• Unreachable: the phone is powered off or has no signal.
• Unconditional forwarding is a separate feature that sends all calls, and it uses a different code.

T-Mobile publishes short codes for call services. Dial them from the T-Mobile phone itself, replacing DESTINATION with the full 10-digit number you want calls to go to. Wait for the confirmation message or tone before hanging up.

These codes cover call forwarding only, not text messages, and support depends on your service and device. If a code does not work, contact T-Mobile to confirm the feature is available on your line.

• No answer: dial **61*1DESTINATION# to enable; ##61# to disable.
• Unreachable: dial **62*1DESTINATION# to enable; ##62# to disable.
• Busy: dial **67*1DESTINATION# to enable; ##67# to disable.
• Unconditional (all calls): dial **21*1DESTINATION# to enable; ##21# to disable.
• Reset everything to defaults: dial ##004#.
• Disable each conditional type with its own ## code; there is not one shared off code for all three.

Besides dialing codes, many phones show call forwarding status in the built-in settings. On Android, this is usually under Phone app, then Settings, then Call forwarding or Supplementary services. On iPhone, look under Settings, then Phone, then Call Forwarding, though the iPhone menu mainly shows unconditional forwarding and carrier-dependent options.

The codes remain the reliable way to set conditional forwarding on T-Mobile, because the settings menus vary by phone model and software version. After dialing a code, you can reopen the settings menu to confirm the destination was saved.

• Codes work from the dial pad and do not depend on your phone brand.
• Settings menus are a way to check status, not always a way to set conditional rules.
• If the menu shows an error, the feature may not be active on your plan; ask T-Mobile.

A common question is how T-Mobile conditional forwarding interacts with Google Voice. If you want missed cell calls to end up in Google Voice voicemail, Google's documentation says to configure conditional forwarding on the cell line itself, not in the Voice app. You dial your carrier's codes and enter your Google Voice number as the destination.

Google notes that carrier codes vary and that some reseller plans may not support conditional forwarding. Google's own documented examples include AT&T Wireless codes such as *61*DESTINATION# for no answer and *67*DESTINATION# for busy, and a Verizon example of *71 plus the destination. On T-Mobile, use the T-Mobile codes listed above with your Google Voice number as the destination, and confirm each one separately.

One important limit: Google explicitly states that forwarding calls from a Google Voice number to an automated system is unsupported. So calls coming in on a Google Voice number cannot be forwarded onward to an automated answering service. The conditional-forwarding-to-Google-Voice setup only works in the other direction, from a carrier line into Google Voice voicemail.

• Set conditional forwarding on the cell line using carrier codes, with your Google Voice number as the destination.
• Send each trigger (no answer, busy, unreachable) separately and wait for confirmation.
• Some reseller or prepaid plans may not support conditional forwarding at all.
• Forwarding a Google Voice number to an automated system is unsupported by Google, so that path is not an option.

After enabling a conditional rule, test it in a way that matches the trigger. For no-answer forwarding, call your line from another phone and let it ring past the answer delay. For busy forwarding, get a second call while you are on the phone. For unreachable forwarding, you can briefly put the phone in airplane mode and call it.

To turn a rule off, dial its matching ## code: ##61#, ##62#, or ##67#. To clear all forwarding at once and return to defaults, dial ##004#. If you plan to switch destinations later, disabling first and then enabling the new rule avoids confusion about where calls are going.

• Test each trigger separately so you know which rules are active.
• ##61#, ##62#, and ##67# each disable one conditional rule.
• ##004# resets all forwarding to defaults.
• Forwarding applies to calls, not text messages.

Conditional forwarding only decides when a call moves; the destination decides what the caller experiences. Sending missed calls to another phone you carry keeps things simple but does not help when you genuinely cannot answer. Sending them to voicemail captures a message, but callers who hang up without leaving one are lost.

Some owners instead forward missed calls to an answering service so a caller can get answers, leave a detailed message, or request an appointment. With AllDayDesk, the AI receptionist answers using your saved business information, and calls, transcripts, summaries, and bookings appear in your dashboard. New appointments go on the built-in AllDayDesk calendar once you have configured services and availability, with an optional Google Calendar connection available in Settings after you connect and authorize your account. When the answer, price, or appointment time is unknown, the receptionist takes a message for you instead of guessing. Transfers to you require you to configure a destination and rules, and pickup is not guaranteed.

• Second phone: simple, but only helps if someone can pick up.
• Voicemail: captures messages, but silent hang-ups go nowhere.
• Answering service: answers questions, takes messages, and can book appointments.
• AllDayDesk lets you keep your public number by forwarding calls; setup steps depend on your phone service.