Every Australian mobile network supports the same set of call forwarding codes, because they are part of the GSM standard rather than something each carrier invented. That is good news: the codes below work on Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and every reseller that runs on their networks, including Boost, Belong, amaysim, Kogan, Aldi Mobile and Woolworths Mobile.
You dial them in the Phone app keypad and press the call button, exactly like dialling a number.
The four kinds of forwarding
Phones can forward calls in four different situations. Each has its own code.
| Situation | Turn on | Turn off | Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Always (every call) | **21*NUMBER# |
##21# |
*#21# |
| When no answer | **61*NUMBER*11*SECONDS# |
##61# |
*#61# |
| When busy | **67*NUMBER# |
##67# |
*#67# |
| When unreachable (no signal, phone off) | **62*NUMBER# |
##62# |
*#62# |
NUMBER is the number to forward to, written with the country code and no spaces, for example +61255501234. SECONDS is how long your phone rings before forwarding, in multiples of 5 from 5 to 30.
Which one you want
For an answering service or an AI receptionist you almost always want when no answer, and usually when busy as well. Your phone rings first. If you pick up, nothing happens. If you do not, or you are on another call, the caller is passed to the other number.
The one to avoid is always. It sends every call straight to the other number without ringing your phone at all. It is the most common cause of "my phone has stopped ringing".
Clearing everything
If forwarding is in a mess and you are not sure what is set, this code clears every type of forwarding and carrier voicemail in one go:
##002#
Then set up the one you want again. Note that this also removes your carrier's voicemail divert, so if you still want voicemail as a fallback you will need to re-enable it through your carrier's app.
A worked example
To send unanswered calls to +61 2 5550 1234 after 20 seconds:
**61*+61255501234*11*20#
Press call. Your phone should show a confirmation such as "Call forwarding activated" or "Setting succeeded". To check it later, dial *#61#.
To switch it off again:
##61#
Carrier notes
Telstra. Codes work on all plans. Ring time can be set between 5 and 30 seconds.
Optus. Codes work. If you get a network error, restart the phone and try again.
Vodafone. Codes work. On some prepaid plans forwarding has to be switched on first in the My Vodafone app.
Resellers. Boost and Belong run on Telstra, amaysim and Coles on Optus, Kogan and Lebara on Vodafone. The parent network's notes apply. If a code is rejected, the reseller's support line can enable forwarding on the account.
Using the phone's settings instead
iPhones only have a menu for "always" forwarding (Settings, Phone, Call Forwarding), which is the one you do not want, so use the codes above. Android phones vary: Samsung has Phone app, menu, Settings, Supplementary services, Call forwarding; Pixel has Phone app, menu, Settings, Calls, Call forwarding. Both let you set "when unanswered" from a menu. The codes are faster and work on every model.
Does forwarding cost anything?
On most current Australian plans, forwarded calls are treated as outgoing calls from your phone to the forwarding number. If your plan has unlimited national calls, which nearly all do now, there is no extra charge. Older or very cheap prepaid plans may deduct call minutes.
Setting up forwarding for AfterTone? The iPhone and Android guides walk through every tap, and subscribers can press one button to have us ring them and check it worked.