Forward only the calls you miss
Most owners don't want every call going somewhere else. They want their phone to ring first and only the calls they can't answer to go to a receptionist or another number. That's called conditional forwarding, and here's how to set it up on your carrier and phone.
Pick your carrier or phone
Every step comes from the carrier's or phone maker's own support pages, checked October 29, 2026.
Verizon
One code forwards the calls you don't answer: *71 plus the number.
Verizon guideT-Mobile
Separate codes for unanswered, busy and unreachable calls, plus a ring-time setting.
T-Mobile guideAT&T
Set it up in your phone's call settings, with separate options for busy, unanswered and unreachable.
AT&T guideiPhone
What the iPhone setting does, and how to forward only missed calls instead.
iPhone guideAndroid
The menu path on Google's Phone app and on Samsung Galaxy phones.
Android guideMissed-call calculator
See what a month of unanswered calls is worth to your business.
Open the calculatorAll calls or only missed calls?
Forwarding all calls sends every call to another number and your phone never rings. It's useful on vacation, but most owners don't want it day to day.
Conditional forwarding lets your phone ring first. Only calls you don't answer, calls that come in while you're on the line, or calls that arrive while your phone is off go to the other number. Carriers call these "no answer", "busy" and "unreachable".
For a receptionist like Gwen, conditional forwarding is the one you want: you still take every call you can, and the rest get answered instead of going to voicemail.
Want the missed calls answered, not just forwarded?
Gwen is an AI receptionist trained on your own website. Forward the calls you miss to her and she answers, handles emergencies safely and emails you every request. Send us your website for a free, private demo.
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