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How to forward calls after hours, carrier by carrier

Sourced steps for the major US carriers, Google Voice and RingCentral, plus how to test it so the 2 a.m. call actually reaches someone.

Published 1 October 2026 · 7 min read · Written by the Property Answering team, which sells an AI answering line.

The short answer Turn on forwarding from the phone that owns the number. On Verizon, dial *72 plus the 10-digit destination and *73 to stop. T-Mobile uses ** short codes, AT&T's steps depend on your device, and Google Voice and RingCentral do it in settings. Then test it from another phone, after hours, before you rely on it.

Why does after-hours forwarding matter for a property manager?

Many of the calls that cannot wait arrive when the office is closed: a burst pipe, no heat, a lockout. If your line rings out to a full voicemail box, the tenant calls again, then texts, then calls whoever answers. Forwarding sends those calls somewhere that will pick up, whether that is an on-call phone, a colleague or an answering service, without changing the number tenants already have.

If you are still deciding who should answer, our guide to property answering services and the FAQ cover the options. This article is about the plumbing: how to get the calls there.

What kinds of call forwarding are there?

Carriers and phone systems use three broad types. Knowing which one you are setting up saves most of the confusion later.

TypeWhat it doesGood for
UnconditionalEvery call goes straight to the new number. Your phone does not ring.Switching on at close and off at opening.
ConditionalCalls forward only when you are busy, do not answer, or your phone is off or out of coverage.Letting you answer if you can, with a backup when you can't.
Scheduled (business hours)A phone system routes calls one way during set hours and another way when closed.Hands-off after-hours routing on a business phone system.

Plain mobile lines usually give you the first two, set with star codes. A true schedule that switches automatically at 5 p.m. normally needs a business phone system such as RingCentral; on a cell phone you switch unconditional forwarding on and off yourself, or rely on conditional forwarding.

What do you need before you start?

  • The destination number, written as 10 digits. Verizon, for example, requires an active 10-digit US voice line and does not allow international destinations (Verizon). AT&T also blocks forwarding to international numbers (AT&T).
  • The phone itself. On AT&T you can only change forwarding from the wireless phone (AT&T). Star codes on other carriers are also dialed from the line being forwarded.
  • A look at your plan. Forwarded calls can use minutes or carry charges; see the pitfalls section below.

How do you forward calls on Verizon?

Verizon documents these codes on its call forwarding FAQ (Verizon):

  1. To forward every call, dial *72 followed by the 10-digit number, for example *72-908-123-4567, and press call.
  2. To stop forwarding, dial *73.
  3. To forward only the calls you don't answer, Verizon lists *71 followed by the 10-digit number. Verizon's page does not say whether it also covers busy or switched-off phones, so test those cases yourself.

Verizon says there is no monthly fee on most plans, though a fee may apply on some older ones, and forwarded calls are billed just as if you had answered them on your phone.

How do you forward calls on T-Mobile?

T-Mobile publishes GSM short codes on its self-service short codes page. That page blocked us while we were writing this, so the codes below come from a third-party copy of it. Confirm them on T-Mobile's page, or with T-Mobile support, before you rely on them:

  • **21*1 + the number + #: forward all calls. ##21# turns it off.
  • **61*1 + the number + #: forward when you don't answer. ##61# turns it off.
  • **62*1 + the number + #: forward when the phone is off or out of coverage. ##62# turns it off.
  • **67*1 + the number + #: forward when busy. ##67# turns it off.
  • ##004#: resets call forwarding. The copy we saw describes this as returning calls to voicemail, so check what it leaves on your line.

How do you forward calls on AT&T?

AT&T's call forwarding article does not list star codes (AT&T). The steps depend on your device, so:

  1. Go to AT&T's device support site and find the tutorial for your exact phone model.
  2. Follow its call forwarding steps, or ask AT&T support if your model has none.
  3. Note what AT&T says will happen: forwarding overrides your wireless voicemail, and if the forwarding number is busy, callers hear a busy signal.

How do you forward calls in Google Voice?

Google Voice forwards to "linked numbers" (Google Voice Help):

  1. Open Settings > Account > Linked numbers > New linked number, enter the number and verify it with the code Google sends.
  2. Open Settings > Calls, and under Incoming calls > Call forwarding, choose which linked numbers get your calls.

You can link up to six numbers, and not one that is already linked to another Google Voice number. Google also offers custom forwarding by contact, so specific callers can go to particular linked numbers or straight to voicemail (Google Voice Help).

Watch out: Google says forwarding from your Google Voice number to an automated system is not supported; that requires Google Workspace with an auto attendant. If you plan to forward to an automated answering line, forward the underlying carrier number instead, or ask the service whether it supports Google Voice.

How do you set after-hours routing in RingCentral?

RingCentral supports scheduled routing. Its call handling rules apply 24/7 by default; you need a business-hours schedule to get separate rules for business hours and closed hours (RingCentral).

  1. Set the company business-hours schedule first.
  2. In the mobile app, go to More > Admin > Phone system > Company call handling, then the Closed hours tab to choose where after-hours calls go (RingCentral).
  3. Accounts with multiple sites must use the Admin Portal instead.

The destinations that guide lists are inside RingCentral: users, call queues, voicemail, announcements, IVR menus and its AI Receptionist. It does not cover sending closed-hours calls to an outside number, so ask RingCentral support how to do that on your plan.

What about landlines and VoIP desk phones?

Steps vary too much by provider to list honestly. Many landlines support star-code forwarding, and most VoIP services set it in a web portal, sometimes with a schedule. Search your provider's support site for "call forwarding" and "business hours", or call their support line and ask specifically for after-hours or scheduled forwarding.

How do you test that forwarding works?

  1. Call your business number from a different phone, not the one being forwarded.
  2. Do it during the hours the forwarding is meant to run, so you test the real schedule.
  3. If you used conditional forwarding, test each path: let it ring out, decline the call, and try with the phone switched off.
  4. Confirm the destination sees the call and, if it takes messages, that the message reaches you.
  5. Repeat after any plan change, phone swap or system update.

What usually goes wrong?

  • Forwarding charges. Verizon bills forwarded calls as if you had answered them on your phone. AT&T bills forwarded calls for their duration and says long-distance and roaming charges may apply, though some plans don't count those minutes against the allowance.
  • Voicemail grabs the call first. With no-answer forwarding, voicemail can pick up before the forward kicks in. Check your carrier's settings, or use unconditional forwarding after hours.
  • Ring count. Conditional forwarding waits for several rings, and tenants may hang up before the forward happens. Some carriers let you change the delay; check with your provider.
  • Busy destinations. On AT&T, a busy forwarding number gives callers a busy signal.
  • Forgetting to turn it off. Unconditional forwarding stays on until you cancel it, so the office line goes quiet the next morning too. Put the off code in your opening checklist.

Can you forward to an answering service and keep your number?

Yes. This is the usual setup: tenants keep calling the number they know, and you forward it to the number the service gives you, using any of the methods above.

That is how Property Answering, which publishes this site, works. You forward your existing number to a line we set up with you on a setup call. It answers 24/7 from your written rules, answers Spanish-speaking callers in Spanish, records and transcribes calls, flags spam, and emails you a summary with action items minutes after each call, marked urgent when it is. It does not transfer calls live, dispatch vendors or connect to your property management software. It costs $69, $99 or $209 a month for up to 10, 20 or 50 calls a day, month to month, with 20% off if you pay yearly; details are on our cost page. To hear it before you change anything, call the demo line.

Sources

FAQ

Can I forward my business line only after hours, automatically?
On a business phone system such as RingCentral, yes: set a business-hours schedule and choose where calls go on the Closed hours tab. On a plain cell line, forwarding is usually on or off, so you switch it at close and opening, or use conditional forwarding.
Does call forwarding cost extra on my cell plan?
It can. Verizon charges no monthly fee on most plans but bills forwarded calls as if you had answered them on your phone. AT&T bills forwarded calls for their duration, and long-distance or roaming charges may apply. Check your own plan.
Why do my calls still go to voicemail after I set up forwarding?
You probably set conditional forwarding and voicemail answers before the forward triggers, or the code did not take. Use unconditional forwarding after hours, check your carrier's voicemail and ring settings, and test from another phone.
Can I forward calls to an answering service and keep my existing number?
Yes. You keep your number and forward it to the number the service gives you. Tenants keep dialing the number they already know.
How do you turn call forwarding off again?
On Verizon, dial *73. T-Mobile lists ##21# for unconditional forwarding and ##004# to reset forwarding; confirm on its short codes page. On AT&T, Google Voice and RingCentral, reverse the setting where you turned it on.

Tonight, let the phone ring.

Call the demo line and try to stump it with a tenant question. When you are ready, we set up your number with you, and you sleep through the dripping taps. Month to month, from $69.

The demo line is the real assistant. It records calls and we see the number you call from, so we may call you back once to follow up. Tell the assistant if you would rather we didn't.

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