How to forward calls from a landline
A clinic or shop landline can be forwarded too, and it is the number most worth forwarding, because it is the one printed on the board outside and listed on Google. The steps depend on the kind of line. Traditional copper lines from BSNL and MTNL use dial codes once the facility is enabled; fibre voice lines from Jio, Airtel and Tata are set from the provider's app or portal.
*61*NUMBER# to forward calls you do not answer, *67*NUMBER# when busy, *62*NUMBER# when unreachable, and *21*NUMBER# for every call. Replace NUMBER with the number to forward to. ##002# switches all forwarding off.
The standard codes on Landline (BSNL, MTNL and others)
These GSM codes work on every Indian mobile network. Type the code exactly, including the star and hash, then press call. The network replies on screen with "Call forwarding activated" or similar.
| Condition | Switch on | Switch off | Check status |
|---|---|---|---|
| All calls | *21*NUMBER# | #21# | *#21# |
| When busy | *67*NUMBER# | #67# | *#67# |
| When not answered | *61*NUMBER# | #61# | *#61# |
| When unreachable | *62*NUMBER# | #62# | *#62# |
Cancel every kind of forwarding at once with ##002#.
Which condition should you use?
All calls
Every call goes to the receptionist straight away. Use this when nobody at the counter should be picking up, for example on a Sunday or when the clinic is closed.
When busy
You are already on a call and a second person rings. Instead of an engaged tone they reach the receptionist.
When not answered
You let it ring and do not pick up. The network waits a set number of seconds and then passes the call on. This is the one most clinics and shops use during the day.
When unreachable
Your phone is switched off, out of coverage, or in flight mode. Without this the caller hears a recorded message and gives up.
Most clinics and shops set three of them: busy, not answered, and unreachable. Their own staff still answers first, and only the calls that would otherwise ring out are passed on. After closing time, some switch to forwarding all calls so nobody has to remember to divert.
Set the ring time before forwarding
On the not-answered condition you can choose how long your phone rings first. Dial *61*NUMBER**15# to forward after fifteen seconds; the number after the two stars can be anything from 5 to 30 in steps of five. Ten to fifteen seconds is the sweet spot: long enough to pick up if you are free, short enough that the caller has not given up.
Using the Landline (BSNL, MTNL and others) app instead
BSNL and MTNL: ask for the call forwarding (call diversion) facility to be enabled on the line, through the Selfcare portal or by calling 1500 from the landline. Once it is on, the dial codes below work from the handset. JioFiber, Airtel and Tata Play Fiber voice: set it in the provider's app under the landline number.
Worth knowing on Landline (BSNL, MTNL and others)
- Older BSNL exchanges use *21*NUMBER# for all calls and #21# to cancel. Some exchanges only support all-call forwarding, not busy or no-answer, so if the conditional codes fail, forward all calls during the hours the counter is unattended.
- The forwarding number must be dialled the way you would dial it from that landline. For a number in another city that means the STD code first.
- When the landline is a PBX or intercom system, forwarding is set on the PBX, not the line. The vendor who installed it can do it in a few minutes.
What to forward to
Forward to a number that will actually answer. A second mobile helps only if someone is holding it. A receptionist number answers every forwarded call in the caller's language, takes the details or books the slot, and sends you a WhatsApp message with the name, ten-digit number and reason. That is what the number you get from HiThisIs is for, and it is a normal Indian number, so every code on this page works with it.
Questions people ask
Does call forwarding work when my landline is switched off?
Yes, if you set the unreachable condition (*62*) or forward all calls (*21*). The forwarding is done by the network, so it does not need your handset to be on. The no-answer condition (*61*) also works when the phone is off on most networks, because the network treats an unreachable phone as unanswered.
Will callers know their call was forwarded?
No. They dial your number, hear a ring, and are answered. Nothing tells them the call travelled anywhere.
Is call forwarding chargeable in India?
Activating it is free. The forwarded leg is treated as an outgoing call from your number, so it is covered by an unlimited plan and charged at your outgoing rate on some older prepaid plans. Check your tariff once.
Can I forward only after a few rings?
Yes. The no-answer condition passes the call on after a delay. On most networks the delay can be set between 5 and 30 seconds with *61*NUMBER**SECONDS#, for example *61*NUMBER**15# for fifteen seconds. Ten to fifteen seconds is enough to pick up if you are free and short enough that the caller does not give up.
What number do I forward to?
The receptionist number you are given when you sign up. It is a normal Indian number, so it can be forwarded to from any mobile or landline without any special setting.
How do I switch forwarding off?
Dial the off code for the condition you set, for example #61# for no-answer, or ##002# to cancel every kind of forwarding at once.
Can I forward two numbers to the same receptionist?
Yes. A clinic can forward its landline and the doctor's mobile to the same receptionist number. Each phone keeps its own setting.
Forward the calls you miss to a receptionist that answers them
Your staff answers first. The rest are answered too.