How To Forward Calls Without the Phone?

Published 05 May 2024

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Staying accessible is crucial, whether for business needs or personal connections. Traditionally, call forwarding through a phone’s settings app or by dialing specific codes from our primary device has helped us to stay accessible. However, situations may arise where you might not have access to your primary phone - maybe the screen is broken, you’ve left it at home, or it’s temporarily out of service. In such scenarios, you must know how to forward calls without the phone. It prevents missed opportunities and maintains important relationships with your primary device, regardless of unforeseen challenges.

Can You Forward Calls Without Having the Phone?

You can forward calls to another number without your phone using a mobile carrier’s digital platforms, such as official websites or dedicated mobile apps.

You would typically need your PIN (Personal Identification Number) provided by your service providers and the number to which you’re trying to forward your calls. You no longer need physical access to your phone to forward calls.

Call Forwarding Setup Without Phone Via Carrier’s Website or App

Many carriers offer to set up call forwarding through their websites or official apps. By logging into your registered account, you can access the forwarding function to forward calls without having the phone for Android or iOS. For the most of the carrier providers, the process typically involves the following steps:

Log In to Your Account: Visit your carrier’s official website or open their apps from any device and navigate to the login section. Enter your credentials to access your account.
Access Call Management or Settings: Head towards your account dashboard’s call management, call settings, or similar section. It may vary depending on the carrier.
Select Call Forwarding Options: Find and select the call forwarding option. Choose conditional call forwarding or unconditional call forwarding, depending on your needs.
Enter the Forwarding Number: Type in the phone number to which you’re looking to forward your calls.
Activate Call Forwarding: Save your settings. Some carriers may require you to review and agree to terms and conditions related to call forwarding.
Confirmation: You’ll receive a confirmation message or email from your carrier indicating that call forwarding has been successfully set up.

Call Forwarding Setup via Access Numbers from Another Phone

You can activate call forwarding without the phone using an access number provided by your carrier. Simply dial that number from any phone to access and set up call-forwarding functionality for your desired number.

Find Your Carrier's Access Number: Get the specific access number or code for call forwarding from your carrier's customer service or official website.
Dial the Access Number: Using any phone, dial your access number and access the call forwarding service.
Input Your Phone Number: Key in the phone number from which you wish to forward calls. (Note: You might be required to authenticate with a PIN or password).
Enter the Destination Number: Enter the number to which you want your calls forwarded.
Confirm Setup: Confirm, save, and activate call forwarding. After setting up, you receive a confirmation text message.

Security Concerns With Forwarding Calls Without a Phone

Forwarding calls without physical access to your primary phone potentially leads to security vulnerabilities. Unauthorized individuals might exploit the functionality to redirect your calls without your knowledge. It can lead to privacy breaches and financial fraud.

Unauthorized Access: Using any device, unauthorized individuals can easily access your call forwarding settings. They can misdirect your calls to undesired recipients, posing a risk to sensitive information.
Privacy Breaches: It occur when confidential information is inadvertently shared with unauthorized parties through misdirected calls. Such incidents can compromise personal data, affecting both individuals and businesses.
Financial Fraud: Cybercriminals can divert verification calls or sensitive discussions to their numbers, providing them access to your financial accounts or confidential information.

Best Practices for Secure Call Forwarding

By setting up strong authentication methods with your service provider, you can protect yourself against unauthorized modifications in your call-forwarding service. As such, it ensures only you can access the call forwarding option without the phone.

Use Strong Authentication: Strong authentication, such as two-factor authentication (2FA), adds an extra layer of security. Use it to make it harder for others to access and alter your call-forwarding settings.
Regularly Update Passwords: Change your passwords frequently while ensuring they are complex and unique. It greatly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
Monitor Activity: Review your call logs regularly to identify unauthorized changes or suspicious activity. Take immediate action to rectify any identified issues.
Enable Notification Alerts for Changes: Many service providers alert you on any changes to your account, including call forwarding settings. Enable these alerts to get immediate information on any changes.

📑 Read More: What is Direct Inward Dialing?

Conclusion

Call forwarding ensures you never miss important calls, even if you are away from your primary device. By utilizing carrier websites, apps, or access numbers they provide, you can forward calls without a phone. Typically, phone carriers facilitate forwarding calls to a single device. For those who require the flexibility of receiving or forwarding calls on multiple devices, a virtual number can be a superior solution. Calilio offers virtual phone numbers which allows you to receive your forwarded calls on multiple devices. Besides your mobile, you can receive calls on your laptops or tablets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does call forwarding work when the phone is off?

Call forwarding works when the phone is off or in airplane mode as long as you have enabled the function before turning it off. This is because it works at the carrier level.

What is * 72 used for?

*72 is used for call forwarding, which can be disabled by punching in *73. To enable call forwarding, a person can dial *72, followed by the number to which they want to forward the call. If no one answers, they will have to repeat the process.