How to forward calls on AT&T

On AT&T wireless: `21*<number>#** forwards every call (unconditional). ****61*<number>#** forwards only when your line is busy or doesn't answer (conditional). **##21#** cancels unconditional forwarding (##61#` cancels the conditional version specifically, if you ever set both).

The ** prefix and # suffix matter — these are USSD codes, not regular star codes, and AT&T's network needs the full string to register the command. Without the #, you'll just place a call to a weird-looking number.

1. Pick up the phone whose number you want to forward.
2. Dial the USSD code followed by the destination number and a #. Example: **21*18005551234# forwards every call to 1 (800) 555-1234.
3. Press the call/send button (not just "enter" — must be the call button so the phone treats it as a USSD command).
4. AT&T responds with a short text message confirming the forwarding is active (usually within a few seconds).

If you don't get a confirmation text within a minute, the code may have been treated as a regular call — re-check the prefix and the trailing #, then try again.

Conditional forwarding (**61*) is what most small businesses want. Your phone rings normally — you can still answer the easy calls yourself. Only calls you don't pick up (busy line, no answer in ~25 seconds, phone unreachable) get forwarded.

Unconditional forwarding (**21*) is the right choice when you'll be entirely unreachable for a stretch, or when you don't want to be interrupted at all — every call goes straight to the destination, your phone stays silent. Coffee meeting, long flight, vacation: **21*.

Dial `##21#` to cancel unconditional forwarding. Dial `##61#` to cancel conditional forwarding specifically. If you don't remember which you set, run both — they no-op if nothing's active.

AT&T sends a confirmation text after the cancel takes. If you don't get one within a minute, your account-level forwarding settings may have it pinned on — log into att.com → Wireless → Plan & Features → Call Forwarding and disable from there.

If your AT&T line is a landline (POTS, U-verse Voice, or some legacy business lines), it doesn't use the USSD codes above. Landlines use the older star codes: *72 to forward every call, *71 for conditional, *73 to cancel — same as Verizon. The page on Verizon forwarding covers the star-code pattern in detail.