How to divert calls on a UK mobile, with the codes for every situation

Diverting calls (also called call forwarding) sends calls to another number when you cannot take them. For a small business it is the simplest way to stop calls going to voicemail: your phone still rings first, and only the calls you miss go elsewhere.

The four divert codes

UK mobile networks use the same short codes. You type them into your phone's keypad as if you were dialling a number, then press call. These are the codes Vodafone lists:

Replace NUMBER with the number you want calls to go to, written with +44 in place of the first 0. For example, 01244 123456 becomes +441244123456, so the first code would be:

**61*+441244123456#

Which divert to use for a business line

For most small businesses the best set up is to use the first three together:

• When you do not answer, so calls you cannot get to in time are still picked up
• When you are on another call, so a second caller is not sent to voicemail
• When your phone is off or has no signal, which covers driving through a black spot or a flat battery

Your phone keeps ringing as normal, and you only lose the calls you would have missed anyway.

Use every call only when you want your phone to stay quiet, for example on holiday, at a funeral or in a long meeting. Remember to switch it off afterwards, because callers will not reach you at all while it is on.

Setting a divert, step by step

1. Open your phone app and go to the keypad.
2. Type the code with the number, for example **61*+441244123456#.
3. Press the call button.
4. Wait for a message on screen confirming the divert.
5. Do the same for each divert you want.

If you get an error, check the number has +44 and no spaces, and that you have signal. If it still fails, ask your network whether diverts are available on your plan.

Checking and cancelling diverts

On most phones you can see whether a divert is on by dialling *# followed by its number and #, for example *#61#.

To switch one divert off, use its switch off code from the table. To clear them all at once, dial ##002#. EE's guide for iPhone shows the same cancel all code.

Using your phone's settings instead

Phones also have a call forwarding setting. On an iPhone it is under Settings, then Phone (inside Apps on newer versions of iOS), then Call Forwarding; on Android it is usually in the phone app's settings, under Calls or Supplementary services. The menu often only offers "forward every call", so the codes above give you more control.

What diverting costs

A diverted call is usually treated as a call from your phone to the new number, so it can come out of your minutes. Vodafone, for example, says diverts use minutes from your allowance on pay monthly and some pay as you go plans, and that standard charges apply once your allowance runs out or when you are abroad. Check your plan, especially before diverting calls while you are abroad.

Where to send the calls

Diverting to a colleague or a landline only helps if someone is there to answer. If the calls you miss come in while everyone is busy, or outside working hours, divert them to a service that always picks up.

An AI receptionist like Tilly gives you a UK number to divert to. It answers in your business name, takes the caller's details, answers common questions and sends you a summary straight away. Your dashboard shows these codes with your receptionist's number already filled in, ready to copy. See how call forwarding with Tilly works, or hear a demo call.

You can also keep your existing number and simply divert it; there is no need to give customers a new one. Plans start at £29 a month plus VAT. If you are weighing this up against hiring someone, our guide to what a receptionist costs in the UK runs through the figures.

Diverting a landline

Landlines and office phone systems use different codes, and they vary by provider, so check your provider's help pages or ask them. Many providers let you set diverts from your online account.

Codes checked against Vodafone and EE help pages on 12 October 2026.