You don’t need a new phone number to put an AI receptionist to work. The trick is call forwarding: keep advertising the number that’s already on your van, cards, and Google profile, and route those calls to your AI number behind the scenes. Clients dial the same number they always have; your AI Front Desk answers, books the appointment, and texts you the details.
Here’s how to set it up on an iPhone or Android, the difference between forwarding everything and forwarding only what you miss, and the exact carrier codes.
Two ways to forward — pick one
Only when you can’t get to it (conditional)
Your phone rings first. If you’re busy, don’t answer in time, or your phone’s off, the call rolls over to your AI — often called rollover forwarding. You still take the calls you want; the AI catches the rest. This is the setup most owners want.
Every call, straight to the AI (unconditional)
Your phone never rings — 100% of calls go to your AI receptionist. Best when you’d rather not field the phone at all, or you’re advertising a line you never pick up yourself. This is the “always forward” option.
On an iPhone
The built-in menu only does every-call (unconditional) forwarding, and only on some carriers — it works on AT&T and T-Mobile lines; on Verizon it’s usually missing, so use the dial codes below instead.
- Open Settings → Phone (on newer iOS, Settings → Apps → Phone).
- Tap Call Forwarding and turn it on.
- Tap Forward To and enter your AI number.
The iPhone menu can’t do only-when-unanswered — to get that, type the carrier dial code into your Phone keypad instead (see below). Be in cell range when you turn forwarding on or off.
On an Android phone
Android’s menu can set conditional forwarding with no codes — the easy way to do the recommended setup:
- Open the Phone app, tap the ⋮ menu, then Settings.
- Tap Calls → Call forwarding. (On a Pixel it may be under Calling accounts; on some Samsungs, Supplementary services.)
- Pick a condition and enter your AI number — for overflow coverage, set When unanswered (and, if you like, When busy and When unreachable too).
Carrier dial codes
Type these into your Phone keypad and press call. They work on iPhone and Android alike, and they’re the only way to set conditional forwarding on an iPhone. Replace NUMBER with your AI number (area code included).
AT&T, T-Mobile, and most other carriers
| What you want | Turn on | Turn off |
|---|---|---|
| Only when unanswered (recommended) | **61*NUMBER# | ##61# |
| Only when busy | **67*NUMBER# | ##67# |
| Only when off / no signal | **62*NUMBER# | ##62# |
| Every call | **21*NUMBER# | ##21# |
| Turn off every kind at once | — | ##002# |
**61*NUMBER**20# waits 20 seconds. Use 5-second steps up to 30. To check what’s set, dial *#61# (or *#21#).Verizon (Verizon’s lines use their own codes and don’t split busy from no-answer):
| What you want | Dial |
|---|---|
| When busy or unanswered (recommended) | *71 then your AI number |
| Every call | *72 then your AI number |
| Turn forwarding off | *73 |
Landline, VoIP, or Google Voice?
Handset dial codes are for mobile lines. If your business number is a landline, a VoIP line (RingCentral, Ooma, a cable-company phone), or Google Voice, set forwarding in that provider’s app or online account instead — look for “Call forwarding” in its settings and point it at your AI number. The choice is the same: forward everything, or only when unanswered or busy.
A few things worth knowing
- Test it. Call your business number from another phone the way a client would — you should reach your AI receptionist, and the call shows up with a recording and transcript.
- Cover all the gaps. For full overflow coverage, set unanswered, busy, and unreachable all to your AI number (Android does the first from the menu; on iPhone, dial each code).
- Texts are separate. Call forwarding moves calls, not SMS — automating texts to your existing number is a different switch.
- Charges. A forwarded call may use plan minutes depending on your carrier and plan.
- Turn it off anytime. Verizon
*73; everyone else##002#clears all forwarding (or the individual##61#,##67#,##21#).
That’s the whole thing: your clients keep calling the number they know, and every call gets answered. For the step-by-step with the exact codes for your carrier pre-filled, see forwarding your calls to Scheduley, or read how the AI receptionist handles the call once it lands. Not sure how much of your setup to hand over? Ways to use Scheduley lays out the options.