How do I set up call forwarding on Vodafone?
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With a simple code on the keypad. On its support page, Vodafone gives the codes exactly as you need them: *21*forwarding number# for all calls, *61* for when you don’t pick up, *67* for when you’re on the phone, *62* for when the mobile is switched off — and ##002# to wipe every forwarding rule in one go.
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The codes, exactly as Vodafone gives them
On its support page, Vodafone explains the steps very simply: you type the code on the dialling screen and press the call key. Wherever you see “forwarding number”, you simply put the number you want to ring instead of your own.
| What you want | Turn on | Turn off | Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| All calls | *21*forwarding number# | #21# | *#21# |
| When you don’t answer | *61*forwarding number# | #61# | *#61# |
| When you’re busy | *67*forwarding number# | #67# | *#67# |
| Switched off or out of coverage | *62*forwarding number# | #62# | *#62# |
| All forwarding rules at once | — | ##002# | — |
For the ##002# code, the page makes one thing clear: if you have set several different forwarding rules and want to switch them all off at the same time, you dial it once and everything is cleared.
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Four kinds of forwarding: which ones a business really needs
Permanent forwarding (or call diversion, as it is also known) sends every call straight elsewhere, without your own phone even ringing — it suits mainly the hours when you are definitely closed. The other three kick in “conditionally”. In fact, they work in parallel, and each one can send the call to a different number. If you run a business, the two in the middle do the real work: “when you don’t answer” and “when you’re busy”. That way, you rescue only the calls you would otherwise have lost. For exactly these calls, an AI receptionist for medical practices can take the forwarded call and book appointments in your calendar, with no equipment needed.
Vodafone landline: three kinds of forwarding, the same codes
For landlines, Vodafone has a guide of its own, “How do I activate forwarding from a landline to a mobile?” («Πώς ενεργοποιώ την εκτροπή σταθερού σε κινητό;»). The codes are identical to the mobile ones: *21*number# for all calls, *61* when you don’t answer and *67* when you’re on the phone. You cancel them easily with #21#, #61# and #67#. The only one missing is *62*, since a landline is never “switched off or out of coverage”.
As the page itself puts it simply: “With call forwarding you can forward the calls you receive”. You dial the codes directly on your landline and press the call button, exactly as you do on a mobile.
Vodafone’s voicemail gets in before your forwarding
Vodafone notes that voicemail “is provided to all subscribers free of charge”. You can switch it on or off by calling 1285 free of charge and pressing 3. That also settles the most common puzzle: if you set “when you don’t answer” forwarding but calls keep ending up in voicemail, it means there is already an active forwarding rule pointing there, and it gets in before yours. If you switch voicemail off, an AI receptionist for beauty salons can take the forwarded calls you can’t get to, around the clock.
- Check first with the codes *#61#, *#67# and *#62# exactly where each type of forwarding ends up.
- Forward the calls wherever you want with *61*number#, *67*number# and *62*number# — or simply wipe everything with ##002# and set up again only what you need.
- If you don’t want voicemail at all, you switch it off via 1285, pressing 3.
Vodafone One Net for businesses: the codes are different
If your business uses Vodafone One Net — Vodafone’s cloud phone system — the standard codes don’t apply. Vodafone gives separate codes for One Net, which end in two asterisks instead of a hash:
| What you want | Turn on | Turn off |
|---|---|---|
| All calls | *21*number** | **21** |
| When you don’t answer (25 seconds) | *61*number** | **61** |
| When you’re unavailable | *62*number** | **62** |
| When you’re busy | *67*number** | **67** |
| All forwarding rules at once | — | **24** |
On the same page we read two important notes: “If you have your own phone system equipment, you will need to apply the settings your equipment supports” and “If you have an IP Phone handset, call forwarding can also be activated from your handset”. In plain terms: on a cloud phone system line, forwarding is set from the system itself or from the handset — not with the mobile codes.
What you won’t find on the mobile page
Two things that, however hard you look, you won’t find in the mobile guide. First, how long “when you don’t answer” forwarding waits: while for One Net Vodafone clearly states 25 seconds, for mobiles it gives no default — see how to check it in practice with the test below. Second, the charges: the forwarding leg — that is, the call from your own number to the forwarding number — is billed to you, depending on your plan. So, before you start forwarding calls in bulk, see what call forwarding costs.
How to check that forwarding really works
If you dial the check codes — *#21#, *#61#, *#67#, *#62# — you will see straight away on the screen whether forwarding is active and exactly where it sends the call. But the surest test is a different one: call your number from another device and let it ring to the end. If voicemail picks up instead of the line you expected, it means some other forwarding rule is already “getting in before” yours. The fix? Wipe everything with ##002# and set up from scratch only the ones you really want.
How an AI receptionist can help here
Forwarding simply sends the call elsewhere — it doesn’t answer it. If there is no one to pick up on the other line, all you have really done is move the problem to a second voicemail. For forwarding to be worth anything, the other line needs a telephone answering service that picks up in natural Greek around the clock and takes messages.
That is why the smartest combination for a business is to set “when you don’t answer” and “when you’re busy” forwarding, pointed at a line that always answers. That way, if you can get to it, you pick up yourself. If not, the call is answered properly and the request reaches you in writing. That is exactly what we are building at Parousa: an AI receptionist that speaks natural Greek and takes care of booking your appointments. Your number stays the same; the only thing that changes is where the call goes when you can’t get to it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I forward all calls on Vodafone?
You dial *21*forwarding number# and press the call key. To switch it off you dial #21#, and to check it, *#21#. And don’t forget: if you want to cancel all forwarding rules at once, ##002# wipes them in a single move.
After how many seconds does *61* forwarding kick in?
Because Vodafone doesn’t say what the default time is on mobiles, you can run a quick test: call your number from another device and count after how many seconds the call moves on. For One Net, the time is 25 seconds. If you’d rather set the time yourself on your mobile, ask Vodafone customer service.
Is call forwarding charged on Vodafone?
Although the page with the codes says nothing about charges, the general rule applies here too. The call from your own phone to the number you forward to is billed to you as normal, according to your plan. You can read in more detail about what call forwarding costs.
Do the same codes apply to a Vodafone landline?
Yes, but only for the three types that make sense on a landline: *21*number# for all calls, *61* when you don’t answer and *67* when you’re on the phone. You switch them off with #21#, #61# and #67# respectively. The *62* code (switched off or out of coverage) doesn’t exist on landlines.
I have Vodafone One Net — why doesn’t the *21* code work?
Because One Net uses codes of its own, which have two asterisks instead of a hash: *21*number** to switch it on and **21** to switch it off. The same goes for the conditional types with the codes **61**, **62** and **67**, while **24** wipes them all at once. If you have your own phone system or an IP phone, you will need to set up forwarding directly from your equipment.
Can I forward to a different number for each case?
Of course. The three forwarding rules that work “conditionally” — that is, when you don’t answer, when you’re on the phone and when the mobile is switched off — are entirely independent settings. That means each one can send the call to a different number. Just remember that, when permanent forwarding is active, it overrides and gets in before all the others.
Want to be the first to know when Parousa launches?
Parousa is an AI phone reception service that speaks natural Greek, for any business in Greece that runs on appointments: it answers the phone, books appointments — including from your own booking page — sends confirmations and reminders by SMS or email, and shows you in plain numbers what your phone brings in. Join the waiting list and we’ll let you know as soon as the first spots open up.
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