How to divert unanswered calls on EE, O2, Vodafone, Three and BT

By JP, who runs Ralphio. Updated 8 October 2026.

To divert the calls you don't answer, dial **61*, the number you want them to go to, then #, and press call. Check it with *#61# and undo it with ##61#. The codes are the same on EE, O2, Vodafone, Three and BT, but Vodafone Pay as you go can only divert to voicemail, and diverted calls usually come out of your minutes.

The codes

Type them into the phone's keypad as if you were ringing a number, then press call. Put the number you're diverting to where it says NUMBER.

Divert when	Switch on	Check	Switch off
You don't answer	`*61NUMBER#`	`*#61#`	`##61#`
You're on another call, or decline it	`*67NUMBER#`	`*#67#`	`##67#`
Your phone is off or has no signal	`*62NUMBER#`	`*#62#`	`##62#`
Every call (your phone won't ring)	`*21NUMBER#`	`*#21#`	`##21#`
Cancel every divert at once			`##002#`

For missed calls you want the first three together: not answered, busy and off. Leave the last one alone unless you're on holiday, because it stops your phone ringing at all.

Write the number with +44 in place of the first 0, so 07700 900123 becomes +447700900123. Vodafone asks for it that way, and it works on every other network.

Do this first: note your voicemail number

Dial *#61# before you change anything. The number it shows is where your missed calls go now, which is almost always your voicemail. Write it down. It's how you put things back later.

How long it rings before it diverts

Add the number of seconds after two stars at the end. This rings for 25 seconds first:

**61*+447700900123**25#

Use 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30. Anything else gets rounded. If your network rejects it, put 11 between the stars (**61*NUMBER*11*25#), which is how O2 writes it, or 10, which is Vodafone's version. 20 to 25 seconds gives you time to get a glove off.

Network by network

The codes are the same everywhere. What changes is the voicemail number, the cost and the odd restriction.

Network	Voicemail number	Voicemail back on	Watch out for
EE	`+447953222222`	`*61+447953222222#`	A diverted call is charged at your plan's call rate, so it comes out of your allowance if the number you divert to is in it. You can also set diverts by ringing 150.
O2	`901`	Dial `1750`	Diverting anywhere other than O2 voicemail is charged as a call.
Vodafone	`+447836121121`	Dial `1211`	On Pay as you go you can only divert to voicemail. On Pay monthly a diverted call uses your minutes.
Three	`+447782333123`	`*61+447782333123#`	Three doesn't publish the codes. They're standard, so they usually work; if not, use the phone's settings (below) or ask Three. Ask too whether diverted calls come out of your allowance.
BT Mobile	The number `*#61#` showed you	Dial the number you wrote down	BT's own steps use the same codes and say an unanswered call diverts after 15 seconds. BT doesn't say whether the ring time can be changed, so try it and check with `*#61#`. Ask BT whether diverted calls come out of your allowance.

Diverting to a normal UK mobile or landline is included on most Pay monthly plans. Calls diverted while you're abroad can be charged as roaming, so check before a holiday.

How to divert unanswered calls on an iPhone

The iPhone's Call Forwarding menu has no "when unanswered" option. It only has a switch and a Forward To number, so turning it on sends every call away and your phone stops ringing. Apple's own page says to ask your network about forwarding when busy or out of service. For missed calls only, use the codes.

Open the Phone app and tap Keypad.
Type the code, for example **61*+447700900123**25#, and tap the green call button.
Check it worked by dialling *#61# the same way.

If you do want every call diverted, say on holiday, go to Settings, Apps, Phone, Call Forwarding, turn it on, tap Forward To and enter the number. A Call Forwarding icon shows in the status bar while it's on. On a Dual SIM iPhone, pick the line first. You need to be in range of the mobile network when you set it, or calls won't be forwarded.

If a text, email or web page ever asks you to turn on call forwarding, ignore it. iPhone blocks those links because scammers use them.

How to divert unanswered calls on a Samsung Galaxy

Samsung's menu does what the codes do, so you don't need them.

Open the Phone app and tap the three dots.
Tap Settings, then Supplementary services, then Call forwarding. On a Dual SIM phone, pick SIM 1 or SIM 2.
Tap Voice calls.
Tap Forward when unanswered. Do the same for Forward when busy and Forward when unreachable. Leave Always forward off.
Enter the number, or choose it from your contacts, and tap Enable.

To switch one off, tap it and tap Disable. Samsung says the steps vary by model and One UI version, and other Android phones put the same options under Phone, Settings, then Calls or Supplementary services. If you can't find them, the codes work the same way.

Wifi calling

Set diverts while you have mobile signal, not on wifi calling. Codes sent over wifi calling can fail without saying so.

How to check it's working

Dial *#61#. It should show the new number as the divert for unanswered calls.
Ring your phone from another phone and let it ring out. It should go to the new number, not your voicemail.
Do the same with your phone switched off, to test **62*.

How to undo it

Dial ##002# to cancel every divert. Then put voicemail back with your network's code from the table above, or divert to the voicemail number you wrote down at the start.

Why divert missed calls at all?

Because most people won't leave a voicemail. In Moneypenny's 2023 survey of 2,000 people, 54% said they won't leave one if they can't get through. They ring the next name on the list instead.

That's what Ralphio is for. You divert unanswered calls to your own Ralphio number, and the caller gets a text from your business within seconds, so the job stays yours. More on that in what missed call text back is.