UK call divert codes: send the calls you miss to another number
On a UK mobile, dial **61* followed by the number you want calls sent to, then #, and press call. Calls you do not answer then go to that number instead of your voicemail, and ##61# puts things back. Below are the other codes, what each network's own help pages say about them, and how landlines differ.
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Written by the Trade Receptionist team. Last updated .
Which divert code do I need?
These are the standard codes every UK mobile network uses. They are set out in the international standard for mobile phones (3GPP TS 22.030), which is why the same code works on EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. Type the code into the phone keypad, put the number you are diverting to where it says number, and press call. You should see a message on screen saying the divert is on.
| Dial | What it does |
|---|---|
| **61*number# | Send calls you do not answer to number |
| **67*number# | Send calls that arrive while you are on another call |
| **62*number# | Send calls when your phone is off or has no signal |
| **004*number# | All three of the above in one go |
| **21*number# | Send every call, without your phone ringing at all |
| *#61# | Check where unanswered calls are going now |
| ##61# | Cancel the no-answer divert only |
| ##004# | Cancel the no-answer, busy and no-signal diverts |
| ##002# | Cancel every divert on the line, voicemail included |
For most tradespeople the right one is **004*. It covers the three times you cannot pick up: you are not answering, you are already on a call, or you are somewhere with no signal. When you are free, your phone rings as normal.
Be careful with ##002#. It cancels every divert on your line, including the one that sends missed calls to your voicemail, so afterwards an unanswered call just rings out.
Should the number start with 07 or +44?
Use +44. Vodafone's help page and BT Mobile's both say to replace the first 0 of the number with +44, so 07700 900123 becomes +447700900123 and the full code is **61*+447700900123#. EE's own device guides show the codes with a short number in them instead, and plenty of other websites insist on the 07 form, so if your phone rejects one version, try the other before deciding the code does not work.
On most Android keypads you get the + sign by holding down 0.
How long does my phone ring before the call diverts?
That depends on your network's default, which is set on the line rather than on the phone. BT Mobile describes its no-answer divert as kicking in after 15 seconds. You can usually choose your own time. Vodafone's instructions are to add *10* and the number of seconds before the #, like this:
**61*+447700900123*10*20#
That rings your phone for 20 seconds before the call moves on. Shorter is usually better: a caller who hears a phone ring for half a minute often hangs up before the divert happens.
What each network says
EE
EE's business help page says diverts have to be set from the phone itself, either in the phone's call forwarding settings or through EE's automated line on 150. EE's device guides show the same **61*, **62* and **67* codes in this table, with EE voicemail as the destination. Swap that for your own number.
O2
O2's device guides set diverts through the phone's Call forwarding menu, with O2 voicemail (901) as the usual destination, rather than listing keypad codes. The standard codes are the same on O2's network. If one is rejected, the Call forwarding menu does the same job.
Vodafone
Vodafone publishes the codes directly: **61* and the number with +44 in place of the 0, then #. ##61# turns it off and *#61# shows whether it is on. Its page is the clearest of the four networks.
Three
We could not find a Three help page that lists divert codes. Three's community team has confirmed two things: diverts can only go to UK landlines and mobiles, and a divert to any number other than Three voicemail is charged like an outgoing call. If a code will not take on a Three SIM, Three customer services can set it.
BT Mobile
BT Mobile runs on EE's network and gives the same codes: 21 for all calls, 61 for calls not answered after 15 seconds, 62 for when the phone is off and 67 for when it is engaged, each with +44 in place of the 0.
Does diverting calls cost anything?
Setting a divert on a mobile is free. The diverted call itself is a different matter: the network carries it on from your phone to the other number, and on most tariffs that leg is counted like a call you made. With unlimited UK minutes you will not notice. On a limited bundle, check your tariff.
Abroad it gets expensive. Three's team explains that while your phone is connected to a foreign network, a divert is treated as a roaming call. If you are going on holiday and want calls answered at home, set the divert before you leave and keep the phone off or in flight mode.
How do I divert a landline?
Landlines use a single star, not two, and there is no "no signal" option because a landline is always connected. BT says Call Diversion is included on its Digital Voice lines. On older BT lines it is a feature you order first, and BT says it can take up to 24 hours to switch on. Then, on the line you are diverting from:
| Dial | What it does |
|---|---|
| *61*number# | Divert calls not answered within 15 seconds |
| *67*number# | Divert calls when the line is engaged |
| *21*number# | Divert every call |
| *#61# | Check the no-answer divert |
| #61# | Turn the no-answer divert off |
What a diverted call costs depends on the line. BT says that on Digital Voice, calls diverted to a BT Mobile or BT home phone are free if your call plan includes minutes. Otherwise BT charges the diverted part of each call at its standard rates, and on older lines adds the standard call set-up fee and bills it outside your inclusive minutes, with a divert to a mobile costing more than one to a landline. If a lot of your work comes in on a BT landline, ask BT what that adds up to at your call volume before relying on it.
Vodafone business landlines use the same *61*, *67* and *21* codes, with a 15-second ring before a no-answer divert. Other landline and broadband providers mostly set diversion through their own app or customer services, so ask them.
Can I do it in my phone's settings instead?
Yes, with one trap on iPhones. The Call Forwarding switch in iPhone settings forwards every call, so your phone stops ringing altogether. For missed calls only, leave that switch off and use **61* or **004* from the keypad instead.
Android phones are easier. In the Phone app, open Settings, then Call forwarding (on some phones it is under Calls or Supplementary services), and choose When unanswered. Enter the number and turn it on. Choose When busy and When unreachable as well if you want all three.
How do I check the divert is working?
A message on screen only means the phone sent the code. To know the network has applied it, ring your number from another phone and let it ring out without answering. The call should arrive at the number you diverted to. You can also dial *#61#, which shows whether the no-answer divert is on and where it points.
Using a divert with Trade Receptionist
When you sign up you are given a number for your receptionist. You keep your own number on the van and dial **004* followed by that number and #. From then on, a call you cannot take is answered in your business name instead of going to voicemail, and you get a text with the details. Dial ##004# and everything goes back to how it was.
For what happens on those calls, see how Trade Receptionist works. For the other ways to stop missing calls, read how to never miss a call on the job.
Questions
What is the code to divert calls when I do not answer?
On a UK mobile, dial **61* then the number you want the calls to go to, then #, and press call. Your phone still rings first, and only calls you leave unanswered move on. Dial ##61# to cancel it.
Should I put 07 or +44 in the divert code?
Vodafone and BT Mobile both tell customers to replace the first 0 with +44, so **61*+447700900123# rather than **61*07700900123#. If your network rejects one form, try the other.
Why are all my calls going straight to another number?
You have an all-calls divert switched on. That is what **21* does, and it is also what the Call Forwarding switch in iPhone settings does. Dial ##21# or turn that switch off, then use **61* or **004* so your phone rings first.
Does diverting calls cost money?
On a mobile, a diverted call is usually treated like a call you made, so it comes out of your inclusive minutes. Three says so plainly. On a BT landline it depends on the line: BT includes Call Diversion on Digital Voice, but on older lines it is a paid feature and the diverted part of each call is charged at standard rates.
Can I divert my landline the same way?
Not with the mobile codes. BT and Vodafone landlines use a single star, such as *61*, and on older BT lines you have to order Call Diversion before the codes work. Other providers set it up through their own app or customer services.
Sources
Every page below was read on 20 October 2026. Networks change their instructions, so check yours if a code fails.
- Vodafone: How do I manage call diverts?
- Vodafone Business: How do I use Call Divert on my business phone?
- EE Business: How do I set up and manage call diverts?
- EE device guides: Diverting calls to voicemail (iPhone 11)
- BT Business: How do I set up call divert on my mobile?
- BT: All about Call Diversion (home phone)
- BT Business: Using Call Diversion to forward calls
- O2 device guides: problems receiving voice calls (Nokia G10)
- Three Community: Call forwarding and roaming (answer from Three staff)
- 3GPP TS 22.030, Man-Machine Interface of the user equipment (the standard that defines these codes)
One divert code. Every call answered.
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