Callwake.

Guide

How to forward unanswered calls

Conditional forwarding sends only the calls you don't pick up to another number. Here's how to turn it on for each carrier, test it and turn it off.
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What conditional forwarding is

There are two kinds of call forwarding.

  • Forward all calls. Every call goes to the other number. Your phone never rings. This is not what you want for a business line.
  • Conditional forwarding. Your phone rings as normal. Only calls you don't answer get forwarded: when you're busy on another call, when there's no answer after a few rings, or when your phone is unreachable (off or no signal).

Callwake uses conditional forwarding. You keep answering calls the way you do today. The ones you miss go to your dedicated Callwake text line, so the caller gets a text instead of silence.

In the codes below, replace your Callwake number with the 10-digit number shown in your Callwake app (no spaces or dashes). The app shows each code with your number already filled in.

Step by step, by carrier

AT&T

Forwards calls when you're busy, don't answer or have no signal. Press call after dialing; you'll hear a confirmation tone or message.

  1. Open the phone app on your business phone.
  2. Dial the turn-on code below, with your Callwake number in place of the placeholder.
  3. Press call and wait for the confirmation.

Turn on

**004*1your Callwake number#

Turn off

##004#

Verizon

Forwards calls when you're busy or don't answer. Press call after dialing and wait for the confirmation tone.

  1. Open the phone app on your business phone.
  2. Dial the turn-on code below, with your Callwake number in place of the placeholder.
  3. Press call and wait for the confirmation.

Turn on

*71your Callwake number

Turn off

*73

T-Mobile

Forwards calls when you're busy, don't answer or have no signal. Press call after dialing; you'll see a confirmation on screen.

  1. Open the phone app on your business phone.
  2. Dial the turn-on code below, with your Callwake number in place of the placeholder.
  3. Press call and wait for the confirmation.

Turn on

**004*1your Callwake number#

Turn off

##004#

Landline / VoIP

Codes differ by provider. Call your phone provider (or open your VoIP admin panel) and ask for “forward on no answer” (also called conditional or delayed forwarding) to your Callwake number.

  1. Call your phone company's business support line, or sign in to your VoIP admin panel.
  2. Ask for "forward on no answer" (sometimes called conditional, delayed or busy/no-answer forwarding).
  3. Give them your Callwake number as the forwarding number.
  4. Ask how many rings happen before the call forwards. 4 to 5 rings works well.

Google Voice

Google Voice uses settings instead of codes. In Google Voice on the web, open Settings → Calls and set unanswered calls to forward to a linked number. Add your Callwake number as a linked number first.

  1. Sign in to Google Voice on the web and open Settings.
  2. Under linked numbers, add your Callwake number and confirm it.
  3. Open Settings → Calls and set unanswered calls to forward to that linked number.

How to test it

  1. Call your business line from a different phone.
  2. Let it ring without answering.
  3. You should hear the short Callwake call notice.
  4. The call shows up on your Callwake dashboard within a minute.

If you reach your own voicemail instead, see the common problems below.

How to turn it off

Dial your carrier's turn-off code from the same phone (AT&T ##004#, Verizon *73, T-Mobile ##004#). For a landline or VoIP system, ask your provider or switch the setting off in your admin panel. For Google Voice, change the unanswered-calls setting back. Want to keep forwarding but stop texting for a while? Pause Callwake in Settings instead.

Common problems

Voicemail answers first

Your carrier's voicemail can pick up before the call forwards. Two fixes: reduce the number of rings before forwarding (ask your carrier; 4 to 5 rings is a good start), or turn off carrier voicemail on that line. Setting up conditional forwarding with the codes above usually replaces the voicemail forward on most mobile carriers.

The code didn't work

Check that you dialed from the business phone itself, used the 10-digit number with no spaces, and pressed call. Some business plans block forwarding codes; your carrier can turn it on.

Your business line is on a VoIP system

Office phone systems (hosted business lines, desk phones, or a phone system from your internet provider) usually ignore star codes. Set "forward on no answer" in the admin portal, or ask your provider to do it. Make sure it forwards only unanswered calls, not all calls.

Calls forward even when you answer

You've probably turned on forward-all instead of conditional forwarding. Turn forwarding off, then set it up again with the conditional code for your carrier.

Related

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