How to forward your business calls to an AI receptionist.
You keep your business number and turn on call forwarding with your phone provider, sending calls to your AI receptionist's number. You choose which calls go: every call, only when your line is busy, only when nobody answers after a few rings, or only after hours. It usually takes a few minutes, and you can switch it off the same way.
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Canada · Updated October 2026
Choose what to forward
Four ways to forward, depending on who answers today.
Mobile phones also offer forwarding when the phone is off or out of coverage.
All calls
Every call goes straight to the AI receptionist.
Best if: You have no one on the phones, or you want every caller answered the same way.
When busy
Calls go to the AI receptionist only while your line is in use.
Best if: Your team answers, but you don't want a second caller to hit a busy signal or voicemail.
No answer
Calls ring your phone first, then go to the AI receptionist after a set number of rings.
Best if: Your team answers when it can, and the AI receptionist catches the rest.
After hours
You switch forwarding on at closing and off at opening, or your phone system does it on a schedule.
Best if: You only want help evenings, weekends and holidays.
Turn it on
Set it up with your phone provider.
Codes and steps differ by provider, plan and phone, and forwarding may be included in your plan or cost extra. Use your provider's own instructions; here's where to find them.
Bell Home Phone
Dial *72, wait for the tone, then dial the number to forward to. Dial *73 to turn it off.
Bell Home Phone instructionsRogers Home Phone
Busy-line forwarding uses *90 to turn on and *91 to turn off. Rogers notes it can't be used alongside voicemail, and it forwards one call at a time.
Rogers Home Phone instructionsRogers mobile
Separate settings for all calls, busy, no reply and not reachable. Rogers notes conditional forwarding doesn't work while voicemail is on.
Rogers mobile instructionsTELUS home and office phones
TELUS lists forwarding for its home and office lines, including no-answer forwarding after a set number of rings.
TELUS home and office phones instructionsOther mobile providers
Most mobile phones also have forwarding in the phone's settings, usually under Phone or Calls, then Call forwarding. If you don't see options for busy or no answer there, your provider's support page or app will have them.
Business phone systems and VoIP
Forwarding, ring times and after-hours schedules are usually set in the system's admin portal or app, with no star codes needed. Look for call routing, call forwarding or business hours.
Provider pages checked October 2026. If a code doesn't work, your provider's support line can turn forwarding on for you.
Test it
Five-minute check before you rely on it.
Do this once after turning forwarding on, and again after any change to your phone plan.
- 01 Call your business number from a different phone.
- 02 Let it ring, or keep your line busy, to match the forwarding you chose.
- 03 Check the call reaches your AI receptionist and that it answers as your business.
- 04 If you chose no-answer forwarding, count the rings and adjust them if callers wait too long.
- 05 Turn off any voicemail that picks up first, if your provider says it conflicts.
FAQ
Questions about call forwarding.
Something we haven't covered? Ask us directly.
How do I forward my business calls to an AI receptionist?
You keep your business number and turn on call forwarding with your phone provider, sending calls to your AI receptionist's number. You choose which calls go: every call, only when your line is busy, only when nobody answers after a few rings, or only after hours. It usually takes a few minutes, and you can switch it off the same way.
Do I have to change my phone number?
No. Your number stays the same. Forwarding only changes where calls go once they reach it.
Can I forward only the calls my team misses?
Yes. Use no-answer forwarding so calls ring your phones first, and busy forwarding so a second caller isn't turned away while you're on the line.
Can I forward calls only after hours?
Yes. Turn forwarding on at closing and off at opening, or set a business-hours schedule if your phone system has one.
Does call forwarding cost extra?
It depends on your provider and plan. Some include it, some charge a monthly fee, and long-distance charges can apply if the number you forward to isn't local. Check your plan or ask your provider.
How does this work with Frontdesk AI?
We give you a Frontdesk AI number, and you forward calls to it through your phone provider. You decide when it answers: every call, after a set number of rings, only when your line is busy, or only after hours.
Book a demo
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Leave your details and we'll set up a short call. We'll look at how your business handles calls, show you how Frontdesk AI would work for you, and answer your questions.
- Hear it handle calls like yours
- Find the right plan and coverage
- See how booking would work for your business