Call forwarding in France: codes, iPhone and Android settings, and operator specifics

Unconditional forwarding, called “systematic” forwarding by the French operators Orange and Bouygues Telecom, transfers every call without your phone ringing. The other three types are conditional: they only kick in in a specific situation.

Forwarding on no answer applies when you don’t pick up, forwarding on busy when you are already on a call, and forwarding when unreachable when your mobile is switched off or out of coverage. Each of these four cases has its own code in the 3GPP TS 22.030 specification, which standardises the supplementary service codes dialled from a mobile phone.

Each type of forwarding has its own service number: 21 for unconditional, 61 for no answer, 67 for busy and 62 for unreachable. The syntax is the same for all of them: **21*number# activates forwarding, *#21# asks the network for its status, ##21# erases it. Replace 21 with 61, 67 or 62 for conditional forwarding.

Two grouped codes complete the list: ##002# erases all forwarding, ##004# erases conditional forwarding only. For forwarding on no answer, the standard also provides an adjustable delay of 5 to 30 seconds, added at the end of the code after basic service group 11 (telephony): **61*number*11*20# requests forwarding after 20 seconds, if your operator accepts this parameter.

On iPhone, open Settings, tap Apps, then Phone, then Call Forwarding; turn the option on and enter the number under Forward To. An icon appears in the status bar while forwarding is active. Apple states that the iPhone must be within range of the cellular network when you set it up, otherwise calls aren’t forwarded. For conditional forwarding (line busy or out of service), Apple refers you to your operator; the codes above are the other route.

On a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, the path is: Phone app, More options, Settings, Supplementary services, Call forwarding, then Voice calls. You then choose the case (for example “Forward when busy”), enter the number and tap Enable. On other Android phones, the menu wording varies by manufacturer; the codes, however, stay the same.

Orange gives codes followed by *11 (for example **21*number*11#) and forwarding on no answer triggered after 20 seconds. The service isn’t available to Mobicarte (prepaid) customers or on capped plans, and it can’t be set up from the Orange et moi app or from the customer account. Another point to know: setting up forwarding to another number cancels forwarding to voicemail (888).

At Bouygues Telecom, systematic forwarding is set up by calling 610 from the mobile, and conditional forwarding with *62*, *67* or *61* followed by the number and #. To switch it off, the operator gives #002# to cut everything, or #21#, #62#, #67#, #61# case by case. Forwarding may be counted against the plan or billed outside it depending on the destination number, and it doesn’t work if the call-barring option is switched on.

SFR lets you manage forwarding from the SFR Répondeur+ app, available on Android but not on iPhone. Free states that forwarding is possible to landlines in mainland France (01 to 05 and 09) and to mobiles (06 and 07), that it may be charged depending on the destination, and that forwarding to voicemail is free and on by default; Free Pro support gives the codes *21*number#, *#21# and #21#.

To cancel a specific forwarding, dial ##21#, ##61#, ##67# or ##62# depending on the type activated; to reset everything, ##002#. Then check with *#21# or *#61#: the network should report that the service is deactivated. On iPhone, systematic forwarding switched on in Settings is turned off by disabling the option in the same place.

If forwarding won’t take effect, Bouygues Telecom describes resetting the voicemail via 610 (option 0, then 1, then 2), which removes all forwarding. At Orange, cancelling manual forwarding restores the default forwarding to voicemail.

For a business, the most useful setting is often not systematic forwarding but a combination of the three conditional types: you answer when you can, and only unanswered calls, calls arriving while you’re on the line and calls received with your phone off go elsewhere. That destination still needs to handle the call rather than simply record a message.

That’s the idea behind Alyas: from your operator, you forward your calls to the voice agent’s line. The agent answers 24/7, says it is an AI and that the call is recorded, answers from the information you have provided, takes contact details, books an appointment via Google Calendar or Cal.com once connected, transfers to the number you have configured and sends you a transcript and summary. The free trial lasts 10 days.