Call Forwarding Troubleshooter

Comprehensive guide for setting up call forwarding on Australian mobile networks.

Before You Start

You need two things:

  1. Your Deskie number (provided during your demo call and in your setup SMS)
  2. A second phone to test with (a friend's mobile, partner's phone, or any other line)

All codes below are dialled from your phone's keypad like a regular call. Type the code exactly as shown (including the * and # symbols), then press Call.

Step 1: Find Your Network

Your phone brand (e.g., Samsung, iPhone) is not your network. Your network is who you pay your phone bill to.

If you're not sure, check:

  • iPhone: Settings > General > About > look for "Carrier" or "Network"
  • Android: Settings > About Phone > look for "Network" or "SIM status"

Find your provider in the table below. If your provider isn't listed, contact them directly and ask: "How do I set up conditional call forwarding to an external number?"

Vodafone prepaid users

If you're on a prepaid plan with Vodafone, Kogan, felix, Lebara, or Lycamobile, call forwarding to external numbers may not be supported. These plans sometimes only allow forwarding to Vodafone's own voicemail.

Confirm via the My Vodafone app (24/7 chat), call 1555 from your Vodafone phone, or 1300 650 410. You may need to switch to a monthly (postpaid) plan, or move to a Telstra or Optus provider.

This does not apply to Vodafone postpaid (monthly) customers.

Your ProviderParent NetworkVoicemail Cancel Code
ALDI MobileTelstra101
amaysimOptus321
Aussie BroadbandOptus321
BelongTelstra101
BoostTelstra101
Circles.LifeOptus321
Coles MobileOptus321
DodoOptus321
ExetelOptus321
felixVodafone121
GomoOptus321
iiNetVodafone121
Kogan MobileVodafone121
LebaraVodafone121
LycamobileVodafone121
MATEOptus321
Moose MobileOptus321
numobileOptus321
OptusOptus321
PennytelOptus321
Southern PhoneOptus321
SpintelOptus321
SuperloopTelstra101
TangerineOptus321
TelstraTelstra101
TPGVodafone121
VodafoneVodafone121
Woolworths MobileTelstra101

Step 2: Cancel Your Voicemail

Why: If voicemail is active, it grabs your calls before Deskie can. Voicemail must be off first.

Option A (recommended): Universal clear

Dial ##002# and press Call.

This clears all existing forwarding and voicemail in one step. Works on all carriers.

Option B: Carrier-specific voicemail cancel

If ##002# doesn't work (rare), dial your carrier's voicemail cancel code from the table above (101, 321, or 121) and follow the prompts to deactivate.

How to confirm voicemail is off:

Call your own number from the second phone. Let it ring out fully (30+ seconds). If it rings and rings with no voicemail greeting, you're good. If you hear a voicemail message, go back and try Option B.

Step 3: Set Up Forwarding

Try the all-in-one code first. This sets up forwarding for all three scenarios (no answer, busy, no signal) in one go.

Dial:

**004*[YOUR DESKIE NUMBER]#

Example: **004*0468000777#

Your phone should show a confirmation (e.g., "Call forwarding activated" or "Setting succeeded").

If it worked: Skip to Step 4 (Test It).

If it didn't work: Try the next section.

Step 3B: All-in-One Didn't Work

Some carriers or plans don't support **004*. Try these fixes in order:

Fix 1: Add 61 and drop the leading 0

Dial: **004*61[NUMBER WITHOUT LEADING ZERO]#

Example: **004*61468000777#

Fix 2: Set each forwarding type separately

If the all-in-one code fails completely, set each condition individually. Dial each code separately, pressing Call after each:

  1. No answer (phone rings out): **61*[YOUR DESKIE NUMBER]#
  2. Busy (you're on another call or decline): **67*[YOUR DESKIE NUMBER]#
  3. Unreachable (phone off or no signal): **62*[YOUR DESKIE NUMBER]#

You should see a confirmation after each one.

Fix 3: Try with the 61 prefix on individual codes

If the individual codes above also fail, repeat them with 61 and no leading zero:

**61*61468000777#

**67*61468000777#

**62*61468000777#

Step 4: Test It

  1. Get a second phone (friend's mobile, partner's phone, any other line)
  2. Call your business number from that phone
  3. Let it ring without answering
  4. After about 4–5 rings, Deskie should answer

If Deskie answered: You're done. Call forwarding is live.

If voicemail answered instead: Go back to Step 2. Your voicemail is still active.

If it just kept ringing with no answer: The forwarding codes didn't take. Go to Step 3B and try the next fix.

If you got an error message or the call dropped: See Troubleshooting below.

Adjusting Ring Time

By default, your phone rings for about 15 seconds before forwarding. You can change this.

Telstra, Boost, ALDI, Belong, Woolworths

**61*[YOUR DESKIE NUMBER]*[SECONDS]#

Example (25 seconds): **61*0468000777*25#

Optus, amaysim, Coles, and other Optus MVNOs

**61*[YOUR DESKIE NUMBER]**[SECONDS]#

(Note: two asterisks before seconds) Example: **61*0468000777**25#

Vodafone, TPG, iiNet, Kogan, Lebara, felix

**61*[YOUR DESKIE NUMBER]**[SECONDS]#

(Note: two asterisks before seconds) Example: **61*0468000777**25#

Available times: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 seconds.

Troubleshooting

Checking Your Current Settings

Dial *#002# to see all active forwarding rules. Your phone will display which numbers are set for each condition (voice, data, fax). You only need to care about the "Voice" entries.

To check each condition individually:

  • No answer: *#61#
  • Busy: *#67#
  • Unreachable: *#62#

Quick Reference

What you want to doCode
Cancel voicemail + all forwarding##002#
Forward all missed calls (one code)**004*[DESKIE NUMBER]#
Forward on no answer only**61*[DESKIE NUMBER]#
Forward when busy only**67*[DESKIE NUMBER]#
Forward when unreachable only**62*[DESKIE NUMBER]#
Check all forwarding*#002#
Cancel all forwarding (keep voicemail)##004#
Cancel Deskie forwarding completely##002#
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