You’re in a meeting. Your phone’s on silent. An important client calls, but you can’t answer. Sound familiar? Or maybe you’re traveling somewhere with terrible network coverage, and you don’t want to miss calls from family. Perhaps you’re juggling two phones and need incoming calls from one number to ring on another device entirely.
This is where call forwarding becomes your secret weapon.
Call forwarding—or call divert, as many Indians call it—is one of those mobile features that most people don’t think about until they desperately need it. It’s simple in concept: redirect incoming calls from your Jio number to another phone number automatically. But the execution? That’s where things get interesting.
With over 489 million subscribers as of 2024, Reliance Jio dominates India’s telecom landscape. Nearly half the country uses Jio, yet surprisingly few people know how to properly use call forwarding on their Jio SIM cards. Most stumble through settings menus, confused and frustrated, or simply give up.
This comprehensive guide changes that. We’re diving deep into every Jio call forwarding code, explaining exactly when to use each one, how to activate and deactivate them, and—crucially—how to troubleshoot when things inevitably go wrong. Whether you’re tech-savvy or someone who just wants their phone to work without hassle, this guide has you covered.
Understanding Call Forwarding: What It Actually Does
Before jumping into codes, let’s establish what call forwarding actually means.
When someone calls your Jio number, the network typically routes that call directly to your phone. Ring ring. You answer or ignore. Simple. Call forwarding changes this equation by introducing a middleman—another phone number where the call gets redirected instead.
Think of it like mail forwarding when you move houses. Letters addressed to your old address get automatically sent to your new one. Same principle, different application. Incoming calls addressed to your primary Jio number get automatically sent to whatever alternate number you specify.
The beauty of call forwarding lies in its flexibility. You’re not simply turning it on or off. You can set conditions. Forward ALL calls always. Forward only when you’re busy on another call. Forward only when your phone’s switched off or out of coverage. Forward only when you don’t answer after several rings.
This conditional flexibility is what makes the feature genuinely useful rather than just a novelty.
The Four Types of Jio Call Forwarding
According to Jio’s official documentation, the company offers four distinct types of call forwarding, each serving different scenarios. Understanding when to use each type is crucial for maximizing the feature’s effectiveness.
1. Unconditional Call Forwarding (Always Forward)
This is the nuclear option. When activated, every single incoming call to your Jio number gets immediately forwarded to your chosen destination number. Period. Your phone won’t ring at all. Callers won’t even know they’re being forwarded—they’ll simply hear ringing on the other end.
When would you use this? Imagine you’ve lost your primary phone but still have access to a secondary device. Or you’re traveling internationally and want all calls redirected to a local number. Maybe you’re switching numbers temporarily and need all calls from your old number to reach your new one.
2. Call Forwarding When No Answer (Unanswered)
Your phone rings. Once, twice, three times, four. You don’t pick up. After a predetermined number of rings (usually around 15-20 seconds), the call automatically forwards to your alternate number.
This is perfect for situations where you want a chance to answer personally, but need a backup if you can’t. Many people use this to forward unanswered calls to a family member, assistant, or alternate phone they check less frequently.
3. Call Forwarding When Busy
You’re already on a call. Someone else tries calling your Jio number. Instead of hearing a busy tone or being sent to voicemail, they get connected to your alternate number.
This is ideal for business scenarios where missing calls means losing customers. Your personal phone might be busy, but the call seamlessly redirects to a colleague or office line.
4. Call Forwarding When Not Reachable (Unreachable)
Your phone’s switched off. Or you’re in an area with zero network coverage—maybe deep in a basement parking garage or a remote village. Or your battery died. In any of these scenarios, incoming calls forward to your designated number instead of going straight to voicemail or failing entirely.
This is the most commonly used option, according to telecom research from TechRounder. It makes sense—network coverage issues plague every Indian mobile user at some point, and nobody wants to miss important calls because their phone died.
The Complete List of Jio Call Forwarding Codes
Now for the practical part: the actual codes you need to dial. Jio uses a specific format that differs slightly from some other carriers, so pay attention to the syntax.
Activation Codes
These codes turn call forwarding ON for specific conditions:
Unconditional (Always Forward):
- Code:
*401*<10-digit number># - Example:
*401*9876543210# - What it does: Forwards ALL incoming calls to 9876543210
When Unanswered:
- Code:
*403*<10-digit number># - Example:
*403*9876543210# - What it does: Forwards calls you don’t answer to 9876543210
When Busy:
- Code:
*405*<10-digit number># - Example:
*405*9876543210# - What it does: Forwards calls when you’re already on another call to 9876543210
When Not Reachable:
- Code:
*409*<10-digit number># - Example:
*409*9876543210# - What it does: Forwards calls when your phone is off or has no signal to 9876543210
Deactivation Codes
Turning off call forwarding is even simpler—you don’t need to include the destination number. Just dial the deactivation code:
Stop Unconditional Forwarding:
- Code:
*402#
Stop Forwarding When Unanswered:
- Code:
*404#
Stop Forwarding When Busy:
- Code:
*406#
Stop Forwarding When Not Reachable:
- Code:
*410#
Stop ALL Call Forwarding (Master Deactivation):
- Code:
*413#
That last one is particularly useful. If you’ve activated multiple types of forwarding and want to disable everything at once, *413# is your friend. One code, everything off.
Step-by-Step: How to Activate Call Forwarding on Jio
Let’s walk through the actual process. It’s simpler than you might think.
Step 1: Open Your Phone Dialer
Navigate to your phone’s calling app—the same app you use to make regular calls. On most Android phones, this is simply called “Phone” or “Dialer.” On iPhones, it’s the green Phone app.
Step 2: Enter the Complete Code
Type the full activation code including the asterisks, numbers, and hash symbol. Let’s say you want to forward all calls when unreachable to 9123456789. You would type:
*409*9123456789#
Double-check for accuracy. Missing even one character breaks the whole thing.
Step 3: Press the Call Button
Hit the green call button exactly as if you were making a phone call. You won’t actually call anyone—the code gets processed by Jio’s network instead.
Step 4: Wait for Confirmation
Within seconds, you’ll see a message on your screen confirming activation. The exact wording varies by phone model, but you’ll see something like “Call forwarding activated” or “Service enabled.”
That’s it. Four steps, maybe thirty seconds total.
Alternative Method: Using Phone Settings
Not everyone wants to memorize codes. Jio also supports call forwarding through your phone’s built-in settings menu, though the exact navigation varies by device.
According to Jio’s official help documentation, users can activate call forwarding by going to Settings > Call > Advance settings > Call forwarding, though the navigation might differ on different handsets.
Here’s the general process for Android phones:
- Open the Phone app
- Tap the three-dot menu (usually top-right corner)
- Select “Settings”
- Find “Call Settings” or “Calling Accounts”
- Tap your Jio SIM (if you have dual SIM)
- Select “Call Forwarding”
- Choose the condition (Always forward, When busy, When unanswered, When unreachable)
- Enter the destination phone number
- Tap “Enable” or “Turn On”
For iPhones, the path is typically:
- Open Settings (not the Phone app)
- Scroll to “Phone”
- Tap “Call Forwarding”
- Toggle it on
- Enter the forwarding number
Important note for iPhone users: iOS settings only support unconditional call forwarding. If you need conditional forwarding (when busy, unanswered, or unreachable), you must use the USSD codes instead.
Critical Things You Need to Know About Jio Call Forwarding
Several important details often catch people by surprise. Let’s address them upfront.
The Dual SIM Issue
Here’s a frustrating reality: call forwarding only works when your Jio SIM is in slot 1 of dual SIM phones. If your Jio SIM occupies the second slot, call forwarding codes may fail or behave unpredictably.
Why? It’s a limitation of how dual SIM phones handle network features. The primary SIM slot gets priority for advanced calling features.
Solution: If you absolutely need call forwarding on Jio, make sure it’s in SIM slot 1. Swap your SIMs if necessary.
Cross-Network Compatibility
Good news: you can forward calls to any mobile number across India, regardless of carrier. Jio to Airtel? Works. Jio to Vodafone-Idea (Vi)? Works. Jio to BSNL? This one’s complicated.
Multiple sources, including TechRounder’s investigation, found that call forwarding from Jio to BSNL numbers frequently fails. Users report the codes activating successfully, but calls never actually forward. The issue appears to be on Jio’s end—possibly a deliberate restriction, though Jio hasn’t officially confirmed this.
Workaround: If you need to forward to a BSNL number, try forwarding to an Airtel or Vi number first, then forward from that number to BSNL. It’s clunky, but it sometimes works.
Cost Implications
Here’s where many people get surprised. While activation is free, the forwarded call is treated like an outgoing call from your number to the destination.
Think about it: When someone calls your Jio number and it forwards to another number, your Jio account is essentially making an outgoing call to that forwarding destination. If you have unlimited calling on your plan, no worries. But if you’re on a limited plan, forwarded calls consume your minutes or balance.
However, for most Jio users, this isn’t an issue. Jio doesn’t charge separately for the call forwarding feature itself—it’s included in standard calling plans. You’re just paying for the airtime of the forwarded call, which is typically free on unlimited plans.
Privacy Considerations
Most people who call you won’t receive any notification that their call was forwarded, though some phones may briefly display “call forwarded” depending on the carrier.
From the caller’s perspective, they dial your number and it rings somewhere. They might not even know you’re not the one answering on the other end.
This has privacy implications. If you forward calls to a family member or colleague, they’ll see your incoming calls. They’ll know who’s calling you and when. Make sure you’re comfortable with that level of transparency.
Security Concerns
Call forwarding can be set up remotely if someone gains access to your phone or logs into your mobile operator’s account linked to your number.
This is a genuine security risk. If someone gets physical access to your unlocked phone, they could activate call forwarding to their own number and intercept all your calls. You wouldn’t even know unless you checked your settings or noticed you weren’t receiving calls.
Similarly, if your MyJio app account gets compromised, attackers could potentially manipulate call settings.
Protection: Enable strong authentication on your MyJio account. Use screen locks on your phone. Periodically check your call forwarding settings to verify nothing’s been activated without your knowledge.
New Government Regulations: What Changed in 2025
Important development: According to new guidelines issued by the Government of India, activation and deactivation of call forwarding using USSD-based options like *401 will not be allowed going forward.
Wait, what? The entire article just explained those codes!
Here’s the situation: The government implemented these restrictions due to security concerns—specifically to prevent fraud where scammers would remotely activate call forwarding on victims’ numbers. However, implementation has been inconsistent.
Users can still enable call forwarding directly from their handset through phone settings, even if USSD codes are restricted.
In practice, as of early 2025, the USSD codes still work for most users. The restriction appears to be rolling out gradually and may not affect all regions or user accounts equally. But the direction is clear: Jio is moving toward settings-based call forwarding rather than code-based activation.
What this means for you: Learn both methods. Know the codes for quick access, but also familiarize yourself with your phone’s settings menu in case codes stop working in your area.
Troubleshooting Common Jio Call Forwarding Problems
Technology fails. Here’s how to fix the most frequent issues.
“Invalid MMI Code” Error
You dial the code. Instead of confirmation, you see “Invalid MMI code” or “Connection problem or invalid MMI code.”
Possible causes and solutions:
Syntax Error: You probably typed the code incorrectly. Check for:
- Missing asterisk (*) at the beginning
- Missing hash (#) at the end
- Extra spaces anywhere in the code
- Wrong number of digits in the phone number
The code must be exact: *401*9876543210# with no variations.
Network Issues: Weak signal can prevent MMI codes from processing. Move to an area with better Jio coverage and try again.
Phone Compatibility: Some older phones or non-VoLTE devices struggle with certain codes. Try the settings menu method instead.
Call Forwarding Activates But Doesn’t Work
You successfully activate call forwarding—you get the confirmation message and everything—but calls still come to your original phone instead of forwarding.
Check these issues:
SIM Slot: Is your Jio SIM in slot 1? Remember, call forwarding often fails on SIM slot 2.
Destination Number Issues: Try forwarding to a different number to rule out problems with the specific destination. BSNL numbers are particularly problematic.
Phone Settings Conflict: Some phones have built-in call rejection or call screening features that interfere with forwarding. Disable these temporarily.
Network Propagation Delay: Sometimes changes take a few minutes to propagate through the network. Wait 5-10 minutes, then test with a call from another phone.
Can’t Deactivate Call Forwarding
You dial the deactivation code, but forwarding remains active.
Solutions:
Use the Master Code: Instead of individual deactivation codes, try *413# to disable all forwarding types at once.
Settings Method: Go into your phone’s call forwarding settings and manually toggle each option off.
Network Reset: As a last resort, restart your phone. This often clears stuck network settings.
Contact Jio: If nothing works, call Jio customer service at 198 from your Jio number or 1800-8899999 from any phone.
Forwarding Works Sometimes But Not Always
Intermittent forwarding is particularly annoying because you can’t predict when calls will forward and when they won’t.
Common causes:
Conditional Settings: You may have multiple forwarding rules that conflict. For example, if you set both “forward when busy” and “forward when unreachable” to different numbers, the phone might get confused about which rule to apply.
Solution: Deactivate all forwarding with *413#, then set up only the specific condition you need.
Network Roaming: Call forwarding behavior can change when you’re roaming on partner networks. Some forwarding conditions may not work outside Jio’s native coverage.
Time-Based Network Issues: If forwarding fails at specific times (like evening peak hours), network congestion might be interrupting the feature.
Checking Your Current Call Forwarding Status
Sometimes you just need to know: Is call forwarding currently active on my number? Where are calls being forwarded to?
There’s no direct Jio code to check status, but here’s a workaround:
Method 1: Test Call
Simply have someone call your Jio number while you observe what happens. If your phone doesn’t ring and the caller reports connecting to a different number, forwarding is active.
Method 2: Phone Settings
Navigate to your call forwarding settings in the phone menu (Settings > Call > Call Forwarding). Active forwarding rules will display the destination number. Inactive rules will show “Disabled” or “Not set.”
Method 3: Dial Deactivation Code
Try dialing a deactivation code like *402#. If you get a message saying “Service was enabled” or similar, forwarding was active and is now disabled. If you get “Service was not enabled,” it wasn’t active to begin with.
Advanced Tips and Use Cases
Now that you understand the basics, let’s explore some creative applications.
Sequential Forwarding
Can you forward calls multiple times? For example, forward from your Jio number to an Airtel number, which then forwards to a Vi number?
Yes, technically. Each number in the chain can have its own forwarding rules. However, be aware:
- Each hop in the forwarding chain consumes call minutes
- Voice quality may degrade with multiple forwards
- The complexity makes troubleshooting difficult
- If any number in the chain has issues, the whole thing breaks
Use sequential forwarding sparingly and only when absolutely necessary.
Time-Sensitive Forwarding
Jio doesn’t offer built-in time-based forwarding (forward calls only during specific hours), but you can simulate it:
Manually activate forwarding when leaving work: *401*<home number>#
Deactivate when you arrive home: *402#
Yes, it requires discipline. But for people who want work calls to reach a specific phone only during business hours, it’s functional.
Emergency Backup Numbers
Set up “forward when unreachable” as a permanent safety net:
*409*<trusted contact>#
Now if your phone dies or you lose signal, important calls automatically reach someone who can relay messages. Many professionals use this to forward to their spouse or assistant.
Business Applications
Small business owners often use call forwarding creatively:
- Forward a published business number to your personal phone
- Forward to different employees based on time of day (manually switching)
- Forward to an office landline during working hours, personal mobile after hours
- Forward customer calls to a dedicated support number
The flexibility makes Jio call forwarding a budget-friendly alternative to expensive PBX systems for small operations.
Alternatives to Traditional Call Forwarding
Call forwarding isn’t the only solution for managing incoming calls. Consider these alternatives:
Dual SIM Phones: Simply carry both numbers on one device and answer whichever rings. No forwarding needed.
VoIP Apps: Apps like Google Voice, Skype, or WhatsApp can receive calls over data, providing an alternative reachability method.
Virtual Phone Numbers: Services like Knowlarity or MyOperator provide cloud-based number management with sophisticated routing rules.
Voicemail Transcription: Some services transcribe voicemail to text and email it to you, so you can read missed call messages even if you couldn’t answer.
Each has trade-offs. Call forwarding remains attractive because it’s built into your service, requires no apps or additional services, and works on literally any phone—even basic feature phones without smartphones capabilities.
The Bottom Line: Mastering Jio Call Forwarding
Call forwarding is one of those features that seems basic until you actually need it. Then it becomes essential.
The codes themselves are straightforward. Memorize just a few:
*401*<number>#– Forward all calls always*409*<number>#– Forward when unreachable (most useful)*413#– Turn off all forwarding
Those three codes cover 90% of most people’s needs.
But understanding when to use each type, how to troubleshoot problems, and what the cost implications are—that’s where this guide comes in. Call forwarding on Jio isn’t just about dialing a code. It’s about understanding your communication needs and configuring your phone to meet them.
Whether you’re a business professional who can’t afford to miss client calls, a parent who needs accessibility during family emergencies, or just someone juggling multiple devices, call forwarding gives you control. Your calls reach you when and where you need them—not just where your phone happens to be.
The feature isn’t perfect. The dual SIM limitation is annoying. The BSNL forwarding issues remain unresolved. The new government restrictions add uncertainty. But even with these limitations, call forwarding remains one of the most practical features in Jio’s arsenal.
Take fifteen minutes to test it. Activate forwarding, call your number from another phone, verify it works, then deactivate. That small investment of time means you’ll know exactly what to do when you genuinely need the feature—when you’re boarding a flight, entering a long meeting, or dealing with a dead battery at the worst possible moment.
Your calls don’t have to be lost just because your phone is. And now you know exactly how to make sure they aren’t.
Leave a Reply