AT&T call forwarding failures most often come from a missing # at the end of dial codes, missing +1 country code, or 5G SA network conflicts. Here are 7 fixes in order of likelihood.
Quick Answer
Most AT&T call forwarding failures: (1) missing # — correct format is *61*+1XXXXXXXXXX# not *61XXXXXXXXXX, (2) missing +1 country code, (3) 5G SA users — switch to LTE to set forwarding. Cricket Wireless uses the same codes.
AT&T codes require # at end — many users miss this
Correct format: *61*+1XXXXXXXXXX# (no-answer). Missing the trailing # causes silent failure.
AT&T requires the +1 prefix
Format: *61*+1[10 digits]#. Without +1, forwarding may silently fail on some AT&T plans.
Clear stuck AT&T forwarding state
Dial ##002# to cancel all forwarding. Wait 15 seconds. Then re-dial *61*+1[number]#.
AT&T 5G SA can block USSD codes
Go to Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Options → Voice & Data → LTE. Set forwarding. Then switch back to 5G.
More reliable than USSD on AT&T
Open myAT&T → More → Voicemail & Phone → Call Forwarding → Enable → enter number.
AT&T FirstNet and business lines restrict forwarding by default
Contact AT&T Business at 611 or 1-800-331-0500 to enable conditional call forwarding on your line.
Ask them to check account-level forwarding
Call 611 from your AT&T phone or 1-800-331-0500. Request they verify conditional call forwarding is enabled on your line.
1. Have a second phone call your AT&T number.
2. On your main phone, reject or let it ring unanswered past 4 rings.
3. The second phone should connect to Katch's AI within 5–8 seconds.
4. You should receive a Katch text summary within 30 seconds.
Set no-answer forwarding to your Katch number: *61*+1[KATCH NUMBER]#. Katch's AI answers missed calls, talks to your caller, and texts you a summary with their name, reason, and urgency.
Full AT&T setup guide: US carrier call forwarding guide. Cricket Wireless users: same codes apply.
If your team lives on inbound calls, Katch for small businesses on AT&T walks through the exact setup for retail and service teams.
Real estate agents on AT&T run into the same missed-lead problem during showings — see Katch for real estate agents on AT&T. Still comparing tools first? the best voicemail apps for small businesses in the US breaks down how Katch stacks up.
Also see: Verizon call forwarding not working • T-Mobile call forwarding not working
AT&T uses different star codes for different forwarding rules, so it helps to keep the full list in one place before you start testing. Save these exactly as written. If one character is missing, AT&T often does not show an error and the request simply does not activate on the line.
AT&T is the only major US carrier that needs both the +1 prefix and the trailing # on these forwarding codes. If either piece is missing, the code can silently fail.
Conditional Call Forwarding, often shortened to CCF, means your calls forward only when you cannot take them. On AT&T, that usually means one of three cases: you do not answer in time, your line is busy, or your phone is unreachable because it is powered off or out of coverage. Your phone still rings first in the no-answer case, which is why CCF is the setting most people want when they use Katch or another missed-call assistant.
AT&T handles CCF differently from Verizon. Verizon bundles most conditional behavior into a simpler code pattern, but AT&T splits it into separate rules. That is why you will see different star codes for no-answer, busy, and unreachable instead of one combined switch. In practical terms, you need to decide which conditions you want covered and turn on each one directly.
For Katch, the usual setup is to point both the no-answer rule (*61*) and the busy rule (*67*) to the same Katch number. That way, Katch answers when you ignore a call and also when you are already talking to someone else. If you only set no-answer, callers may still hit your normal carrier voicemail when your line is occupied. Inside the myAT&T app, the feature is listed as Conditional Call Forwarding, so that is the label to look for if you prefer the app over dialing codes.
If your forwarding worked last week and suddenly stopped, the issue is often a reset event rather than a bad dial code. These are the three patterns that show up most often on AT&T lines.
iOS update reset
Major iOS updates can reset AT&T forwarding settings even when your line supported them before. After any iOS upgrade, re-run *61*+1[number]# and test from a second phone.
ActiveArmor update
AT&T ActiveArmor app updates sometimes change spam or allow-list behavior. If Katch stopped receiving calls, open ActiveArmor and re-add your Katch number after the update.
Number port or SIM swap
Forwarding is provisioned at the carrier level. If you ported a number into AT&T or replaced the SIM, call 611 and ask support to re-enable conditional call forwarding on the line.
The most important difference is formatting. AT&T needs both +1 and a trailing #. Verizon needs neither. T-Mobile also needs +1 and #, but its forwarding codes use a double asterisk format, which is easy to miss if you switch carriers.
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AT&T no-answer forwarding: *61*+1[10-digit number]# — include the +1 country code and # at the end. When busy: *67*+1[number]#. All calls: *21*+1[number]#. Cancel all: ##002#.
AT&T 5G SA (Standalone) networks can block USSD code processing. Workaround: temporarily switch to LTE in Settings → Cellular → Voice & Data, set forwarding, then switch back to 5G. Or use the myAT&T app which works on both 4G and 5G.
AT&T includes call forwarding on all postpaid plans at no extra charge. Cricket Wireless (which runs on AT&T's network) also supports the same dial codes at no charge.
Yes. Cricket Wireless runs on AT&T's network and uses identical call forwarding codes: *61*+1[number]# for no-answer, ##002# to cancel. All 7 fixes above apply to Cricket as well.
Yes. Set no-answer call forwarding to your Katch number: *61*+1[KATCH NUMBER]#. Katch's AI answers missed calls and texts you a summary. See the complete setup guide at /guides/call-forwarding-us.