Vodafone UK is one of the four major mobile networks in the United Kingdom, with around 20 million subscribers. Following its merger with Three UK (Hutchison 3G) in 2024, Vodafone and Three share network infrastructure in many areas. The good news: both carriers support standard GSM forwarding codes, so the setup process is nearly identical.
This guide covers Vodafone UK in detail and includes the essentials for Three UK as well.
GSM Forwarding Codes for Vodafone UK
Vodafone UK uses standard GSM codes. Open your phone’s dialer and type these in, replacing [number] with the full destination number including country code (e.g., +447700900123).
Forward All Calls (Unconditional)
Activate: **21*[number]#
Deactivate: ##21#
Check: *#21#Every call goes straight to the destination. Your phone will not ring.
Forward When No Answer
Activate: **61*[number]**[seconds]#
Deactivate: ##61#
Check: *#61#Replace [seconds] with how long your phone should ring: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30.
Forward When Busy
Activate: **67*[number]#
Deactivate: ##67#
Check: *#67#Forward When Unreachable
Activate: **62*[number]#
Deactivate: ##62#
Check: *#62#Cancel All Forwarding
##002#Removes every forwarding rule at once.
Setting Up via the My Vodafone App
Vodafone offers app-based forwarding management:
- Open the My Vodafone app
- Sign in to your account
- Go to Account > My Plan or Manage your extras
- Look for Call Divert or Call Settings
- Select the forwarding type and enter the destination number
- Save your changes
You can also manage settings at vodafone.co.uk after logging in. For customer support, call 191 from your Vodafone phone or 0333 304 0191 from any other phone.
Three UK: Quick Reference
Three UK also supports standard GSM forwarding codes. The same codes listed above for Vodafone work on Three. You can manage forwarding through the Three app or at three.co.uk under your account settings.
For Three customer support, call 333 from your Three phone or 0333 338 1001 from another phone.
Since the Vodafone-Three network merge, some Three customers may notice their calls routing through Vodafone infrastructure. This does not affect call forwarding setup. The standard GSM codes work the same way regardless of which network tower your phone connects to.
Things to Know About Vodafone UK Forwarding
- Standard codes only. Vodafone UK uses standard GSM codes for all forwarding types. No proprietary codes to remember.
- “Call Divert” terminology. Vodafone and most UK carriers refer to call forwarding as “call divert” in their menus and support docs.
- Pay monthly plans. On most Vodafone pay monthly plans, activating call divert is free. The forwarded leg may count as an outgoing call against your inclusive minutes. Check your specific plan terms.
- Pay-as-you-go charges. Vodafone PAYG customers can forward calls, but the forwarded portion is charged at the standard call rate. Keep enough credit on your account.
- International forwarding. You can forward to numbers outside the UK. The forwarded call is billed at Vodafone’s international calling rate for that destination. If you forward to a European number, EU roaming rules may apply depending on your plan.
- Voicemail conflict. Vodafone sets voicemail as the default forwarding destination for unanswered and unreachable calls. To replace it with your own number, first clear existing conditional forwarding with
##004#, then set up your custom rules. - Dual SIM phones. If your phone has two SIMs, make sure you dial the GSM code from the Vodafone SIM, not the other one. Forwarding applies only to the SIM you dial from.
Try It Interactively
Our interactive call forwarding tool generates the right code for Vodafone UK and Three. Select your carrier, pick the forwarding type, enter the number, and copy the code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Vodafone UK charge for call forwarding?
Activating call forwarding on Vodafone UK is free. The forwarded call itself may use your plan’s inclusive minutes. If those minutes are used up, the forwarded call is charged at your plan’s standard rate. International forwarding incurs additional charges.
Can I forward Vodafone calls to a landline?
Yes. You can forward to any UK or international phone number, including landlines, VoIP numbers, and other mobile numbers. Use the full number including area code (e.g., +442071234567 for a London landline).
Do the same codes work on Three UK?
Yes. Three UK supports all the same standard GSM forwarding codes. The activation, deactivation, and status check codes are identical. The only difference is how you manage forwarding through each carrier’s app or website.
How do I stop calls going to Vodafone voicemail?
Dial ##004# to clear all conditional forwarding (this removes the default voicemail forwarding for no-answer, busy, and unreachable). Then set up your own forwarding rules with the GSM codes above. If you want to remove unconditional forwarding to voicemail as well, dial ##21# first.
Related Pages
- Call Forwarding: All Carriers Hub - Guides for every major carrier
- How to Set Up Call Forwarding - General forwarding guide for any phone
- GSM Codes Complete Reference - Every GSM/USSD code explained
- Interactive Forwarding Tool - Generate codes for your carrier
- Call Forwarding Solutions - Forward calls to an AI assistant