Call waiting alerts you to a second call while you’re talking and lets you choose whether to answer it. Call forwarding routes incoming calls to another number under a rule you set, such as forwarding every call or only calls that are busy or unanswered. What the second caller experiences depends on your phone, carrier, line, and active settings.
What happens when you’re already on a call?
With call waiting enabled, a second incoming call can appear while your first conversation is active. You can answer, ignore, or send the new call to voicemail. If you answer, the first call is typically put on hold so you can switch between conversations or, where supported, merge them. Apple documents controls to hold and accept, swap, or merge calls; Huawei describes answering the second call while putting the first on hold.
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On iPhone, Apple says that if call waiting is turned off, incoming calls go directly to voicemail. That describes Apple’s documented iPhone behavior; do not assume every phone or carrier handles a second call the same way.
Call waiting vs. call forwarding
| Feature | What it does | What happens to a second caller while you’re busy? |
|---|---|---|
| Call waiting | Alerts you to another call on the same line so you can decide whether to handle it. | If enabled, you may answer or ignore the call. On iPhone, with call waiting off, Apple says it goes directly to voicemail. |
| Call forwarding | Routes calls to a number you specify, either all the time or when a condition applies. | A busy-forwarding rule may send the call to the chosen number; the exact result depends on carrier and settings. |
These are separate settings, not mutually exclusive alternatives. Call waiting affects how you handle an incoming call; forwarding affects where a call is routed. Carrier rules can determine how they interact.
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How busy call forwarding works
Busy forwarding is a conditional form of call forwarding: instead of presenting a call to you when the line is busy, the network routes it to a designated number. Some services also forward calls if you do not answer. For example, Verizon describes conditional forwarding for busy or unanswered calls, with unanswered calls routed after 3–6 rings. That timing and behavior apply to Verizon’s documented service, not every carrier.
Conditional forwarding is carrier-dependent. Google notes that some reseller plans do not support conditional call forwarding. If you want calls to go somewhere other than voicemail while you’re on another call, check whether your carrier supports busy forwarding and confirm its current routing rules.
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Set up call waiting or forwarding
iPhone: turn call waiting on or off
- Open Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Waiting.
- Turn Call Waiting on or off.
Apple says call waiting is available on GSM service; CDMA customers should contact their carrier. On a Dual SIM iPhone, call waiting applies to incoming calls on the same line. The other line may still receive calls if Wi-Fi Calling is enabled on that line and a data connection is available.
iPhone: forward calls to another number
- Open Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Forwarding.
- If you use Dual SIM, choose the line to configure.
- Turn on forwarding and enter the destination number.
Apple says to set up forwarding while the iPhone is in cellular coverage. Standard forwarding sends calls to the number you enter; conditional forwarding for a busy or unavailable line may need to be set up through your carrier.
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Android: check the phone and carrier menus
Menu names vary by Android phone, software version, and carrier. As one device-specific example, Huawei’s Mate 20 guide for EMUI 10.0 places call waiting and call forwarding in Phone settings. Huawei warns that network-provider support affects availability. Treat that path as a model-specific example, not a universal Android menu.
Verizon: carrier-specific forwarding codes
Verizon documents these codes for its service:
- Immediate forwarding: dial
*72followed by the destination number. - Conditional busy/no-answer forwarding: dial
*71followed by the destination number.
Verizon says its conditional option forwards when the device is busy or unanswered after 3–6 rings. Do not use these codes as general instructions for other carriers: star commands and availability vary by provider.
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Why do calls go straight to voicemail when you’re on another call?
On iPhone, one documented reason is that Call Waiting is off: Apple says a new incoming call then goes directly to voicemail. Other devices and carrier plans may route a second call differently, including to a busy-forwarding destination if that feature is configured. Check the Call Waiting setting for the line receiving calls, then ask your carrier how it handles busy and unanswered calls.
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What to check if the behavior is unexpected
- Confirm the line. On a Dual SIM phone, verify which number received the call and which line’s settings you changed.
- Check call waiting. If you want a prompt for another call during a conversation, confirm it is enabled and supported by your carrier.
- Check the forwarding rule and destination. Immediate forwarding and busy/no-answer forwarding produce different outcomes.
- Verify carrier support. Conditional forwarding may be unavailable on some plans, and feature availability can vary by provider.
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