How Do You Forward a Landline to a Cell Phone? A Step-by-Step Guide

So, you’re tied to your desk because your landline is ringing off the hook, but you’ve got places to be. 

That’s also understandable because a lot of sales reps have a mobile job, aside from the ever-growing requirement of making cold/ warm calls to meet the conversion targets.

Sound familiar, doesn’t it?

The good news is, you don’t have to choose between staying reachable and actually leaving your office.

Forwarding calls from your landline to your cell phone is a game-changer—and it’s way easier than you think.

But here’s the thing: while call forwarding solves the immediate problem, there’s a whole world of better options out there, like virtual phone systems and cloud telephony, that can make your life even simpler. 

Having said that, this post aims to resolve the basic question that everyone seems to be asking these days: how to you forward a landline to a cellphone?

If you’re stuck in it, and you’re looking for plenty of other useful tips to maximize your sale making potential while being on the move, this super insightful write up is for you.

Let’s get started.

How Do You Forward Landline to Cell Phone? (The Old-School Way)

If you just need a quick fix, here’s how to set up call forwarding on a traditional landline. Aside from that, this solution may or may not work for you because it depends on the service provider.

In worst case scenario, if these tips don’t answer the how to forward a landline to a cellphone dilemma, then feel free to do a simple Google search specified with your landline service provider name. 

It’ll turn up plenty of solutions that you can incorporate easily.

Anyhow, take a gander below to follow these steps.

Step 1: Check with Your Provider

Not all landlines are created equal. 

Some providers include call forwarding in your plan, while others charge extra. A quick call to customer service (or a glance at their website) will tell you if you’re good to go.

Step 2: Activate Call Forwarding

This is where you play a little phone-dialing game. The usual steps:

1. Pick up your landline and wait for the dial tone.
2. Dial *72 (this is the most common activation code, but check with your provider—some use *21 or *92).
3. Enter your cell number (including area code).
4. Wait for a confirmation tone or message.

Boom. Now, when someone calls your landline, your cell phone rings instead.

Step 3: Test It Out

Before you rely on this for important calls, test it. Grab a coworker’s phone (or your second cell) and call your landline. If your cell rings, you’re golden.

Step 4: Manage Forwarded Calls

A few things to keep in mind:

• Your cell plan’s minutes apply to these calls (so if you’re on a tight plan, watch out).
• Set a unique ringtone so you know it’s a forwarded call.
• If your landline has voicemail, make sure it doesn’t pick up before your cell gets the call.

Step 5: Turn It Off When You’re Done

When you’re back at your desk (or just don’t want calls forwarded anymore), dial *73 (or whatever deactivation code your provider uses).

What Is The Main Problem with Basic Call Forwarding

1. Your Phone Becomes a Tyrant
With basic forwarding, every call becomes an emergency. 

Client calling at 7pm? 

Your cell rings. Spam call at 2am? Your cell rings. 

You're in an important meeting? Too bad - your cell's ringing off the hook, unles and until you remembered to put it on Silent mode. 

On the contrary, a proper virtual phone system solves this with:

• Time-based routing (9-5 only, please)
• VIP caller lists (your best clients get through anytime)
• Do Not Disturb modes (because sleep matters)

2. You're Handing Out Your Personal Number ConvenientlyHere's what happens with basic forwarding:

• Your caller ID shows your personal cell number
• Clients save it in their contacts
• Now they're texting you memes at midnight
• You can never change your number without losing contacts

Cloud telephony keeps your personal number private while giving you:

• Professional business caller ID
• The ability to change numbers without losing clients
• Separate voicemails for work vs. your aunt calling about Thanksgiving plans

3. You're at the Mercy of Your Cell Signal
We've all been there - that important call drops because:

• You walked into an elevator
• Your "unlimited" data gets throttled
• You're in that one dead zone in your house

With a virtual phone system:

• Calls can roll from cell to WiFi seamlessly
• Bad signal? The system can automatically switch to text-based communication
• You get actual call quality metrics to troubleshoot issues

4. You're Missing Game-Changing Features
Basic forwarding is like using a flip phone in the smartphone era. You're missing out on:

• The Click-to-call functionality that saves sales teams hours each week
• Visual voicemail that turns messages into searchable text
• Call recording for compliance and training
• Analytics showing your busiest call times

5. It Makes You Look Small-Time
When clients hear:

• Different ringback tones every time they call
• Your personal voicemail greeting
• Background noise from wherever you happened to be

They don't think "efficient" - they think "this person doesn't have their act together." A virtual phone system gives you:

• Consistent professional greetings
• Music on hold (if you want it)
• The ability to answer from any device without sounding like you're in a wind tunnel

The Better Way Forward
We get it - learning how do you forward landline to cell phone feels like a quick win. 

But in 2025 and beyond, that's like being proud you know how to program a VCR. Modern cloud telephony solutions aren’t always online with guaranteed uptime, but they also come with plenty of different perks:

• Smarter call handling that respects your time
• Professional presentation that builds trust
• Reliability that doesn't depend on cell towers
• Features that actually save you time

A Smarter Alternative: Trellus To Offer AIO Virtual Calling Solution

Why stick with a clunky landline when you can have a virtual phone system that works like it’s 2025? These systems (like Trellus,) take your business calls and make them infinitely more flexible.

Here’s What You Get:

✅ One number for everything – Calls, unlimited dialing, VM drops—all in one place.
✅ Professional voicemail & greetings – No more “Hey, it’s me, leave a message.”
✅ Click-to-call – Just tap a contact in your CRM to call them (no dialing needed).
✅ Works on any device – Desk phone, laptop, cell—it’s all synced. This feature for Trellus users works for anyone whose got an active Google account with the official Trellus Chrome Store extension installed.

How It Works (Without the Tech Jargon)

1. You pick a business number (or port your existing one).
2. You set up rules like:
   
   • “If someone calls between 9-5, ring my cell. After hours, go to voicemail.”
   • “If I don’t answer, try my coworker next.”
3. You manage everything on the go.

It’s just seamless, professional call handling.

Why Businesses Are Ditching Landlines for Remote Dialing Solutions?

1. Ditch the Desk—Work From Anywhere

Remember when "working remotely" meant forwarding your office phone to your cell and hoping for the best? Those days are over. With a virtual phone system, your entire office phone lives wherever you do.

• Coffee shop calls? No problem. Answer business calls from your laptop like you’re at your desk.
• Switching devices mid-call? Start on your office phone, grab your keys, and keep talking on your cell—your customer won’t hear a glitch.
• Click-to-call magic—Sales teams love this one. See a client’s number in your CRM? One click and you’re already ringing them. No dialing, no typos, just faster connections.

The best part? You look professional the whole time. No more "Sorry, I’m on my cell" excuses—caller ID shows your business number, even when you’re answering in your pajamas.

2. It Is Scalable, Just Like Your Business

Adding a new employee to a landline system used to mean:

• Calling your phone provider
• Waiting for a technician
• Paying for new hardware

With cloud telephony, it’s:

1. Open the app or the relevant software
2. Assign a new number or extension
3. Done before your coffee gets cold

Scaling up for the holidays? Temporary team members get their own lines in minutes. Downsizing? No contracts locking you into paying for unused lines. It’s like having a phone system made of Legos—you snap together exactly what you need.

3. Your Wallet Will Thank You

Landline calling solutions sometimes tend to be more expensive then virtual calling platforms. There are multiple aspects tied to these expenses, such as:

• Hardware fees ($500+ for a fancy desk phone? No thanks.)
• Mystery charges (Since when did call forwarding cost extra?)
• International rates (That "quick call" to a client overseas just cost $50.)

A virtual phone system flips the script:
No hardware—Use your existing computer or smartphone
Predictable pricing—Most plans include unlimited domestic calls
Global calls for pennies—Some providers charge less than 1¢/minute internationally

Parallel Dialing: Outbound sales call solutions, such as Trellus come with robust 5-line parallel dialing system. 

That means you can call 5 numbers at the same time, and whoever picks the call first on the other end, is connected immediately. That also makes prospecting lot easier, aside from the time saving factor.

Bonus: Many systems include features that would cost extra with traditional providers—auto-attendants, call recording, and yes, even click-to-call functionality built right into your workflow.

4. Works the Way You Already Do

The killer feature of cloud telephony? It bends to your habits, not the other way around.

For sales teams:

• Every call auto-logs in your CRM
• Click-to-call from LinkedIn? Done.
• Missed a call? Voicemail arrives as both audio file and text transcript in your email

For customer support:

• Route calls to the right agent based on what the customer needs
• After-hours calls can go to a friendly voicemail—or a 24/7 AI assistant

For everyone:

• Set custom greetings for different callers ("Hey VIP clients!")
• Block spam calls before they ring
• Need a click-to-call button on your website? Two clicks in the dashboard

Bottom Line: Call Forwarding Is Fine, But You Can Do Better

If you just need a temporary fix, how do you forward landline to cell phone?

(*Depending on your service provider) Easy—dial *72 and you’re done. But if you want:

• Smarter call handling
• A more professional image
• Features like click-to-call and AI voicemail
  …then a virtual phone system is the way to go.

Cloud telephony isn’t just for big corporations. It’s for anyone who’s tired of playing phone tag and wants their business calls to actually work for them.

So, what’s your move going forward? 

Stick with the old-school landline shuffle, or upgrade to something that lets you work from anywhere?