How to forward calls on Spectrum Business Voice

These steps are for Spectrum Business Voice, Spectrum's standard small-business phone line. If you have Spectrum Business Connect (the app-based system Spectrum sells with RingCentral), these codes don't apply; on Connect, *90 and *91 log desk phones in and out. Businesses with their own phone system (PBX) set forwarding there, not with Spectrum.

To change settings online you need the account's administrator login for SpectrumBusiness.net.

Spectrum's help pages list the busy and no-answer codes but don't spell out the steps after them, so the online settings below are the surer route for those two.

1. 1From a phone on your Spectrum line, dial *72 and wait for the dial tone.
2. 2Dial the number you want calls to go to, then press #. Include 1 and the area code if needed.
3. 3Listen for the confirmation tone. Forwarding is on.

To turn it off, dial *73 and wait for the dial tone. While forwarding is on, your phone gives a short reminder ring for each call it forwards, and calls skip your voicemail.

Some older Spectrum guides say the system first places a courtesy call to the number you entered and only turns forwarding on if that call is answered (otherwise, repeat the steps within two minutes). Spectrum's current page doesn't mention this, so if forwarding doesn't take on the first try, repeat the steps.

Spectrum describes two online screens and doesn't say which accounts see which, so use whichever you find after signing in to SpectrumBusiness.net as the administrator.

1. 1Option A: select Services, then Business Phone. Under Settings, select Manage Settings. In the Call Forwarding section, open Busy Line or Missed Calls, choose Forward to Phone Number, enter the number, and select Save.
2. 2Option B: select Services, then Business Phone, then Manage Voice to open Voice Manager. Select the Global Call Settings tab, then Call Forwarding, then Configure next to your number. Turn on Forward Busy Calls To or Forward No Answer Calls To, enter the number, and select Save.

To turn them off in Option A, choose Play Busy Tone (busy) or Allow Phone to Keep Ringing (missed calls) and save. In Option B, switch the toggle off and save. Choosing a phone number for busy or missed calls means those calls no longer go to your Spectrum voicemail.

Spectrum doesn't publish an official test, so here's the simplest check. Use a cell phone that isn't on your Spectrum account.

1. 1Every call: call your business number. It should go straight to the other number.
2. 2Unanswered calls: call and let it ring. Count the rings before it moves to the other number, and check that your own phone rang first.
3. 3Busy: call while the line is already on another call. The second call should go to the other number.
4. 4Then turn forwarding off and call once more to make sure your phones ring again.

If you just moved your number to Spectrum from another company, Spectrum says it can take up to 72 hours for the old company to release it, so early tests may be misleading.

Spectrum's Business Voice service terms list "continuous or extensive call forwarding" among prohibited uses, without saying where the line is. Forwarding itself is a normal feature of the service, but if you plan to forward every call all the time, it's worth asking Spectrum whether that's fine on your plan. Forwarding only busy or unanswered calls is another option.

Spectrum's current price guides list forwarding (all calls, busy, and no answer) among the included calling features. Some older plans that are no longer sold charged for each forwarding feature separately, so check your bill if you're on an older plan.

1. 1Calls still go to voicemail: for busy or missed calls, choose Forward to Phone Number, not Forward to Voicemail.
2. 2Your phones stopped ringing at all: forwarding every call is probably still on. Dial *73. Spectrum's own troubleshooting says to check that call forwarding isn't on.
3. 3You can't change settings online: sign in with the administrator login, not a user login.
4. 4The codes did nothing: check whether you're on Spectrum Business Connect or a PBX, which don't use these codes.

Nacho gives your restaurant a local number that answers calls, takes orders, and answers questions. The Phone page in your Nacho dashboard shows that number and asks how calls should reach Nacho: Every call, Only missed calls, or Only when the line is busy. On Spectrum, Every call is *72, and the other two are the busy and missed-call settings online.

Then use Test your setup on the Phone page: call your restaurant from your cell phone and you should hear Nacho answer. Check that the call on your Nacho Calls page shows your cell number; Spectrum's help pages don't say which number a forwarded call shows.