---
title: "Set Up or Change Auto Attendant Forwarding Rules in 8x8 Admin Console"
slug: "set-up-or-change-auto-attendant-forwarding-rules-in-8x8-admin-console"
updated: 2026-05-08T17:53:09Z
published: 2026-05-21T21:26:45Z
canonical: "help.8x8.com/set-up-or-change-auto-attendant-forwarding-rules-in-8x8-admin-console"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.8x8.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set Up or Change Auto Attendant Forwarding Rules in 8x8 Admin Console

## Objective

Set up or change your Auto Attendant forwarding rules in Admin Console.

## Applies To

- Admin Console
- Auto Attendant

## Procedure

Your Auto Attendant can forward callers to a number of destinations while your recorded message can inform callers of your business hours, or any other information they need to know.

1. Log in to [**Admin Console**](https://login.8x8.com/).
2. Click **Auto Attendants**.
3. Create an auto attendant or click **Edit** (pencil icon) to the right of the Auto Attendant you wish to edit.
4. Ensure that you have the proper **Schedule** selected. You can also create a new schedule for holidays or other occasions in the future where you will have reduced hours.
5. Go to *Call Handling Menus* and select **Open** or **Closed** to set up specific rules for calls that come in during and outside of business hours. To set up a menu with separate actions, select **Alternate Menu**. ***Note****: You need to select a Site for your Auto Attendant before you can view the Call Handling Menus.*
6. Click **Add Key** to create scheduling rules for specific keys.
7. Select the **Key** users will press to complete an action from the menu.
8. Select any of the actions below. Callers can complete these actions by pressing the key associated with them.
  - Transfer To
    - **Auto Attendant**: You must have two Auto Attendants to use this option.
    - **Call Queue**
    - **User**
    - **External Number**: This can be used for any third-party services, such as contact centers.

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> A phone number is required if using External Forwarding on an Auto Attendant and if the Site does not have a Main Number.
    - **Ring Group**
9. Click **Save** in the **Key Manager** window**.**
10. **Save** your Auto Attendant profile.

### Additional Information

****Question**: How do I set up an Auto Attendant to route calls to a shared voicemail if no one answers?**

**Answer**: This depends on how your Auto Attendant is set up:

- If your Auto Attendant forwards the call to a Ring Group and no one in the Ring Group answers, the call can be sent to the Ring Group's voicemail.
- If the Auto Attendant routes a call to a queue and no one in the queue answers, you can set up Call Forwarding rules in the queue to direct the call to voicemail.