---
title: "Set up call forwarding"
slug: "set-up-call-forwarding"
updated: 2026-07-23T10:07:36Z
published: 2026-07-23T10:07:36Z
canonical: "help.8x8.com/set-up-call-forwarding"
---

> ## 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 call forwarding

**8x8 Work for Desktop** enables you to manage call forwarding rules for your extension.

You can quickly set basic call forwarding from your **Profile** panel, or set advanced call forwarding as an [**X Series**/**Virtual Office Editions**](/documentation/docs/set-up-call-forwarding#as-an-x-series-or-virtual-office-editions-user) or [**Virtual Office Classic**](/documentation/docs/set-up-call-forwarding#as-a-virtual-office-classic-user) user.

**To set basic call forwarding:**

1. Open your **Profile** panel.
2. Under **Voicemail setup**, select the **Call forwarding** check box. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/whats-new-calls-forward-from-profile.jpg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T20%3A23%3A57Z&se=2026-11-03T21%3A23%3A57Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=f1yjvekiJawKcLfWAyCelDbaIhBqy8r6ilgX9yLtA4M%3D)
3. In the drop-down menu that becomes available, select the call forwarding destination, such as your voicemail or a teammate’s extension. While you have call forwarding enabled, a banner notification shows up as a reminder to disable call forwarding once you are able to take calls again.
4. To stop forwarding incoming calls, open your **Profile** panel and clear the **Call forwarding** check box.

## As an X Series or Virtual Office Editions user

If your organization is an **X Series** or **Virtual Office Editions** customer, you can access call forwarding in your **Settings ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/tab-settings_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T20%3A23%3A57Z&se=2026-11-03T21%3A23%3A57Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=f1yjvekiJawKcLfWAyCelDbaIhBqy8r6ilgX9yLtA4M%3D)**. A few additional settings are available via your user profile page.

**To manage call forwarding rules:**

1. Go to **Settings ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/tab-settings_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T20%3A23%3A57Z&se=2026-11-03T21%3A23%3A57Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=f1yjvekiJawKcLfWAyCelDbaIhBqy8r6ilgX9yLtA4M%3D) > Account settings** to open your account settings in a browser page.
2. Under **Call forwarding rules** in the browser page that opens, you can choose to forward incoming calls:
  - Always (this overrides all other options if enabled)
  - When your Internet connection is down
  - When you are busy on an existing call
  - When you do not answer within a certain period of time (by default, 15 seconds)
  - When you get a call from a blocked number
3. When you are finished, save your changes.

## As a Virtual Office Classic user

If your organization is a **Virtual Office Classic** customer, you can access some of your older settings under **Settings ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/tab-settings_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T20%3A23%3A57Z&se=2026-11-03T21%3A23%3A57Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=f1yjvekiJawKcLfWAyCelDbaIhBqy8r6ilgX9yLtA4M%3D) > Account settings**. In addition to setting default call forwarding rules, you can create more complex custom rules.

**To set default call forwarding rules:**

1. Open your **8x8 Account Settings** app to access your account settings.

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> If you do not have the **8x8 Account Settings** app downloaded, go to **Settings ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/tab-settings_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T20%3A23%3A57Z&se=2026-11-03T21%3A23%3A57Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=f1yjvekiJawKcLfWAyCelDbaIhBqy8r6ilgX9yLtA4M%3D) > Account settings** and open the download page for the app.
2. Under **Call Forwarding**, select **Default Rules** to open the list of default call forwarding rules. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/Calls_CallForwarding_ClassicDefault.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T20%3A23%3A57Z&se=2026-11-03T21%3A23%3A57Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=f1yjvekiJawKcLfWAyCelDbaIhBqy8r6ilgX9yLtA4M%3D)
3. Click **Edit** to customize call forwarding rules for when:
  - Your Internet connection is down.
  - Your **8x8 Work** phone line is busy.
  - You don't answer your call within a certain period of time (by default, 15 seconds).
4. While editing a call forwarding rule, settings pop up to:
  - Enable call screening to have callers announce their names before you choose to answer their call.
  - Drop incoming calls in the chosen scenario, or to forward calls to another number.
  - Enter multiple phone numbers to forward calls to, and choose to forward calls to the desired numbers sequentially or simultaneously.
  - Forward calls to voicemail or other numbers, should your initial call forwarding destinations fail.
5. Once you are finished, click **OK** to return to the list of default rules.
6. Click **Save** to apply your changes.

**To set custom call forwarding rules:**

1. Open your **8x8 Account Settings** app to access your account settings.

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> If you do not have the **8x8 Account Settings** app downloaded, go to **Settings ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/tab-settings_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T20%3A23%3A57Z&se=2026-11-03T21%3A23%3A57Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=f1yjvekiJawKcLfWAyCelDbaIhBqy8r6ilgX9yLtA4M%3D) > Account settings** and open the download page for the app.
2. Under **Call Forwarding > My Rules**, you can create and manage custom call forwarding rules. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/Calls_CallForwarding_ClassicCustom.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T20%3A23%3A57Z&se=2026-11-03T21%3A23%3A57Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=f1yjvekiJawKcLfWAyCelDbaIhBqy8r6ilgX9yLtA4M%3D)
3. Click **+ Add New Rule** to create a custom rule, or click **Edit** next to an existing rule to customize it. You can:
  - Name the rule.
  - Enable call screening to have callers announce their names before you choose to answer their call.
  - Apply the rule to all calls, or to calls from specific numbers.
  - Choose to apply the rule at all times, or on a specified schedule.
  - Drop incoming calls, or to forward calls to another number.
  - Enter multiple phone numbers to forward calls to, and choose to forward calls to the desired numbers sequentially or simultaneously.
  - Forward calls to voicemail or other numbers, should your initial call forwarding destinations fail.
4. Once you are finished, click **OK** to return to the list of custom rules.
5. In addition to creating and editing your custom rules, you can:
  - Select the **Enable - Forward all calls to** check box to forward all calls to a desired number.
  - Click **Copy** next to a rule to duplicate it.
  - Click **Delete ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/Icon_RemoveParticipant_17x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T20%3A23%3A57Z&se=2026-11-03T21%3A23%3A57Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=f1yjvekiJawKcLfWAyCelDbaIhBqy8r6ilgX9yLtA4M%3D)** next to a rule to delete it.
  - Reorder call forwarding rules to set the order in which your rules take priority.
6. Click **Save** to apply your changes.