Aircall's Forward to external number feature allows you to set up a transfer for your incoming calls from your Aircall phone app to an external mobile or landline number of your choice.
If you want to make outgoing calls or use Aircall's SMS feature while on the go, it would be best to use the mobile app for Android or iOS.
There are a few important aspects to consider when activating this feature:
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Calls can be forwarded to only one external number of your choice (mobile or landline). Calls cannot be forwarded to another Aircall number.
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Your Aircall user must be set as available in order for calls to be forwarded.
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Calls will be routed to your Forward to external number via Aircall, meaning the call distribution and ring times you have set for your Aircall numbers are followed even when forwarding, just as if you were signed into your Aircall Phone application.
- Please note that Aircall routing is only followed until the call is connected to the external number. Once a call is connected to an external number, it will follow any routing set up on that external number. For example: if you are forwarding to an answering service that connects calls then puts them in a queue, your Aircall call will stay connected to that external queue, even if it exceeds the ring time set in your Aircall Dashboard.
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Calls making use of Forward to External Number will follow typical user availability, meaning only one call can be forwarded at a time per user with the feature enabled.
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If you are signed in to your Aircall Phone application and have Forward to external number enabled, you will receive the call simultaneously on both your application and the Forward to external number. There is currently no option to ring your app first then your forwarding number or to disable ringing to your app if you are logged in.
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When receiving a call on your Forward to external number, an automated message will prompt you to press 1 to prove that you're a human and not a robot. You must press 1 within 10 seconds before the call cascades to the next available user.
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Calls that are answered on your Forward to external number will be charged as outbound calls.
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You can choose to either see the caller ID (number of the caller) or your Aircall number on your Forward to external number screen when receiving incoming calls.
⚠️ When Forward to External is enabled, is not possible to forward calls to an iOS or Android device where the Aircall mobile app is installed. You will experience service interruptions.
⚠️ If you have installed the mobile app and also set up a Forward to External Number you must deactivate either the Forward to External Number or manually log out of the mobile app and uninstall it from your device.
Enabling Forward to External Number from the Dashboard
⚠️ Please note: This version of the Dashboard is currently in early access. As we gather feedback, features and sections may be updated or changed.
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Log in to the Dashboard.
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Click on Users in the navigation menu.
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Select the User you want to enable Forward call to an external number for.
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Under Call Preferences, you will find Forward call to an external number.
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Click Add a phone number and enter the mobile or landline number of your choice.
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Click Add.
Under Number displayed to caller, you can choose to show the external number or your internal number.
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Show the external number: When the call is transferred to your device, show the caller ID of the number calling.
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Show the internal number: When the call is transferred to your device, show the Aircall phone number it is ringing to.
Disabling or Removing Forward to External Number from the Dashboard
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Log in to the Dashboard.
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Click on User in the navigation menu.
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Select the User you want to disable/remove Forward call to an external number for.
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Under Call Preferences, you will find Forward call to an external number.
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To disable the Forward call to external number, press the green toggle switch.
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To remove the Forward call to external number, click on the three dots located on the right-side of the screen and select Delete number.
Enabling Forward to External Number from the Aircall Phone Desktop or Web App
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Open the Desktop or Web app.
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Click on your User Icon on the bottom right-hand corner to open Settings.
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Select Preferences and click on Calling.
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Scroll down to Forward to external number
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Click Add phone number and enter the mobile or landline number of your choice.
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Click Save.
Under Number displayed when ringing, choose between the Aircall number or Caller number.
Disabling or Removing Forward to External Number from the Aircall Phone Desktop or Web App
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Open the Desktop or Web app.
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Click on your User Icon on the bottom right-hand corner to open Settings.
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Select Preferences and click on Calling.
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Scroll down to Forward to external number.
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To disable the Forward to external number, press the green toggle switch.
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To remove the Forward-to-device, press the X.
A Note About The Press 1 Security Feature
As the press 1 feature is a security feature, you will need to contact support if you would like to request it be disabled.
If you toggle on/off the Forward to external number at any time, the press 1 feature will automatically reset and you will need to request for it to be toggled off again.
When the press 1 feature is disabled and a forwarded call arrives at the voicemail inbox of the Forward to external number, the caller will be connected to that voicemail inbox instead of your Aircall voicemail.
When the press 1 feature is enabled and a forwarded call arrives at the Forward to external number, any greeting or welcome message on this external number will result in the call being treated as if it were answered by a live agent.
Adding an Aircall Number
It is not possible to add another Aircall number as a Forward to external number. This is largely due to the fact that this feature was intended for use with external numbers only and is a product limitation.
If you'd like to forward calls to another Aircall number, check out our guide on IVR numbers.