Overview
Conditional call forwarding allows unanswered calls to be forwarded to another phone number when your line is busy, unanswered, or unreachable. YouMail uses conditional call forwarding to route missed calls to your YouMail voicemail inbox instead of your carrier’s voicemail, enabling features like call blocking, custom greetings, and smarter voicemail handling.
Important notes
Important: Updates to your phone or carrier network can remove your call forwarding settings. This includes:
Getting a new phone
Removing or changing your SIM card
Switching plans or carriers
Carriers also do not support call forwarding while roaming or when you are outside their service area. YouMail cannot detect when these changes occur, but it can identify long periods of inactivity. To avoid interruptions in service, it’s best to reactivate YouMail whenever any of the above changes are made.
What is conditional call forwarding?
Conditional call forwarding (sometimes called No Answer/Busy Transfer) allows incoming calls to forward to another phone number only when your device is:
Busy: You are already on a call
Unanswered: You do not pick up
Unreachable: Your phone is off or has no signal
Unlike standard call forwarding, your phone will still ring normally before forwarding the call.
What can conditional call forwarding be used for?
Conditional call forwarding is ideal when you want missed calls to go somewhere other than your carrier's voicemail.
Selective forwarding: Calls only forward when you cannot answer
Flexibility: Avoid forwarding all calls unnecessarily
Carrier-based service: Some carriers offer this feature for free, while others may charge a fee
Tip: Contact your carrier directly to confirm whether conditional call forwarding is supported and if any fees apply.
How is conditional call forwarding different from standard call forwarding?
Standard (unconditional) call forwarding redirects all incoming calls to another number, regardless of whether your phone is available.
Conditional call forwarding is more advanced:
Your phone rings normally
Calls forward only if you do not answer, your line is busy, or you are unreachable
This makes conditional call forwarding more practical for everyday use.
How does YouMail use conditional call forwarding?
Your YouMail voicemail inbox has its own phone number, known as a deposit number. When conditional call forwarding is enabled, your phone forwards missed calls to this number instead of your carrier's voicemail.
This allows YouMail to provide features such as:
Robocall and spam blocking
Custom voicemail greetings
Call routing and advanced voicemail tools
Auto-reply features (Professional plans only)
What if my carrier does not support conditional call forwarding?
No problem. YouMail offers a FREE Extra Line with Professional plans.
This Extra Line:
Is a second inbound phone number
Is answered directly by YouMail
Acts as a dedicated voicemail mailbox
Is ideal for business or personal use
Callers dial this number directly instead of your mobile number.
Ready to activate YouMail?
Before activating, make sure your carrier is supported.
Check the unsupported carrier list
Activate from your account by selecting Edit and choosing Forward to YouMail
Or sign up directly to get started
Need help forwarding or connecting your phone to YouMail? Click Help to get step-by-step instructions.