Free Mobile allows call forwarding on both its plans (€2/month and the €19.99 Free series). It's free, takes 30 seconds to set up via a USSD code or the subscriber area. But a few Free-specific pitfalls are worth knowing first: minutes deducted on the €2 plan, no native scheduled forwarding, and Freebox quirks for the landline.
This guide gives you every USSD code, the iPhone and Android walkthrough, and the points to watch that are specific to Free.
How to set up Free Mobile call forwarding
To set up unconditional call forwarding on Free Mobile, dial **21*number# then press call. For conditional forwarding on no-answer, it's **61*number*11*20#. To turn off all forwarding at once, dial ##002#. Free uses the standard GSM codes, identical to those of Orange, SFR or Bouygues.
You can also go through your Free subscriber area at mobile.free.fr/account, under "Mes options", "Renvoi d'appel". A visual interface, no code to remember, and the ability to change the conditional delay.
Free Mobile USSD code table
| Action | Code |
|---|---|
| Unconditional forwarding | **21*number# |
| Disable unconditional | ##21# |
| No-answer forwarding (20s by default) | **61*number*11*20# |
| Disable no-answer | ##61# |
| Busy forwarding | **67*number# |
| Disable busy | ##67# |
| Out-of-reach forwarding | **62*number# |
| All conditional forwarding at once | **004*number# |
| Clear EVERYTHING (forwarding + voicemail) | ##002# |
| Check an active forward | *#21# / *#61# |
The €2 Free plan pitfall
For heavy professional use with lots of incoming calls, the €2 plan isn't suitable. Move up to the €19.99 plan or forward only during off-peak hours (evenings, weekends) — but Free doesn't offer native scheduled forwarding, so you have to enable and disable it manually.
iPhone tutorial (Free Mobile plan)
- Go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding.
- Toggle it on and enter the destination number (10 digits, no spaces).
- The handset-and-arrow icon appears at the top of the screen: unconditional forwarding is active.
For conditional forwarding, dial the USSD code manually in the Phone app. iOS confirms with a "Setting Call Forwarding Successful" message.
Android tutorial (Free Mobile plan)
- Open the Phone app.
- Three-dot menu > Settings > Calls > Call forwarding.
- Choose the type (Always forward, When busy, When unanswered, When unreachable).
- Enter the destination number and confirm.
If you have two SIM cards in your Android, make sure to select the Free SIM before changing the settings. Forwards are tied to a SIM, not to the phone.
Freebox landline
For a Freebox landline (Mini 4K, Révolution, Delta, Pop, Ultra), forwarding is set up from the Freebox subscriber area, under Téléphonie > Gestion des appels > Renvoi d'appel. You can also schedule time slots (forwarding only at night and on weekends), a feature available on the landline side but not on mobile with Free.
The USSD codes **21*number# also work on the Freebox landline handset, but the web interface is more convenient.
Known limitations
No scheduled forwarding on mobile. Unlike Bouygues, Free Mobile doesn't offer a native feature to activate forwarding only during certain time slots on the mobile side. Workaround: use an iOS or Android shortcut (with Automation) that enables/disables forwarding at set times via the USSD code.
No native cascade. Free doesn't let you forward to a number that itself forwards. If you forward your mobile to an AI phone answering service, and that service wants to transfer to a human, the transfer happens from the service, not through GSM cascading.
Limited conditional delay. The no-answer delay is only adjustable in multiples of 5 seconds (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30). The default of 20 seconds suits most use cases.
Tip: automate enabling/disabling forwarding on Free
To make up for the lack of native scheduled forwarding on Free Mobile, there are two automation options. On iOS, the Shortcuts app (Apple Shortcuts) lets you create two automations: one at 6 p.m. that runs **21*AI_service_number#, and one at 8 a.m. that runs ##21#. The "Call this number" permission must be allowed without confirmation.
On Android, Tasker (€5.49) or MacroDroid (free) do the same thing with more flexibility (differentiate weekdays and weekends, exclude public holidays). Once set up, no more manual intervention — forwarding switches over on its own at the chosen times.
Where should you forward a Free Mobile call?
Forwarding to another mobile number is tactical. Strategically, you may as well forward to an AI phone answering service that always picks up, never sleeps, and qualifies the call. At €39/month for Accueil IA versus €1,500 to €2,800/month for a human phone answering service, the maths is quickly done.
The Accueil IA number provided is a standard 09 72 number, free with every Free Mobile plan including the €2 one (calls to French landlines are included in all Free allowances). Setup: a single code **004*number# and you're covered for all 3 no-answer scenarios (busy, no answer, out of reach). Reversible with ##004#.
For comparison: in-house receptionist vs AI cost, the price of a phone answering service, how a callbot works.
To try Accueil IA for free from your Free line, call 09 72 10 55 19 or create your free account — the trial offers around ten minutes of calls over 3 days. Setup takes less than 5 minutes: choose the trade, the greeting, the fields to collect, and you're live. No technical work on your side, no hardware to install.
For professionals on Freebox Pro (the offer dedicated to sole traders and small businesses), forwarding is managed from the Pro subscriber area with slightly richer options (call statistics, history). The standard Freebox Pro rate includes forwarding to French landlines at no extra cost, so forwarding to Accueil IA remains free.