What transferring a call means and when you'd do it

Call transfer means moving an active phone call from one device to another — usually from your mobile phone to a landline, or between two mobile phones. You might transfer a call because you're about to lose battery, you're moving to a quieter location, or you want to switch to a device with better audio quality.

The mechanics depend on what devices you own and whether you're using a carrier service, a VoIP system (like Skype or Google Voice), or a phone system at work. A transfer is different from a conference call, where both people stay on the line together. In a transfer, the original caller ends up talking only to the second device.

Not every phone or service supports transfers the same way. Some require the person calling you to stay on the line while you switch devices. Others let you hand off the call without the caller noticing. Understanding your specific setup matters before you need to do this in the moment.

Key Takeaways

  • Call transfer on a mobile phone usually means putting the current caller on hold, calling the second device or person, and then connecting them together using your phone's merge or transfer button.
  • Landline phones with call transfer built in use a feature code (often *72 or similar) that you dial to forward incoming calls to another number, though this is permanent until you turn it off.
  • VoIP services like Google Voice and Skype have their own transfer methods, usually found in settings or during an active call, and work differently than carrier-based transfers.
  • Work phone systems often have dedicated transfer buttons or codes that route calls through a company switchboard rather than your personal devices.
  • The caller may hear hold music, silence, or a brief disconnect depending on your phone type and service — they will not always know a transfer happened.

Transferring a call on a mobile phone

On most smartphones, the process is: put the current caller on hold, dial the second number, and then merge the calls or transfer. Open your phone's call screen while someone is talking to you. Look for a button labeled Hold, Pause, or sometimes just a pause icon. Tap it. The caller hears hold music or silence.

Now dial the second number — the person or device you want to transfer the call to. When they answer, tell them you're transferring a call. Then look for a button labeled Merge Calls, Transfer, Swap, or Conference. The exact label varies by phone brand and carrier. On iPhones, it's usually a button that appears after you dial the second number. On Android phones, it may be in a menu or appear as an icon on the call screen.

Tap the transfer or merge button. The original caller is now connected to the second number, and you drop off the call. If you don't see a transfer option, your phone may only support conference calls (where all three of you stay connected). In that case, you can stay on the line, or you can hang up and let the two of them talk.

Using call forwarding on a landline or home phone

Call forwarding is different from a live transfer — it's a permanent setting that sends all incoming calls to another number automatically. You set it up once, and it stays active until you turn it off. This is useful if you're leaving your house for the day and want calls to ring on your mobile instead.

To turn on call forwarding, pick up your landline phone and dial *72 (in most areas; some carriers use different codes). Listen for a dial tone. Then dial the phone number where you want calls to go. When the system confirms the forwarding is active, hang up. Any call that comes to your landline will now ring on that second number instead.

To turn off call forwarding, dial *73 (or the code your carrier uses for "cancel forwarding"). Confirm when the system tells you forwarding is off. If you're unsure of your carrier's codes, call their customer service line — they're usually printed on your bill or available on the carrier's website.

Transferring calls through Google Voice

Google Voice is a free VoIP service that gives you a single phone number and lets you ring multiple devices at once or transfer between them. If you have a Google Voice number, calls come to your account first, and you decide where they go.

During an active call on any device linked to your Google Voice account, you can transfer to another device. The method depends on whether you're using the Google Voice app or a linked phone. If you're on the Google Voice app, tap the menu icon (three dots or lines) during the call and look for Switch to a different device or Transfer call. Select the device you want to switch to. The call moves to that device, and the original one disconnects.

If you're receiving the call on a linked phone (like your mobile carrier's line), the transfer process is less direct. You would need to use your phone's native transfer feature (the hold-and-dial method described above) to move the call to another device. Google Voice itself doesn't control the transfer in this case — your phone does.

Transferring calls on Skype or other VoIP services

Skype and similar VoIP apps have their own transfer features, though they work best when both devices have the app installed. During a call in Skype, look for a menu button (often three dots) on the call screen. Tap it and look for options like Transfer call, Switch device, or Move to another device.

Select the device you want to transfer to from the list. Skype will attempt to move the call to that device. The caller may hear a brief pause or hold tone. Once the transfer completes, your original device drops off the call. If the second device doesn't have Skype running, the transfer may fail, and you'll need to use your phone's built-in transfer method instead.

Some VoIP services don't support transfers at all. In those cases, you would need to end the call on the first device and have the person call you back on the second device — not ideal, but sometimes necessary depending on the service.

Transferring calls at work or on a business phone system

Office phone systems, whether they're traditional desk phones or cloud-based systems, usually have dedicated transfer buttons or codes. Most desk phones have a button labeled Transfer or Xfer. During a call, press that button. The caller goes on hold. Dial the extension or number of the person you want to transfer to. When they answer, tell them who's calling and what it's about. Then press Transfer again, or hang up — the system will complete the transfer.

Some systems use codes instead. You might dial *2 or #2 followed by an extension. Check your office phone's quick-reference card or ask your IT department for the exact code. The process is the same: put the caller on hold, dial the destination, and confirm the transfer.

Cloud-based systems like Microsoft Teams, Zoom Phone, or Cisco Webex have transfer options in the call interface, usually accessed through a menu or button on the screen. The steps are similar to mobile phone transfers: hold the call, dial or select the destination, and complete the transfer through a menu option.

What the caller hears during a transfer

The experience on the other end varies. Some callers hear hold music while you're setting up the transfer. Others hear silence or a brief disconnect. A few systems announce the transfer ("Please hold while I connect you to..."). Most modern systems try to minimize the gap so the caller doesn't think they've been dropped.

If the transfer fails — for example, if the second device is off or the number is wrong — the caller may hear a busy signal or be returned to hold. Some systems will reconnect them to you automatically. Others leave them waiting. This is why it's good practice to tell the caller you're transferring them and give them a name or extension to reference if something goes wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer a call if I don't have a second phone number?

Yes. You can transfer to any phone number, including someone else's phone. You don't need a separate line. The person receiving the transfer just needs to be able to answer a call at that number. If you're transferring to another device you own, that device needs to be on and able to receive calls on whatever number or service it's connected to.

What happens if the person I'm transferring to doesn't answer?

It depends on your phone and service. Some systems will ring their voicemail. Others will return the call to you. A few will leave the original caller on hold indefinitely. The safest approach is to stay on the line until you confirm the second person has answered, then transfer. That way you know the call won't drop.

Can I transfer a call if I'm using WiFi calling instead of cellular?

Yes. WiFi calling works the same way as regular cellular calling for transfers. Your phone doesn't distinguish between the two — the transfer process is identical. As long as your phone can make and receive calls (whether over WiFi or cellular), you can transfer.

Is there a way to transfer without the caller hearing anything?

Not completely. Most systems put the caller on hold or play music during the transfer, which takes a few seconds. Some newer business phone systems can transfer so quickly that the caller barely notices a pause. VoIP services sometimes do this better than carrier networks because they control the entire call path. But there will almost always be a brief moment where the caller knows something is happening.

Can I transfer a call from my landline to my mobile?

Yes, using call forwarding. Dial *72 on your landline, enter your mobile number, and confirm. All calls to your landline will now ring on your mobile. This is permanent until you dial *73 to turn it off. This is different from a live transfer — it's an automatic redirect set up in advance, not something you do during an active call.