Clara can answer a landline or office phone just as easily as a mobile. The difference is in how you set it up: a landline can’t run the Clara app, so you turn on forwarding through your phone line itself or your provider’s account, rather than from inside Clara.
Once forwarding is on, every call to your landline is sent to Clara automatically. It runs on your provider’s network, so a new setup can take a few minutes to take effect.
Before you start: find your Clara number
You’ll forward your landline to your Clara NumberIn the Clara app, go to Business → Phone Setup and tap your number to copy it , so grab it first.
The Clara app runs on a phone or tablet, even if the line you’re forwarding is a landline. Open the Clara app and go to Business → Phone Setup → Clara Number, then tap to copy it.
If you don’t have the app installed yet, set it up on any mobile device first. Your landline forwards to the Clara number regardless of which device the app is on.
Option 1: Dial a forwarding code on your landline
This is the most reliable method for traditional landlines. Pick up the handset, listen for a dial tone, then enter the code below. Replace NUMBER with your Clara number, typed with no spaces.
You’ll usually hear two short beeps or a stutter dial tone to confirm it worked.
| Action | What to dial on a Canadian landline |
|---|---|
| Turn forwarding on | *72 then NUMBER |
| Turn forwarding off | *73 |
For example, if your Clara number is 416 555 1234, dial *724165551234.
After you dial *72 and your Clara number, some lines ask you to wait for the call to be answered or to dial the number a second time to confirm. Follow whatever prompt you hear.
TELUS lines dial it differently
Bell and Rogers home and business lines use *72 / *73. TELUS home phone lines often use 72# and 73# instead, so if one doesn’t work, try the other. On an older rotary or pulse-dial phone, dial 1172 in place of *72.
If neither code does anything, your provider may require forwarding to be added to your plan first. Call them and ask to enable Call Forwarding.
Calling from another country?
The codes on this page are for Canadian landlines. US lines use the same *72 and *73. UK landlines are different: *21*NUMBER# turns forwarding on, #21# turns it off.
Option 2: Set it up through your provider’s account
Many modern business lines are VoIP or run through a cable provider, where forwarding is controlled online rather than by a dialing code. Providers like Rogers, Bell, TELUS, Shaw and Ooma all let you manage this from your account.
The exact menus differ, but the path is almost always the same:
- Sign in to your provider’s account or admin portal
- Find your phone line, then look for Call Forwarding, Call Handling or Call Rules
- Choose to forward all calls (sometimes called Always or Unconditional)
- Enter your Clara number and save
If you can’t find the setting, search your provider’s help site for “call forwarding” or call their support line and ask them to forward all calls to your Clara number.
Choosing which calls to forward
Most setups forward every incoming call to Clara, which is what you want if Clara is answering your line. Some providers also offer conditional forwarding:
- Always forward sends every call to Clara. Best for letting Clara answer your line full time.
- When busy or unanswered sends a call to Clara only if you don’t pick up. Useful if you still answer some calls yourself.
Confirm it’s working
Once forwarding is set up:
- Call your landline number from a different phone
- If Clara answers, you’re all set
If nothing happens right away, give it a few minutes. Forwarding is activated on your provider’s side, so it isn’t always instant.
If it’s not working
A few quick things to check:
- Re-enter your Clara number. Dial
*72and your Clara number again, and make sure it’s correct with no spaces. - Provider voicemail. Many landline and VoIP plans send unanswered calls to their own voicemail before Clara can pick up. Ask your provider to switch off the line’s voicemail or answering service.
- Forwarding not on your plan. Some landline plans don’t include call forwarding by default. Your provider can add it.
- Forwarding charges. A few plans bill for forwarded or long-distance calls. Check this with your provider if forwarding is active but calls drop.
- Give it time. A new setup can take a few minutes to take effect across the network.
To switch forwarding off, follow turn call forwarding off below.
Turn call forwarding off
To stop Clara answering your landline, cancel the forwarding on the line itself. Calls ring your handset again as soon as it clears.
Pick up the handset, wait for the dial tone, then dial the cancel code that matches the forwarding you switched on. You’ll usually hear two short beeps or a confirmation announcement.
| Forwarding you turned on | What to dial on a Canadian landline |
|---|---|
All calls (*72) | *73 |
When the line is busy (*90) | *91 |
When unanswered (*92) | *93 |
TELUS lines dial it differently
TELUS home phone lines often use 73# to cancel forwarding rather than *73. If one doesn’t work, try the other. On an older rotary or pulse-dial phone, dial 1173 in place of *73.
If you set up more than one type of forwarding, cancel each one separately. Dialing *73 on its own leaves a “when busy” or “when unanswered” rule running, and those calls keep reaching Clara.
If you set forwarding up through your provider’s account rather than a dialing code, cancel it in the same place: sign in, find your line, then switch Call Forwarding off or delete the rule pointing at your Clara number. A cancel code won’t clear a rule your provider is holding in their portal.
Turning forwarding off doesn’t change anything inside Clara. Your Clara number keeps working, so anyone who calls it directly still gets Clara. If you’d rather leave forwarding on and just stop Clara answering for a while, pause it instead.
Forwarding a mobile or a VoIP number as well? Those are switched off in their own settings, covered in how to stop Clara from picking up your calls.
Forwarding a mobile instead?
If the phone you want Clara to answer is a mobile, follow setting up call forwarding for step-by-step codes and phone settings for every major carrier and device.
Still need help?
If forwarding still isn’t working after the steps above, your phone line provider can fully check and reset it on their end. You can also reach us at [email protected] and someone from our team will help you out.