Read How call forwarding works first — it covers choosing a mode and the caller-ID check that matters on every provider.
Before you start
- Your Recepta.ai number, from Phone numbers in the dashboard
- Admin access, and knowledge of which extension your main number rings
Set up forwarding
1
Open the admin portal
Sign in at admin.vonage.com.
2
Go to Phone System → Extensions
Hover over the extension that receives your main business calls and click the pencil icon to edit it.
3
Open Call Forwarding
Click Call Forwarding and toggle Forward Calls on.
4
Send to your Recepta.ai number
Choose Send To Ext. or Number and enter your Recepta.ai number — a 10-digit US number, without the country code.
5
Pick the forwarding behaviour
See the table below. Follow Me is the right choice for no-answer forwarding.
6
Set Caller ID to the original caller
Under Caller ID, select Use Caller ID so the agent receives the customer’s number rather than your company line. This is the setting that makes CRM recognition work.
7
Save and test from a mobile
Verify the caller ID that lands in Call logs.
Which option to choose
Call Continuity
If your account uses Call Continuity — which reroutes calls when your internet or phones go down — check where it points. If its failover destination leads back into your phone system, a real outage can create a loop. Point it directly at your Recepta.ai number instead. An outage is exactly when you most want calls still being answered.Virtual receptionist
If callers currently hear a menu, your number goes through a virtual receptionist:Replace the menu
Route the receptionist to an extension forwarding to Recepta.ai. The AI does what the menu was approximating, and callers get a conversation instead of a list of options.
Keep the menu
Point one option at the forwarding extension — useful if particular options must reach specific departments directly.
Costs
Forwarding to numbers outside your plan’s included geography — international, or areas your plan doesn’t cover — incurs additional charges. Worth checking before you route high volume.Troubleshooting
Calls go to Vonage voicemail instead
Calls go to Vonage voicemail instead
Voicemail is intercepting first. Reduce the ring time before forwarding, or place the forwarding rule ahead of voicemail.
The forwarded phone gets two calls and drops to voicemail
The forwarded phone gets two calls and drops to voicemail
You’ve forwarded to a number that’s also running the Vonage mobile app. Forward somewhere else.
Nothing changed
Nothing changed
The rule is on the wrong extension. Trace where your main number actually terminates — often a virtual receptionist rather than a user.
Every call shows your office number in Call logs
Every call shows your office number in Call logs
Use Caller ID isn’t selected under Caller ID on the forwarding settings.
Texts to your Vonage number are not forwarded. See How call forwarding works.
