Why does my phone show a strange phone symbol at the top left?

22/7/2014 26 Comments

Why does my phone show a strange phone symbol at the top left?

A client who called recently was puzzled about why she was seeing a strange 'phone with arrow' symbol at the top of her iPhone screen, next to her 3G/WiFi symbol.
This is the 'Call Forwarding' symbol, and usually indicates that your phone has been forwarded to a different number. However, she had not activated call forwarding and was concerned that this meant that her calls weren't going to get through.

I have had a couple of clients who have seen this symbol suddenly appear. This seems to be a small glitch suffered by some devices and may be carrier related.

Don't worry if you see it. Just go to Settings -> Phone.

Touch on the Call Forwarding option. You should see that the Call Forwarding 'switch' is off. If it is green (on), slide it across to the other side to switch it off.

The 'phone' symbol should then disappear from the top of the iPhone screen. If the symbol appears next time you upgrade or restart the device, don't worry. Just follow the same procedure to get rid of the symbol.

26 Comments

Michelle

30/4/2020 11:31:24 am

On my iPhone there’s a tiny phone handset with NO arrow at the top left corner near the bars and the word OPTUS ... it appears when I’m on a call that I made. I went to the call forwarding page, and call forwarding is NOT switched on. I have reason to believe that my ex is tracking my calls and texts but have no way to prove this, even to myself. Could this be what why this symbol appears and how do I stop it. It is an an infringement on my privacy. Thanks for your help.

Michelle

30/4/2020 11:39:02 am

Hi again,
I forgot to tick the box below that notifies me of your replies to my query re my last email, I took a screen shot of when it was occurring but I don’t know how to upload that here.

Kind regards
Michelle

Lynette Coulston link

30/4/2020 02:34:10 pm

Michelle, this is not something that we would answer via this blog. The articles on this blog are written in response to queries from our clients, often as part of paid appointments with these clients. If you require assistance from iTandCoffee to look at the particular issue that you are having, you can book online at https://www.itandcoffee.com.au/appointment-request.html.

Concerned

16/5/2020 12:38:44 pm

Michelle did you ever find out about this? I’ve had the exact same issue and believe for the same reason. I welcome your thoughts 🙏

Lenzy

23/10/2022 04:00:56 am

same

Concerned

16/5/2020 12:39:44 pm

Michelle I also forgot to tick the box to notify me.

Lynette Coulston

16/5/2020 12:45:16 pm

Have you tried turning the call forwarding on and off in the Phone settings, to see if this makes any difference?

Glenda

25/9/2020 01:53:29 am

Hello! I have the question, this is happening on my phone and it has happened before. I already tried turning of the Call forwarding and it doesn’t work. It is still there, can you help me please? I would really love to know something.

Lynette link

25/9/2020 11:54:21 am

Glenda, this is not something that we can address via this blog. The articles on this blog are written in response to queries from our clients, often as part of paid appointments with these clients. If you require assistance from iTandCoffee to look at the particular issue that you are having, you can book online at https://www.itandcoffee.com.au/appointment-request.html.

Michelle Border

20/3/2023 01:26:57 pm

I still cannot get rid of my symbol 🌻

Dari potter

30/4/2021 10:30:46 pm

If I tap battery and a battery 🔋 show up in middle of the screen same with time and wifi and LTE why how do I fix

Mckimme Cue link

10/9/2021 03:54:33 am

What an exquisite article! Your post is very helpful right now. Thank you for sharing this informative one.

Debbie

7/10/2021 03:47:47 am

Hi, i’ve tried ur troubleshooting regarding call forwarding however in my case when u go to phone and select call forwarding there’s no radio button to switch it off its only the loading symbol that shows up

Lenzy

23/10/2022 04:05:14 am

Did you fix it already? We have the same problem it. It just newly happened on my phone. Theres a call symbol at the top of my phone at the left aide after thewifi. Pls help how to remove this aymbol?

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27/5/2022 10:04:43 pm

It works. Thanks

Arnel

11/6/2022 09:11:45 am

very helpful thank you for sharing information..

Lance

3/5/2023 11:56:01 am

So I recently have noticed that one of my two iPhone SE’s has now got the call forwarding icon next to the LTEon the upper left. Thanks for the info here to help me resolve that bs!!! However, I discovered that when I went to the option under the radio button, there was a phone number there that I have no idea how and by who it got there. Any ideas??? Note: both phones are basically a mirror of each other and was a basis of my prelim- research to try to figure out wtf??? I will not try to use that number to see if my phone will know it on either one and a few iPhones that were before these!!! If not there then try the stuff catfish the tv show does to search numbers. Does anyone know how to find and view the log files that would show when this number got set on my phone and possibly from what access???

Thanks much for the info posted here and hopefully I can get the help or the links to where I might be able to reverse search who this was set and by what IP Address??? Much love!!

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