Forward unanswered Nextiva calls to an AI receptionist
Nextiva names five forwarding rules, one per situation. Turn on When Unanswered with your GreetKeeper number, and a missed call becomes a booked one.
The four forwarding modes on Nextiva
Nextiva lists a separate Call Forward rule for each situation, all in the Forwarding section of the Nextiva Voice Portal. Each one takes its own destination, so GreetKeeper can cover unanswered calls while your busy rule still points somewhere else.
| Mode | Nextiva rule | What Nextiva says it does |
|---|---|---|
| No answer | Call Forward When Unanswered | Transfers calls that have no answer within a specific number of rings |
| Busy | Call Forward When Busy | Forwards calls while the phone is on a call or set to do not disturb |
| Unreachable | Call Forward When Unreachable | Forwards calls when the number or extension is unavailable |
| All calls | Call Forward Always | Forwards every call, no matter what |
Nextiva also offers Call Forward Selective, which singles out chosen caller numbers or runs on a custom schedule. Sign in to the Voice Portal, click Features at the top of the screen and scroll to the Forwarding section to see all five.
Rules read on Nextiva's call forwarding page, https://www.nextiva.com/features/voip/call-forwarding.html, on 24 September 2026.
Set up forwarding on Nextiva
Five steps, from copying the number to switching it off again.
Copy your GreetKeeper number
Sign in to GreetKeeper and copy your local number. If you run several offices, use the number that belongs to this one.
Open Forwarding in the Nextiva Voice Portal
Sign in to the Voice Portal, click Features at the top of the screen, and scroll down to the Forwarding section.
Turn on Call Forward When Unanswered
Enter your GreetKeeper number as the destination and set the number of rings. Add the same number to When Busy and When Unreachable if you want those covered too.
Let a test call ring out
Call the user's Nextiva number from a mobile and don't pick up at the desk. GreetKeeper answers after your rings, and the transcript and summary follow.
Switch a rule off to undo it
Return to the Forwarding section and turn the rule off. Your Nextiva numbers, call flows and auto attendant are untouched.
Choosing Nextiva rules for an office that's often away from the desk
Imagine a property management office with two coordinators on Nextiva. Each coordinator's line gets When Unanswered pointing at GreetKeeper. Both are out on inspections when a tenant reports a leak at 3pm. GreetKeeper takes the unit number and the problem, and the on-call coordinator gets a text.
When Busy covers do not disturb as well as a call in progress. A small law office can switch on do not disturb for a client meeting. Every call in that hour reaches GreetKeeper for intake instead of a voicemail box.
When Unreachable is the rule for a dead desk phone. If an office loses power or its connection, Nextiva forwards calls to the unavailable extension, and GreetKeeper keeps answering until the office is back.
Use Selective for the calls that follow a pattern, such as a weekend schedule. Nextiva describes it as working by caller number or custom schedule, and GreetKeeper takes whatever the rule sends.
Nextiva details before you switch rules on
Rules are per user. Set them on the lines customers actually ring, such as the front desk, rather than on every seat in the company.
Do not disturb counts as busy. Nextiva's page says When Busy fires for a phone on a call or in do-not-disturb mode. That makes DND a one-tap way to hand the line to GreetKeeper.
Call flows and auto attendant options are a second route. Our Nextiva integration page walks through pointing an after-hours step at GreetKeeper, so this guide stays on the per-user rules.
Pick a ring count your team can meet. Too few rings and calls leave the desk before anyone reaches the handset; four or five suits a busy front counter.
Nextiva forwarding questions
How do I forward Nextiva calls when nobody answers?
Turn on Call Forward When Unanswered in the Forwarding section of the Nextiva Voice Portal. Enter your GreetKeeper number and choose how many rings come first.
Does Nextiva forward calls when do not disturb is on?
Yes, through Call Forward When Busy. Nextiva's page says that rule covers a phone that's on a call or set to do not disturb.
What is the difference between Nextiva's Busy and Unreachable forwarding?
When Busy forwards while the phone is on a call or in do not disturb. When Unreachable forwards when the number or extension is unavailable, such as a desk phone that has lost power.
Do spam calls forwarded from Nextiva use up my GreetKeeper plan?
No. GreetKeeper drops robocalls and silent callers before the greeting, and screened calls don't count toward your plan.
Switch on When Unanswered
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