3CX Shared Parking Configuration Guide

Introduction

Shared Parking in 3CX is a powerful feature allowing users to place calls on hold in a "parking spot" where they can be retrieved by any other user in the system. This is particularly useful in busy office environments where calls need to be transferred or picked up by different team members - for example a Receptionist.

Think of it like a virtual holding area for calls. Instead of putting a caller on traditional hold, you "park" the call in a designated slot. Anyone with access to that parking spot can then pick up the call and assist the caller.

Example Scenario: Imagine a receptionist receives a call for a sales representative who is currently busy. The receptionist can park the call in a designated shared parking spot (e.g. SP1). The sales team can see that SP1 is occupied via their BLF keys. When a sales representative becomes available, they can retrieve the call from SP1 and assist the caller.

How Shared Parking Works

  1. Parking a Call:
  • A user can park a call by pressing a designated "Shared Parking" button on their IP phone or within the 3CX client. 3CX Android & iOS will have it in the upcoming updates.
  • 3CX offers multiple parking spots, usually numbered (e.g. SP1, SP2, SP3).
  • When a call is parked, the caller listens to music on hold. If you have more calls you can redirect to different shared parking slots. If you do it via the 3CX Apps panel it is placed in the next available spot.
  1. Visual Indicators:
  • Busy Lamp Field (BLF) keys on IP phones provide a visual indication of which parking spots are currently occupied.
  • A lit BLF usually indicates a parked call.
  1. Retrieving a Call:
  • Any user can retrieve a parked call by dialing the corresponding shared parking extension (e.g. SP1), pressing the associated BLF key on their phone or using the 3CX client to unpark.

Benefits of Shared Parking

  • Enhanced flexibility: calls can be easily transferred between colleagues without needing to know their extension number.
  • Improved efficiency: reduces call waiting times and ensures calls are answered promptly.
  • Increased collaboration: facilitates teamwork and allows for efficient call handling in busy environments.
  • Better customer experience: minimizes hold times and ensures callers are connected to the appropriate person quickly.

Configuring Shared Parking in 3CX

  1. Assign shared parking to extensions: in the 3CX Admin Console, navigate to Admin > Users and click "Add User" to create new extensions. 
  2. Assign BLF keys: configure BLF keys on IP phones to correspond with the shared parking extensions. This allows users to easily see which parking spots are occupied.
  3. Park a call: once they receive a call they can select the following methods to place a call to the Shared Parking;

  • Method 1: Using BLF keys, select the BLF key and the call will be transferred to the Shared Parking Slot.

  • Method 2: Select Transfer and dial SP1

  • Method 3: Go to Active Calls/Panel right click and select Park.
  1. Unpark a Call: When you have a call in the Shared Parking your BLF will start blinking. You can easily Unpark the call by following these methods;

  • Method 1: Using the BLF key, select the Busy indicator for SP and press it, you will automatically pick up the call.

  • Method 2: Dial SP1 you will instantly join the caller.

  • Method 3: Go to Active Calls/Panel right click on the call which is parked and select unpark.

Important Notes

  • Version 20 update: As of 3CX Version 20, retrieving a call from shared parking requires dialing the shared parking extension directly. Calling a dummy extension to retrieve a call is no longer supported. This is to prevent accidental call merging.
  • Number of parking spots: The number of available shared parking spots depends on the configuration you define. You can increase the number of shared parking spots by accessing the Admin Console > System > Call Parking and define any number up to 999 slots. You can also adjust the music on hold - it plays when a call is parked in the Shared Parking and also automatically redirects calls which are forgotten to a destination at interval.

By understanding and utilizing shared parking in 3CX, you can significantly improve call handling efficiency and enhance communication within your organization.

See Also

Last Updated

This document was last updated 10 September 2026

https://www.3cx.com/docs/shared-parking/