What is Email Forwarding?
Email forwarding automatically redirects messages from one email address to one or more destination addresses. This is useful for consolidating email, redirecting from old addresses, or routing department emails to multiple people.
Creating an Email Forwarder
Step 1: Access Forwarders
- Log in to your cPanel account
- Navigate to the "Email" section
- Click on "Forwarders"
Step 2: Add Forwarder
- Click "Add Forwarder" button
- Address to Forward: Enter the email address or prefix
- Domain: Select the domain from dropdown
- Destination: Choose forwarding type
Step 3: Choose Forwarding Type
Forward to Email Address
- • Enter one or more destination email addresses
- • Separate multiple addresses with commas
- • Can forward to addresses on different domains
Pipe to a Program
- • Advanced option to process email through a script
- • Enter path to the script
- • Useful for custom email processing
Discard and Send an Error
- • Reject emails with an error message
- • Sender receives bounce notification
- • Enter custom failure message
Types of Forwarders
Standard Forwarder
From: info@yourdomain.com
To: yourname@gmail.com
Forwards all mail from info@ to your Gmail account.
Multiple Destination
From: sales@yourdomain.com
To: john@, mary@yourdomain.com
Sends copies to multiple team members.
Catch-All Forwarder
From: (default address)
To: admin@yourdomain.com
Catches email sent to non-existent addresses.
Domain Forwarders
Forward all email from an entire domain to another domain:
- Click "Add Domain Forwarder"
- Select the source domain
- Enter the destination domain
- Click "Add Domain Forwarder"
Example: All email to @olddomain.com forwards to matching addresses @newdomain.com
Forward vs Copy
Forwarding Only
- Email is redirected to destination(s)
- Original address doesn't store the email
- Saves mailbox space
Forward with Copy
- Create the email account first
- Email stored in both locations
- Uses mailbox space but provides backup
Managing Forwarders
View Forwarders
- Listed in the "Email Account Forwarders" section
- Shows source address and destination(s)
- Indicates forwarding type
Delete Forwarder
- Find the forwarder in the list
- Click "Delete"
- Confirm deletion
Trace Forwarder
- Click "Trace" to test the forwarder
- Shows the forwarding path
- Useful for troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
Forwarder Not Working
- Check destination address is correct (no typos)
- Verify destination mailbox isn't full
- Check spam folder at destination
- Use "Trace" feature to see where email goes
Emails Marked as Spam
- Add forwarding address to destination's safe senders
- Configure SPF records properly
- Consider using email account with filters instead
Avoid Forwarding Loops
Never create forwarding loops where email forwards back to itself or creates a circular path. This will cause email delivery failures and may get your domain blacklisted.
A forwards to B
B forwards to C
C forwards to A (LOOP!)Best Practices
Recommendations
- • Test forwarders by sending test emails
- • Document your forwarding configuration
- • Review forwarders periodically and remove unused ones
- • Use descriptive names for source addresses
- • Consider email account + filters for better control
- • Monitor for bounce messages
- • Be cautious with catch-all forwarders (can receive spam)
Privacy Considerations
- • Forwarding exposes email content to destination server
- • Consider encryption for sensitive data
- • Be aware of data residency if forwarding internationally
- • Review company policies before forwarding work email