An e-mail forwarder (also called an e-mail alias, forwarding address, or forwarder) allows you to redirect incoming mail. A forwarder sends all e-mail received at a specific e-mail address to another address. This other address can be an e-mail account within your hosting package or an external e-mail account, such as a Gmail or Hotmail address.
For example, you can forward contact@yourdomain.com to sales@yourdomain.com. This way, you only need one e-mail account for both addresses, and all e-mails will arrive in the same inbox. E-mails that are forwarded retain their original headers, so it remains clear which address the e-mail was sent to.
Note that messages will arrive at both locations if you have created an e-mail address that matches the e-mail forwarder. Depending on your preferences, this may or may not be desirable. To clarify:
- You have created the email address contact@yourdomain.com under 'E-mail Accounts' in DirectAdmin.
- Under 'Forwarders', you have set contact@yourdomain.comto forward to contact@gmail.com.
- Any message sent to contact@yourdomain.com will then arrive in both accounts.
It is important to mention that many (spam) filters treat forwarded e-mails more strictly. As a result, forwarded e-mails are more likely to end up in the spam folder. This can often be avoided by registering the forwarding address as an e-mail alias with the final receiving party.
Creating an e-mail forwarder
To create an e-mail forwarder, proceed as follows.
1. Log in to DirectAdmin.
2. In the menu, go to 'E-mail Manager' → 'Forwarders'.
3. Click the 'Create e-mail forwarder' button.
4. Create the desired e-mail forwarder by filling in the fields. You can specify multiple e-mail addresses as the target.
- New Forwarder Name: the e-mail address on which the forwarder should operate.
- Add destination: the e-mail address to which the e-mail should be forwarded.
- Add: add additional rules to include multiple recipients or multiple senders.
5. When all the fields are filled with the desired credentials, click 'Create' to create the e-mail forwarder.
If you test a forwarder to a Gmail address from that same Gmail account, it may seem as if it does not work. However, Gmail hides e-mails that were sent from the same account (they will be considered duplicates). An e-mail sent from another address to the forwarder will be delivered normally.
Changing an e-mail forwarder
When you are logged in to DirectAdmin, you can also adjust forwarders.
1. In the menu, go to 'E-mail Manager' → 'Forwarders'.
2. Then click 'Modify' next to the e-mail forwarder you want to adjust.
3. You can adjust the e-mail forwarder in the same way you created it.
Removing an e-mail forwarder
Of course, it is also possible to delete created forwarders if they are no longer needed.
1. In the menu, go to 'E-mail Manager' → 'Forwarders'.
2. Check the e-mail forwarders that you wish to remove.
3. Click on 'Delete' and confirm your choice.