Each e-mail account supports unlimited subaddresses.
Subaddresses are built into the e-mail protocol and are designed to help you organise and filter incoming messages. You don't need to set up a subaddress separately. Subaddresses work automatically.
In this section, we will explain how to use subaddresses effectively and highlight their key benefits.
Creating subaddresses
To use a subaddress, simply place a plus sign and a description between your username and the @ symbol in your e-mail address. Suppose your e-mail address is contact@yourdomain.com, then the following are valid subaddresses:
- contact+invoices@yourdomain.com
- contact+webshop@yourdomain.com
- contact+colleague@yourdomain.com
Anything sent to these subaddresses will end up in the inbox of contact@yourdomain.com. Unlike e-mail accounts themselves, you don't need to explicitly create subaddresses. Adding the plus sign and description after the username is all you need to do.
Subaddresses only work for e-mail accounts that have been created.
This means subaddressing does not work with, for example, e-mail forwarders.
Advantages of subaddresses
Subaddresses are a useful way to keep your incoming e-mail organised. With the help of mail filters, these messages can automatically be placed into the folder of your choice. This saves you the effort of manually categorising e-mails and makes it clear where each message comes from.
Tip: Combine subaddresses with mail filters to keep your inbox tidy and efficient.
Additional benefits
Subaddresses can also help you detect if a service or online store has shared or sold your e-mail address. For instance, suppose you used john+fakeshop@yourdomain.com once to place an order. Later, you start receiving spam at that specific address. Since you only used it there, you know exactly where the leak came from. You can then report the issue and choose not to order from that service again.