How to Set Up Automatic Email Forwarding in Outlook

To automatically send new Outlook messages to another address, open Outlook on the web or new Outlook, go to Settings > Mail > Forwarding, turn on forwarding, enter the destination address, and save. In classic Outlook for Windows, create a rule instead. You will need access to the mailbox and the address that should receive the forwarded messages; a work or school administrator may restrict forwarding outside your organization.

Outlook’s menus vary by version, so first identify whether you use new Outlook, classic Outlook, Outlook on the web, or the mobile app. Automatic forwarding applies to new incoming messages, not mail already in your Inbox. If you only need to send one message, use Forward on that message instead.

What You’ll Need

Access to the Outlook mailbox you want to forward, including any sign-in or verification details required.
The complete email address that should receive new messages. Check its spelling before saving.
A supported Outlook version. The simplest setup is in Outlook on the web or new Outlook. Classic Outlook for Windows can use an inbox rule. The Outlook mobile apps generally do not offer a mailbox-wide automatic forwarding switch.
If this is a work or school account, permission from your organization. Administrators can block automatic forwarding, especially to external addresses, to reduce data-leak risks.

Step-by-Step

Check which Outlook you have. In Windows, new Outlook has a Settings gear near the top-right and a modern interface; classic Outlook has the File tab on the ribbon. Outlook on the web runs in a browser. On Mac, Outlook has its own Settings menu and does not use the Windows File tab. If you are on a phone or tablet, skip to the mobile step below: use Outlook on the web to configure automatic forwarding.
Open the forwarding setting in new Outlook or Outlook on the web. Select the Settings gear, then choose Mail > Forwarding. If Mail is not immediately visible, select View all Outlook settings and then Mail > Forwarding. The same general setting is available in Outlook.com and Microsoft 365 Outlook on the web, though the exact layout can vary slightly by account.
Enable forwarding and enter the destination address. Turn on Enable forwarding (or the similarly named forwarding switch) and type the full address that should receive incoming mail. Read the address carefully, especially the part after the @ sign. If you see an option to keep a copy of forwarded messages in this Outlook mailbox, decide whether you need it. Keeping a copy is useful when you still want to read or search the original mailbox; leaving it off can help avoid storing duplicate mail there.
Save the change and verify it is active. Select Save if the page shows a Save button. Some versions save the setting as soon as you change it, but do not assume it has taken effect until the interface confirms it or the switch remains on after you leave and return to the page. Send a test message from a different account, then check the destination Inbox and its Junk or Spam folder. Allow a few minutes for delivery.
Use a rule in classic Outlook for Windows. Open Outlook and select File > Manage Rules & Alerts > New Rule. Under Start from a blank rule, choose Apply rule on messages I receive, then select Next. To forward all incoming messages, leave the conditions unchecked and confirm that you want the rule to apply to every message. Select the action forward it to people or public group, choose the underlined recipient link, select or type the destination address, and finish the rule wizard. Name the rule clearly, make sure Turn on this rule is selected, and select Finish, then Apply and OK in Rules and Alerts.
Review how the classic rule will run. In Rules and Alerts, check that the rule is enabled and placed appropriately if you have other rules. On a Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft 365 mailbox, a simple forwarding rule can often run on the mail server even when Outlook is closed. Some rule actions or account types are client-only and require classic Outlook to stay open and connected. Outlook may show a warning if your rule depends on the desktop app. If the rule must run continuously, use the mailbox forwarding setting in Outlook on the web when it is available, or ask your administrator about the right option.
On Mac or mobile, use the method your account supports. In new Outlook for Mac, check Settings (the gear) > Mail > Rules for rule-based forwarding; available options can depend on the account. In legacy Outlook for Mac, select Tools > Rules, choose the relevant account, and create a rule that forwards incoming messages. For the most reliable mailbox-wide setup, open Outlook on the web in a browser and use Settings > Mail > Forwarding. Outlook for iOS and Android can forward individual messages, but if you cannot find an automatic forwarding control there, set it up on the web instead.

When the destination is outside your organization, start with one test message and confirm the destination can receive it. Forwarding rules can expose confidential content, and workplace policies may prohibit sending company mail to a personal account.

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong version’s instructions. The Outlook mobile app, new Outlook, classic Outlook, and Outlook on the web do not have identical settings. If you cannot find a menu, confirm which version you are using before assuming forwarding is unavailable.
Creating a rule that does not cover every message. In classic Outlook, an accidentally selected condition, such as a sender or subject filter, limits which messages are forwarded. To forward all incoming mail, leave conditions blank and confirm the all-messages prompt.
Forgetting to turn on or save the rule. A rule can exist but be disabled. Check the enabled box in Rules and Alerts and apply the changes. In web settings, make sure the forwarding switch is on and save if prompted.
Assuming the original mailbox will keep a copy. Forwarding and retaining a copy are separate choices in supported settings. Check the keep-a-copy option if you need the message to remain in the original mailbox.
Confusing forwarding with redirecting. A forwarded message is sent on by your mailbox and may appear to come from you. A redirected message generally retains the original sender details. Choose the rule action that matches how you want the recipient to see and reply to the message.
Expecting messages already received to move automatically. The forwarding setting normally applies to mail that arrives after it is enabled. It does not transfer your existing Inbox or folders. Move or forward older mail separately if needed.

Tips

Decide whether to keep a local copy. Keeping a copy helps you use the original mailbox for search, records, and replies. If you do not keep one, forwarding should not be treated as a backup; the destination account could be unavailable or have its own retention limits.
Test more than one kind of message. Send a normal message from a separate account and, if relevant, ask a trusted colleague to send a message from inside your organization. This can reveal whether a mail-flow policy treats internal and external messages differently.
Check destination storage and filters. A full mailbox, spam filter, blocked sender list, or rule at the receiving account can make forwarding appear broken. Search All Mail or Junk as well as the Inbox.
Keep the rule narrowly controlled when possible. If you only need certain messages forwarded, use clear conditions such as messages from a particular sender or with a specific subject. Review the conditions carefully so that sensitive mail is not sent more widely than intended.
Document the setting for shared or work mailboxes. Note which address receives the messages and who approved the forwarding. That makes it easier to review or remove the setup later, especially when staff or responsibilities change.

Troubleshooting

No Forwarding option appears: Confirm you are signed into the correct mailbox, then try Outlook on the web in a browser. Some accounts do not expose a forwarding switch in the installed app, and some organization-managed accounts hide or disable the feature. For a work or school mailbox, contact the Microsoft 365 administrator rather than trying to bypass the restriction.

The rule is not forwarding anything: In classic Outlook for Windows, open File > Manage Rules & Alerts and confirm the rule is checked. Reopen it to check its conditions and recipient. If Outlook displayed a client-only warning, leave classic Outlook running and connected to the account, or replace the rule with a server-side forwarding setting if your mailbox provides one. Check whether another rule stops processing more rules or moves the mail before your forwarding action runs.

Only some messages arrive: Review rule conditions, blocked senders, junk-mail handling, and whether messages arrive in a different folder. Test with a plain message that has no unusual attachment or sensitivity label. Organization transport rules can also treat external recipients differently from internal recipients.

Messages are being rejected or land in Junk: Verify the destination address and inspect its Junk or Spam folder. Ask the recipient to check filters and blocked senders. If the destination is external and forwarding is blocked by policy, only the administrator can confirm whether it can be allowed. Do not create an alternative forwarding method to evade a security policy.

The original mailbox is filling up, or you want to stop forwarding: If you selected keep a copy, archive or delete messages according to your retention needs. To stop forwarding in new Outlook or the web, return to Settings > Mail > Forwarding, turn the option off, and save. In classic Outlook, open Rules & Alerts, clear the rule’s checkbox or delete the rule, and apply the change. Send another test message to confirm the behavior has stopped.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Outlook forward messages when my computer is off?
Forwarding configured in Outlook on the web is a mailbox setting and generally works without your computer running. A classic Outlook rule may also run on the server, but client-only rules require Outlook to be open and connected. Check any warning shown when you create the rule.

Can I automatically forward mail to more than one address?
The built-in forwarding setting may accept only one destination. To send to multiple recipients, use a rule with multiple recipients if your Outlook version and organization permit it, or ask your administrator about a distribution group. Test the final setup and follow your organization’s data-handling rules.

Can I forward only messages from one person?
Yes. In classic Outlook, create a rule and add a sender condition before choosing the forward action. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, use Mail > Rules to create a condition-based rule if that option is available for your account. Check the rule with a message from that sender and another sender.

Does forwarding delete the original message?
Not by itself. Whether a copy remains depends on the keep-a-copy setting and how the rule is configured. Check the original mailbox after a test message; forwarding should not be relied on as a deletion or archival process.

Can I set this up in Outlook for iPhone or Android?
The mobile apps support forwarding individual messages, but they may not provide a setting for automatic forwarding of all incoming mail. Use Outlook on the web in your phone’s browser or on a computer and follow Settings > Mail > Forwarding.

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