Use rules to automatically forward messages

You can use Inbox rules to automatically forward or redirect messages sent to your mailbox to another account.

This article is for Outlook Web App, which is used by organizations that manage email servers running Exchange Server 2013 or 2010. If you're using Microsoft 365 or Exchange Server 2016, your email program is Outlook on the web. For help with Outlook on the web, see Get help with Outlook on the web.

Forward all messages to another account automatically

Messages that are forwarded will appear to be forwarded from you. When you reply to a message that has been forwarded, the reply will be sent to the address the message was forwarded from, not to the original sender.

1. In Outlook Web App, click Settings > Options > Organize Email > Inbox Rules.

2. On the Inbox rules tab, click the arrow next to the plus symbol +, and select Create a new rule for arriving messages.

3. Under When the message arrives, select Apply to all messages.

4. Under Do the following, click More options.

5. Under Do the following, select Forward, redirect or send, and then select Forward the message to or Forward the message as an attachment to.

6. Select the address you want your mail sent to by double-clicking it in the address book view. If the address you want to forward to doesn't appear, you can enter the email address on the To line at the top of the window.

7. Click OK to save your selections and return to the new rule window.

8. Click Save to save your rule and return to the Inbox rules tab.

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Redirect all messages to another account

Messages that are redirected will appear to come from the original sender. When you reply to a message that has been redirected, the reply will be sent to the original sender.

1. In Outlook Web App, click Settings > Options > Organize Email > Inbox Rules.

2. On the Inbox rules tab, click the arrow next to the plus symbol +, and select Create a new rule for arriving messages.

3. Under When the message arrives, select Apply to all messages.

4. Under Do the following, select Redirect the message to.

5. Select the address you want your mail sent to by double-clicking it in the address book view. If the address you want to redirect to isn't in the address book, you can enter the email address in the To line at the top of the window.

6. Click OK to save your selections and return to the new rule window.

7. Click Save to save your rule and return to the Inbox rules tab.

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What else do I need to know?

• Copies of messages that you redirect or forward will remain in your mailbox. If you add an action to delete a message, the message will go to your Deleted Items folder and will still be counted against your mailbox limit. If you exceed your mailbox limit, you may be blocked from sending or receiving new messages, and forwarding rules may not work until you delete enough messages to bring the total below your mailbox limit.

• When you create a forward or redirect rule, you can add more than one address to send to. The number of addresses you can send to may be limited, depending on the settings for your account. If you add more addresses than are allowed, your rule won't work. If you create a rule with more than one address, test it to be sure it works.

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