How to Set Up Email Forwarding

Set up automatic email forwarding so messages sent to one address arrive in a different inbox.

Steps

1
Open your email settings.
In Gmail, click the gear icon and choose "See all settings."
2
Click the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab.
This section controls how your email handles forwarding.
3
Click "Add a forwarding address."
Type the email address where you want messages sent and click Next.
4
Check the forwarding inbox
for a confirmation email. Click the link inside to verify the address.
5
Select "Forward a copy of incoming mail"
and choose what to do with the original message.

Does email forwarding work with all email providers?Show

Most providers including Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo Mail support automatic email forwarding.

Will forwarded emails look different to the recipient?Show

The email header shows the forwarding address as the sender, and a note says it was forwarded.

What happens to the original email when I forward it?Show

You can choose to keep, archive, or delete the original email in your forwarding settings.

Written by the HowToDoStuff.online editorial team. Last updated May 18, 2026.