How to Forward Emails Automatically in Outlook (to Another Address)
Maybe you're moving to a new email address, covering for a colleague, or you just want work email to reach the account you actually check. Outlook can forward every message — or only certain ones — the moment it arrives.
Quick reference
| What you want | How |
|---|---|
| Forward everything | Settings → Mail → Forwarding |
| Forward only some emails | Create a rule with "forward to" |
| Keep a copy | Tick Keep a copy of forwarded messages |
| Stop forwarding | Same page → turn it off |
1. Forward all email (new Outlook and Outlook on the web)
1. Click Settings → Mail → Forwarding.
2. Turn on Enable forwarding.
3. Type the address to forward to.
4. Tick Keep a copy of forwarded messages — otherwise emails vanish from this mailbox as they're forwarded.
5. Click Save.
2. Turn on Enable forwarding.
3. Type the address to forward to.
4. Tick Keep a copy of forwarded messages — otherwise emails vanish from this mailbox as they're forwarded.
5. Click Save.
From now on, every incoming email goes to the other address within seconds.
2. Forward all email (classic Outlook)
Classic Outlook doesn't have a Forwarding page; use a rule instead:
1. Click File → Manage Rules & Alerts → New Rule.
2. Choose Apply rule on messages I receive and click Next.
3. Leave the conditions blank and click Next (click Yes when asked if you want this applied to every message).
4. Tick forward it to people or public group, click the underlined people or public group, type the address and click OK.
5. Click Next twice, name the rule and click Finish.
2. Choose Apply rule on messages I receive and click Next.
3. Leave the conditions blank and click Next (click Yes when asked if you want this applied to every message).
4. Tick forward it to people or public group, click the underlined people or public group, type the address and click OK.
5. Click Next twice, name the rule and click Finish.
Important: this type of rule only runs while Outlook is open on that computer. For forwarding that works even when your PC is off, use Outlook on the web (section 1) — its rules run on the server.
3. Forward only certain emails
If you only want messages from one person or about one subject forwarded:
1. Right-click an example email and choose Rules → Create rule (new Outlook) or Create Rule → Advanced Options (classic).
2. Set the condition — From a person, or Subject includes a word.
3. Set the action to Forward to and type the address.
4. Save.
2. Set the condition — From a person, or Subject includes a word.
3. Set the action to Forward to and type the address.
4. Save.
Everything else stays put.
4. Redirect instead of forward
A redirect sends the email on so that it still appears to come from the original sender, rather than from you. Replies then go straight back to them. In new Outlook rules, choose Redirect to as the action; in classic, tick redirect it to people or public group. Useful when you're covering someone's inbox.
5. Turn forwarding off
Go back to Settings → Mail → Forwarding and switch it off, or delete the rule under Settings → Mail → Rules (new) or Manage Rules & Alerts (classic). Always do this when you stop covering for someone — forgotten forwarding is a common way for confidential email to leak.
Troubleshooting
The forwarding option is greyed out or missing. Many organisations block automatic forwarding to outside addresses for security reasons. Ask your IT team — they can allow a specific address if there's a business need.
Forwarded emails are going to the other account's spam. Add your Outlook address to the safe senders list in the other account. For Gmail, create a filter that says "never send to spam".
Emails disappeared from my inbox. You didn't tick Keep a copy. Turn it on; the ones already forwarded are in the other account.
Wrapping up
Use Settings → Mail → Forwarding to send everything, a rule to send just some, and always tick Keep a copy. Switch it off the day you no longer need it.
