Email forwarders allow you to automatically send copies of incoming email messages to another email address.
This guide explains how to create an email forwarder in DirectAdmin.
What Is an Email Forwarder?
An email forwarder automatically redirects incoming email from one address to another.
Example: sales@yourdomain.co.za
can automatically forward mail to: yourgmail@gmail.com
This is useful when:
- managing multiple email addresses
- forwarding mail to staff members
- receiving business email on personal devices
- redirecting support or sales mail
Before You Start
Before creating a forwarder, make sure:
- Your domain is active
- Your email services are working
- You can log into DirectAdmin
If you have not logged in yet, please see:
- How to Log Into DirectAdmin
Important Recommendation
We recommend using proper mailbox accounts for important business email instead of relying only on forwarding.
This helps:
- improve email reliability
- reduce spam problems
- avoid delivery issues
- maintain copies of important email
How to Create an Email Forwarder
Step 1 — Log Into DirectAdmin
Open your browser and visit: https://cp.yourdomain.co.za (Replace yourdomain.co.za with your own domain name)
Enter your hosting username and password.
Step 2 — Open Forwarders
From the DirectAdmin dashboard:
Click: E-Mail Manager
Then click: Forwarders
Step 3 — Create a Forwarder
Click: Create E-mail Forwarder
Step 4 — Enter the Source Email Address
Enter the email address that should receive mail first.
Example: sales
The full email address becomes: sales@yourdomain.co.za
Step 5 — Enter the Destination Email Address
Enter the email address where messages should be forwarded.
Example: yourname@gmail.com
You may also forward to:
- Outlook addresses
- Yahoo addresses
- other business email accounts
Note: You can click the +Add button to add more than 1 email address to the forwarder.
Step 6 — Save the Forwarder
Click: Create
The forwarder is now active.
Multiple Forwarders
You can create multiple forwarders for different purposes.
Examples:
info@yourdomain.co.za
support@yourdomain.co.za
accounts@yourdomain.co.zaCommon Uses for Email Forwarding
Business Departments
Forward:
- sales email
- support email
- accounts email
to the correct staff members.
Temporary Redirects
Useful when:
- staff members are unavailable
- mailboxes are changing
- businesses are restructuring
Personal Convenience
Forward business email to:
- Gmail
- Outlook
- mobile devices
for easier access.
Important Notes
Forwarders Do Not Always Store Email
Some forwarders simply redirect messages and do not keep mailbox copies.
If mailbox storage is important, create a proper mailbox account as well.
Gmail and External Providers May Filter Mail
Some external providers may:
- filter forwarded email
- mark forwarded mail as spam
- reject improperly configured domains
Proper SPF, DKIM, and DNS configuration help improve delivery.
Troubleshooting
Forwarded Email Not Arriving
Check:
- forwarding address spelling
- spam/junk folders
- DNS configuration
- external provider filtering
Forwarder Loops
Avoid forwarding email between:
- multiple forwarding rules
- auto-replies
- looping addresses
This can create mail delivery problems.
Delayed Email Delivery
Forwarded mail may occasionally experience:
- spam filtering delays
- external provider delays
- DNS-related delays
Forwarder Does Not Save Local Copies
If you want to:
- forward mail
AND - keep mailbox copies
you may need:
- a mailbox account
- additional forwarding settings
depending on server configuration.
Security Tips
- Use proper mailbox accounts for important email
- Monitor spam folders regularly
- Keep mailbox passwords secure
- Remove unused forwarders
- Avoid forwarding sensitive mail to unsecured accounts
