Email forwarding allows messages sent to one mailbox to be automatically delivered to another address. In Plesk, forwarding can be enabled or disabled per mailbox without affecting other email settings.
This feature is commonly used on environments managed through Plesk hosting where mail routing is handled directly from the control panel.
When Email Forwarding Is Useful
Email forwarders are typically configured when:
- Messages need to be delivered to multiple recipients
- A shared inbox forwards mail to individual users
- Mail must be redirected during mailbox migrations
Forwarding works alongside existing mailboxes and does not remove stored messages unless configured to do so.
Enabling an Email Forwarder
Step 1: Open the mailbox settings
Log in to the Plesk control panel.
From the left sidebar, click Mail and select the email address you want to configure.
[Screenshot: Mail section with selected mailbox]
Step 2: Enable forwarding
Open the Forwarding tab.
Enable Switch on mail forwarding.
In the forwarding address field, enter the email address where incoming messages should be delivered. Multiple addresses can be added if needed.
Click OK to activate the forwarder.
[Screenshot: Forwarding tab with forwarding enabled]
Disabling an Email Forwarder
If forwarding is no longer required, it can be turned off without deleting the mailbox.
Step 1: Open forwarding settings
In the Mail section, click the email address and open the Forwarding tab.
[Screenshot: Forwarding tab selected]
Step 2: Disable forwarding
Clear the Switch on mail forwarding option and save the changes.
Once disabled, emails will be delivered only to the original mailbox.
Practical Notes
- Verify destination addresses to avoid mail loops
- Keep forwarding lists up to date
- Combine forwarding with filtering for better control
Email forwarding is often used together with spam filtering services such as Spam Experts, especially on scalable mail setups running on cloud servers.