Configure automatic forwarding only to an approved address that somebody monitors. Forwarding creates an additional delivery path and can expose business mail outside its intended account.
IN THIS ARTICLE
01 Set the route
- In OX webmail, open All settings > Mail and the rules section.
- Choose Auto forward and enter the complete destination address.
- Review whether to keep a copy in the original mailbox. Retain one while testing.
- Enable and save the setting. For selected messages only, use a narrowly defined mail rule instead.
- Send an external message to the source and confirm receipt at the destination and in the retained source mailbox.
02 Check the full path
Make sure the destination does not forward back to the source, either directly or through another alias. Test replies and automatic responses so a simple forwarding arrangement does not become a loop.
03 Example: forward enquiries without losing control of the mailbox
Before enabling forwarding, confirm who owns the destination and whether company policy allows business mail to be sent there. A personal inbox can create access and retention problems even when forwarding works technically.
Check the product's option for retaining a copy in the original mailbox, where available, and choose it deliberately. Then send a non-sensitive message from an outside address and verify both the destination and original mailbox behaviour.
Why does one forwarded message fail while ordinary delivery works?
Forwarded delivery adds another mail-handling step. The destination may apply different filtering or authentication checks. Preserve any delivery error and compare the route rather than repeatedly adding additional forwarders.
Avoid forwarding loops such as mailbox A forwarding to B while B forwards back to A. Review any automatic replies and existing rules that could create repeated messages. When the temporary arrangement ends, remove it and retest normal delivery. Contact us with the OX service, source address, destination domain and test time if you need help. Never share either mailbox's password to explain the forwarding configuration.
Common questions
Does forwarding copy existing mail?
Automatic forwarding normally handles future incoming messages. Use an approved migration or export process for historical content.
Why does the source receive mail but the destination does not?
Check the forwarding setting, destination spelling and any delivery failure. The receiving service can reject forwarded mail or classify it as spam. Preserve the original message identifier for diagnosis.
How do I end temporary forwarding?
Disable the route and send another controlled test. Record the end date in the coverage or project handover so old forwarding is not left active indefinitely.
If you find an address nobody authorised, record it, stop the unauthorised forwarding and review password and device access. Changing only the forwarding destination can leave the underlying account compromise unresolved.