Automatically Forward Emails in Outlook: A Step-by-Step Guide

This article explains how to forward email on your Outlook account. Outlook.com can forward incoming messages to another email address (at Outlook.com or elsewhere) both in whole or in part. Instructions in this article apply to Outlook on the web.

How to Forward All Outlook Email

Configure Outlook on the web (at Outlook.com) to automatically forward emails you receive to a different email address.

1. Select the Settings gear icon in the Outlook on the web toolbar.

2. Select View all Outlook settings.

3. In the Settings dialog box, select Mail > Forwarding.

4. Select the Enable forwarding check box.

   Clear the Enable forwarding check box to prevent Outlook on the web from forwarding any more messages.

5. Enter the email address that will receive the forwarded email messages.

6. If you want to keep copies of the forwarded messages in your Outlook account, select the Keep a copy of forwarded messages check box.

   If Keep a copy of forwarded messages is not checked, forwarded mail will not be available in your Outlook account (not even in the Deleted folder).

7. Select Save.

How to Forward Certain Messages in Outlook Mail

To set up a rule in Outlook on the web that forwards certain messages (based on multiple criteria) to an email address:

1. Select Settings > View all Outlook settings.

2. Select Mail > Rules.

3. Select Add a new rule.

4. Enter a descriptive name for the new rule. Select a name that makes it easy for you to remember how the rule is used.

5. Choose how to forward the emails by selecting an item from the Add a condition dropdown like these examples (although there are others you can choose from):

   • Choose Has attachment to forward all emails with attachments.
   • Choose From to forward all emails from a specific sender.
   • Choose Importance to forward only emails marked with high importance.

   All conditions must be met for a message to be forwarded.

6. Select the Add an action dropdown arrow and choose the format of the forwarded message:

   • Select Forward to if you want the messages forwarded as an email.
   • ​Select Forward as attachment to forward complete emails as unmodified attachments.

7. Enter the email address where new messages matching the rule should be sent automatically.

   If you want to forward the email to multiple people, specify more than one address.

8. To exclude emails that match certain criteria from being forwarded:

   1. Select Add an exception.
   2. Select the Select one dropdown arrow and choose the desired condition. For example, select Sensitivity to exclude messages with a certain priority.
   3. Select the Select an option dropdown arrow and choose the desired option. For example, select Private to exclude messages marked as private.

9. Select Save.