How to Forward Gmail Email Using Filters

Set up your criteria to organize incoming mail

Woman setting her Gmail forwarding setting on a Macbook

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by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated July 30, 2019

If you'd like to forward or copy your Gmail email to another address automatically, Gmail's filters allow you to do this wholesale or selectively. Here, you'll find directions to have Gmail act upon an email that fits the specific criteria you select.

  1. Select the gear icon and then Settings from the drop-down menu.

    Screenshot showing how to open the Gmail settings

  2. Navigate to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.

    Gmail Settings screen

  3. Select Create a new filter at the bottom.

    Screenshot of the Create a new filter link in Gmail's settings

  4. Enter the criteria for the email you'd like to forward in the box that pops up. For example, to forward all mail (as standard Gmail forwarding does), enter @ in the From field. To forward mail from a certain sender, enter that email address, name, domain, or any part of these next to From. Select Create filter.

    Screenshot showing how to search for emails in Gmail
    Choosing Which Emails to Filter Into Folders.

  5. Select the box to the left of Forward it to, select the address to which you want these messages delivered from the drop-down list, and select Create filter. Email matching the criteria you've set will now be forwarded to this address.
    If the desired isn't in the drop-down list, select add forwarding address and follow the next steps.

    Gmail forward filtered messages screen

  6. Select Add a forwarding address and enter the address in the box that appears. Choose Next.

    Add a forwarding address screen in Gmail

  7. Confirm the forwarding address by selecting Proceed.

    Gmail proceed with forwarding screen

  8. Gmail will send a verification email to the address you've added. Enter the code it contains in the box next to Verify [email address] and select Verify. Alternatively, follow the link provided in the email sent to the forwarding address and choose Confirm to confirm that you allow messages to be forwarded to that email address.

    Gmail verify forwarding address screen

  9. Select the Save Changes button at the bottom of the screen.

After you create a filter that forwards certain messages to another email address, a notice will appear in your inbox stating, "Your filters are forwarding some of your mail." This reminder will appear for the first week after you set up the filter.

How to Turn Off Forwarding

If you no longer want any messages forwarded to other email addresses, you can disable forwarding in Gmail.

  1. Log in to your Gmail account.

  2. Select the Settings gear icon in the upper-right corner of the screen and choose Settings from the drop-down list.

  3. Select the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.

  4. Select Disable Forwarding in the Forwarding section.

    Screenshot showing Disable Forwarding in the Forwarding section.

  5. Select the Save Changes button at the bottom of the screen.

How to Delete a Filter

If you are using multiple filters to forward email messages and you want to stop using one, delete that filter.

  1. Log in to your Gmail account.

  2. Select the Settings gear icon in the upper-right corner of the screen and choose Settings from the drop-down list.

  3. Select Filters and Blocked Addresses. Choose the filter you'd like to change.

    Screenshot of filter in Gmail

  4. Select Edit to change the filter or Delete to remove the filter.

    If you are editing the filter, make the changes and then select Continue when you’re done editing.

  5. Select Update Filter or OK.