How to Forward Gmail Email Using Filters

What to Know

Create an auto-forward filter: Select the gear icon > See All Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Create a new filter.
Then enter your criteria, or enter @ to forward all mail. Select Create Filter > Forward it to. Choose an address and select Create Filter.
To disable forwarding: Select the gear icon > Settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP. Select Disable Forwarding > Save Changes.

This article explains how to forward your Gmail email messages to another email address automatically using filters to set up custom criteria.

Set up a Filter to Auto Forward in Gmail

To set up a filter that forwards Gmail email to another email address:

Select the gear icon, then choose See All Settings from the drop-down menu.
Go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.
Select Create a new filter.
Enter the criteria for the email you want to forward. 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. When you finish, select Create filter.
Select the Forward it to check box, choose the address to which you want these messages delivered from the drop-down list, then select Create filter. Email matching the criteria you set will be forwarded to this address.
If the desired email address isn't in the drop-down list, select add forwarding address and enter the address in the box that appears. Choose Next.
Select Proceed to confirm the forwarding address.
Gmail sends a verification email to the address you 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.
Select Save Changes.

Person setting up auto-forward in Gmail — Lifewire / Michela Buttignol

After you create a filter that forwards certain messages to another email address, a notice appears in your inbox stating that your filters are forwarding some of your mail. This reminder appears 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, disable forwarding in Gmail.

Log in to your Gmail account.
Select the Settings gear icon in the upper-right corner of the screen and choose See All Settings from the drop-down list.
Select the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
In the Forwarding section, select Disable Forwarding.
Select Save Changes.

How to Delete a Filter

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

Log in to your Gmail account.
Select the Settings gear icon in the upper-right corner of the screen and choose See All Settings from the drop-down list.
Select Filters and Blocked Addresses.
Choose the filter you want to change.
Select Edit to change the filter or Delete to remove the filter.

If you edit the filter, make the changes and then select Continue when you're done editing.
Select Update Filter or OK.

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