How to automatically forward an email in Outlook

Auto-forwarding is a useful tool to make sure you never miss an email wherever you are. Forwarding is usually defined by a rule configured in your primary email address that instructs the email server or your email client (like Outlook) to automatically forward this email to another address. Server-level forwarding requires administrator access, but email forwarding using the Outlook client itself is easy for any Outlook user to do, assuming they can leave their computer running with it all the time. Open Outlook.

This tutorial will explain how to automatically forward an email in Outlook 2013, 2016, Outlook.com and Outlook 365.

Why You Might Need To Forward Emails

If you don't have access to an email address at certain times, such as a college or work email address, for example, you can set a rule in Outlook that will automatically forward all emails to your email address. personal email or another address. If you're waiting for something important and don't want to wait until the next day, email forwarding can help.

Installed versions of Microsoft Outlook, Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2016 can be configured in the client itself. Outlook 365 or installations that use an Exchange server will need the client running at all times. That means leaving your school or work PC on overnight with Outlook running. If you can do this, these techniques will work for you.

Auto forward email in Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2016

Despite being five years old now, Outlook 2013 is still the most widely used email client. Many schools, colleges, and businesses still use it because upgrades are expensive and labor-intensive. If you use it, here is how to automatically forward an email in Outlook 2013. The same method also works for Outlook 2016 as the syntax is almost the same.

1. Open Outlook and select deposit from the top menu.
2. Now select Manage rules and alerts.
3. Select the email address you want to apply the rule to if you have multiple addresses.
4. Then select New rule...
5. Now click on Start from an empty rule > Apply the rule to the messages I receive then knock Next>.
6. Select your condition, here you set if you forward certain people's emails or only those marked as important or another condition based on your need then tap Next>.
7. Select the link for each condition you select to refine it further. Enter a matching value to match what you are looking to do.
   
8. Select the pass it on to people or a public group option in the next window. Select the link and add the email address of the email address you want emails forwarded to.
9. Create an exception if necessary. This would exclude the forwarding of certain emails or spam.
10. Name your forwarding rule and select to Enable this rule When you are ready.

Automatically forward email in Outlook.com

Outlook.com is Microsoft's free webmail service formerly known as Hotmail. It does not use installed mail clients or traditional Exchange servers, everything is online. However, you can still forward emails.

1. Log in to your email account at Outlook.com.
   
2. Click the Settings cog in the upper right corner.
   
3. Select "Show all Outlook settings".
   
4. Click on 'Transfer' then configure your forwarding address.
   

You can't set the same type of rules as you can with Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2016, but this process gets the job done in Outlook.com.

Automatically forward email in Outlook 365

Many businesses use Outlook 365 because it's online-only and doesn't involve the huge upfront license fees required by installed versions of the office suite. Outlook 365 is part of Office 365, which is the subscription version of Office, which includes Office applications in the cloud, including Outlook, Word, Excel, etc. Additionally, Office 365 includes email hosting so you can host email for your domain name using Office 365.

Cloud-based services such as Office 365 also have the advantage of allowing you to log in from anywhere to check your emails. It also allows you to automatically forward emails if you wish.

1. Log in to your Office 365 Account.
2. Click on Rules at the top.
   
3. Click on Modify the rules.
   
4. Click on the '+' symbol at the bottom. PC users can see Inbox Rules. Select that then select New.
   
5. Name your rule and set the parameters. Then click Forward to.
   
6. Enter the forwarding address. Then click Okay.
   

Outlook 365 differs depending on where you are in the world. In some installations, you select Options, then Account and Connected Accounts.

In a similar vein, not all Outlook 365 setups will require you to select connected accounts, but some do. Although this is a global product, different Outlook 365 suites look and act slightly differently.

If you need to disable email forwarding, just repeat the first steps of each process and deselect the rule. Once saved, the transfer should stop immediately.

Automatic email forwarding with Outlook

Do you have any tips or tricks for those who want to forward emails using Outlook? If so, leave us a comment below!