Search... ⌘ K
Get Started Contact Sales

Troubleshooting Email Forwarding Delivery Issues

Table of Contents

If emails are not being delivered through email forwarding, use this guide to diagnose and fix the issue.

Common issues

Emails not arriving at destination

Problem: Emails sent to forwarded addresses are not arriving at the destination.

Possible causes:

  • Email forwarding not enabled
  • Email forward not configured correctly
  • Destination email address incorrect
  • Destination mailbox issues
  • DNS propagation delays

Solutions:

  1. Verify email forwarding is enabled:
    • Check that email forwarding is enabled for the domain
    • Create a test email forward if needed
  2. Check email forward configuration:
    • Verify the field is correct
    • Verify the (destination) field is correct
    • Check for typos in email addresses
  3. Test destination directly:
    • Send an email directly to the destination address
    • Verify the destination mailbox is working
  4. Check DNS propagation:
    • Verify MX records have propagated
    • Use dig +short yourdomain.com MX to check
  5. Check spam folders:
    • Check if forwarded emails are in spam/junk folders
    • Add destination to contacts if needed

Emails going to spam

Problem: Forwarded emails are going to spam folders.

Possible causes:

  • Destination email provider filtering
  • Sender reputation issues
  • Missing email authentication
  • Content triggers

Solutions:

  1. Check spam folder:
    • Look in spam/junk folders
    • Mark as “not spam” if legitimate
  2. Add to contacts:
    • Add the forwarding service to contacts
    • This can help with future delivery
  3. Check email authentication:
    • Verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC if applicable
    • Email forwarding services handle authentication
  4. Contact destination provider:
    • If issues persist, contact the destination email provider
    • They may have specific filtering rules

Email forwarding not working

Problem: Email forwarding service is not working at all.

Possible causes:

  • Email forwarding not enabled
  • MX records not configured
  • DNS issues
  • Service issues

Solutions:

  1. Verify email forwarding is enabled:
    • Check the tab
    • Create a test forward if needed
  2. Check MX records:
    • Verify MX records exist: dig +short yourdomain.com MX
    • Should show email forwarding MX records
  3. Check DNS:
    • Verify DNS is resolving correctly
    • Check for DNS propagation issues
  4. Contact support:

Testing email forwarding

Send test emails

  1. Send from external address:
    • Send test emails from an external email account
    • Send to the forwarded address
    • Check if email arrives at destination
  2. Test different addresses:
    • Test with different forwarded addresses
    • Test catch-all if configured
    • Verify all forwards work
  3. Check email headers:
    • Review email headers for forwarding information
    • Look for forwarding service indicators

Verify configuration

  1. Check email forwards:
    • Review all configured email forwards
    • Verify and fields are correct
    • Check for any disabled forwards
  2. Check MX records:
    • Verify MX records are correct
    • Ensure they point to email forwarding service
  3. Test DNS:
    • Use dig to verify DNS records
    • Check DNS propagation

Common solutions

Fix typos in email addresses

  • Check field for typos
  • Check (destination) field for typos
  • Verify email address format

Update destination addresses

  • Update email forwards with correct destinations
  • Test after updating
  • Verify delivery works

Remove and recreate forwards

  • Delete problematic email forwards
  • Recreate with correct information
  • Test after recreation

Best practices

  • Test email forwarding after setup
  • Verify destination addresses are correct
  • Monitor for delivery issues
  • Check spam folders regularly
  • Keep email forwards updated

Have more questions?

If you have additional questions or need any assistance with troubleshooting email forwarding delivery issues, just contact support, and we’ll be happy to help.