Which email forwarding should you choose?

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An email redirection allows messages received at one address to be automatically forwarded to another email address.

However, there are several ways to redirect emails. The right choice depends on your needs: creating a simple forwarding address, redirecting an existing mailbox, keeping a copy of messages, or sending emails to multiple recipients.

This guide helps you understand the differences between the main redirection methods available at LWS, so you can choose the appropriate procedure.

The main types of email redirection

At LWS, you may encounter several types of redirection:

• simple redirection from the LWS Panel;
• redirection of an existing mailbox or to multiple recipients from Roundcube;
• [PERSON_NAME], when several people need to receive the same messages.

These solutions do not all work the same way. Some create a simple forwarding address, while others rely on a real mailbox.

Simple redirection from the LWS Panel

Simple redirection allows you to create a forwarding email address, for example [EMAIL], which automatically forwards messages to another address.

This method is suitable if you want to receive messages at an existing address, without creating a new mailbox at LWS.

[PERSON_NAME] :
you create [EMAIL], and all messages sent to this address are [ADDRESS] [EMAIL].

This solution is recommended if:

• you want a simple professional address to share;
• you already check your emails at another address;
• you do not need to keep the messages in an LWS mailbox.

It is not suitable if:

• the address already exists as a mailbox;
• you want to keep a copy of the messages at LWS;
• you want to redirect messages to several people.

To set up this solution, see: How do I create a simple email redirection with the LWS Panel?

Redirecting an existing mailbox from Roundcube

Redirection from Roundcube is used when a real mailbox already exists.

[ADDRESS], the redirection is created from the mailbox itself, using a filter. Messages first arrive in the mailbox, [PERSON_NAME] forwarded to one or more addresses according to the configured rule.

This method is suitable if you want to redirect messages received by an existing address while still managing that address from webmail.

Examples:

• you already have the mailbox [EMAIL] and want to forward its messages to [EMAIL];
• you want messages received at [EMAIL] to be sent to several people in your team.

Depending on the configured filter, it may be possible to keep a copy of the messages in the original mailbox.

This solution is recommended if:

• the email address already exists as a mailbox;
• you want to keep a real inbox;
• you want to manage forwarding from webmail;
• you want to redirect messages [PERSON_NAME] ;
• you may want to keep a copy of the messages.

It is not suitable if:

• you just want to create a forwarding address without a mailbox;
• you do not need an LWS inbox;
• [PERSON_NAME] a group of recipients, with regular adding and removing of members.

To set up this solution, see: How do I create an email redirection from Roundcube?

Mailing list

A mailing list allows you to send a message to several recipients from a single address.

It can be useful when several people need to receive the same messages, for example for a sales team, an administrative department, or a working group.

For example, you can create an address such as [EMAIL] that forwards messages to several members of your team.

This solution is recommended if:

• several people need to receive the same messages;
• you want to centralize messages sent to a group address;
• you need to manage a list of recipients;
• the need concerns distribution to a set of people.

It is not suitable if:

• you only want to forward messages to a single address;
• you want to keep messages in an LWS mailbox;
• you want to consult messages from Roundcube;
• you need a standard mailbox with receiving and sending.

To set up this solution, see: How do I manage a mailing list with the LWS Panel?

Comparison of the different possible redirections

The table [PERSON_NAME] also compares certain technical elements that can affect the proper receipt of redirected emails.

You do not need to configure them manually in most cases, but they help explain why some types of redirection are more reliable than others depending on the destination provider, [PERSON_NAME], Outlook, or Yahoo.

SPF and DKIM

SPF and DKIM are two systems that help email services verify that an email is legitimate.

• SPF checks that the server sending the email is authorized to do so for the domain used.
• DKIM adds a signature to the email to prove that it has not been modified during its [PERSON_NAME]>

When SPF and DKIM remain valid, the emails [ADDRESS] [PERSON_NAME]>

SRS

SRS stands for Sender Rewriting Scheme. This mechanism is used to improve the reliability of email redirections.

When an email is redirected, some providers may refuse the message because it no longer comes directly from the original server. SRS makes it possible to properly rewrite the technical sender address so that the redirection is better accepted.

In practice, this reduces the risk of rejection or spam classification during a redirection.

ARC

ARC stands for Authenticated Received Chain. This mechanism helps keep a reliable record of the checks performed on an email before it is redirected.

It allows the provider receiving the message to better understand that the email has been redirected, without necessarily considering it suspicious.

ARC can therefore improve the deliverability of redirected emails, especially when several servers are involved between the sender and the final recipient.

Special case of mailing lists used as redirection

A mailing list can be used to send emails to several recipients, but it should not replace a classic redirection in all cases.

It is mainly suitable when messages are sent to a clearly identified group.

Before using a mailing list as a redirection, always send a test email from an external address and check that each recipient receives the message.

What you should know about receiving redirected emails

An email redirection can sometimes be filtered by the destination address provider.

For example, if you redirect your emails to [PERSON_NAME], [PERSON_NAME], Yahoo, or another external service, some messages may be classified as spam or rejected depending on the provider’s anti-spam checks.

This behavior does not always mean that the redirection is misconfigured on the [ADDRESS] side. It may come from the security rules applied by the service receiving the message.

Common issues

[PERSON_NAME] redirection or a mailbox

Create a simple redirection if you only want to forward messages to another address, without keeping them at LWS.

Create a mailbox if you want to consult messages from Roundcube, keep a copy at LWS, or configure a redirection filter from webmail.

I want to keep a copy of emails at LWS

Do not use a simple redirection.

Create or use a real mailbox, then configure a redirection from Roundcube. Depending on the chosen filter, messages can be kept [ADDRESS] original.

I want to send emails to several people

If the mailbox already exists, you can use a redirection from Roundcube to several recipients.

If you need to manage a group of recipients regularly, a mailing list may be more suitable.

I already created a mailbox with this address

You must not create a simple redirection [PERSON_NAME] address.

If you want to keep this mailbox, [ADDRESS] redirection from Roundcube.

If you do not want [PERSON_NAME], you will first need to delete the [ADDRESS] mailbox, then create a simple redirection [PERSON_NAME] address.

I can’t view my redirection in Roundcube

This is normal if you created a simple redirection from the [ADDRESS] Panel.

A simple redirection is not [ADDRESS]. [PERSON_NAME] messages to the destination address, but it does not allow you to log in to webmail.

My redirection to Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo does not work

First check that the destination address is correct.

Then send a test message from an external address, and check the inbox and spam folder.

If the message [PERSON_NAME], the destination provider may filter or reject some redirected emails. In that case, test with another destination address to see whether the problem comes from the redirection or from the service receiving the messages.