How do I add a forwarding rule?

Forwarding Emails in Google Workspace: A Simple Guide to Setting Up Routing Rules

Email forwarding is a crucial tool for businesses, allowing organizations to redirect messages seamlessly to the appropriate individuals or departments. Within Google Workspace, setting up forwarding rules offers a flexible and efficient way to manage incoming mail. This guide walks you through the process of adding a forwarding rule using the recipient address map.

While seemingly straightforward, navigating the Google Admin console can sometimes feel overwhelming. This article clarifies the steps, providing a clear path to successfully implement email forwarding within your organization.

Accessing the Right Settings:

The key to configuring forwarding lies within the Gmail Routing settings within your Google Workspace Admin console. Here’s how to get there:

1. Sign in: Log into your Google Admin console (admin.google.com) with administrator credentials.
2. Navigate to Apps: In the left-hand navigation menu, locate and click on “Apps.”
3. Select Google Workspace: From the Apps menu, choose “Google Workspace.”
4. Choose Gmail: Within the Google Workspace options, select “Gmail.”
5. Access Routing: Click on “Routing” in the horizontal menu bar at the top of the Gmail settings.

Creating the Forwarding Rule:

Once you’re within the Routing settings, you’ll see various configuration options. For creating a basic forwarding rule based on recipient address, follow these steps:

1. Select your Organizational Unit (OU): Choose the specific organizational unit for which you want to apply the forwarding rule. This allows for granular control over forwarding settings, targeting specific groups or departments within your organization. If you don’t use OUs, select the top-level organization.
2. Locate “Email forwarding using recipient address map”: This is the specific setting that governs forwarding based on the recipient’s email address.
3. Configure or Add a New Rule: If a rule already exists, you can modify it. To create a new rule, click “Configure.”
4. Define the Recipient: Specify the email address or a pattern (e.g., *@sales.yourdomain.com) for which you want to forward incoming messages.
5. Set the Destination: Enter the email address where you want the messages redirected. This could be an individual’s email address, a group email address, or even an external address.
6. Save your Changes: Once you’ve configured the recipient and destination addresses, save your changes. The forwarding rule will now be active.

Important Considerations:

• Testing: After setting up the forwarding rule, it’s crucial to test it by sending a test email to the specified recipient address. This ensures that the forwarding is working as expected.
• Multiple Rules: You can create multiple forwarding rules to cater to different scenarios and recipient addresses.
• Order of Rules: If you have multiple rules, be mindful of their order. Google Workspace processes rules sequentially, so the order can impact how messages are routed.

By following these steps, you can effectively configure email forwarding within your Google Workspace environment, streamlining communication and ensuring that messages reach their intended recipients. This simplified guide offers a clear roadmap to navigating the Admin console and setting up forwarding rules efficiently.