Quick answer
In Gmail, go to Settings (gear) → See all settings → Forwarding and POP/IMAP. Click Add a forwarding address, enter the address and confirm the verification link Gmail emails to it. Then choose Forward a copy of incoming mail and decide whether to keep, archive or delete the Gmail copy.
HOW TO ADD & VERIFY A FORWARDING ADDRESS
Set up forwarding for all mail.
- Open Forwarding settingsIn Gmail on the web, click the gear icon (top-right) → See all settings, then open the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
- Add the forwarding addressClick Add a forwarding address, type the address you want mail to go to, and click Next then Proceed.
- Verify the addressGoogle sends a confirmation email to that address with a verification link and a code. Open it, click the link (or paste the code back into Gmail) and confirm. Forwarding won't work until this is done — it's how Google proves you own the other inbox.
- Turn forwarding onBack in the Forwarding tab, select Forward a copy of incoming mail to and pick your verified address from the dropdown.
- Choose what happens to the Gmail copyIn the same line, choose to keep Gmail's copy in the Inbox, mark it as read, archive it, or delete it. Keeping or archiving is safest so you always have the original in Gmail too.
- Save your changesScroll to the bottom and click Save Changes. New mail starts forwarding straight away (existing mail isn't forwarded).
HOW TO FORWARD ONLY SOME MAIL
Selective forwarding with a filter.
If you only want certain emails forwarded — say everything from a supplier, or messages sent to a shared alias — use a filter instead of forwarding everything.
- Open the search optionsIn Gmail, click the filter/adjust icon in the search bar at the top to open the advanced search box.
- Define which emails to matchSet your criteria — for example a sender in the From field, a keyword in the subject, or the alias in the To field. Then click Create filter.
- Choose the forward actionTick Forward it to and select your verified forwarding address, then click Create filter. Only messages that match will forward; everything else stays put.
Your admin may restrict forwarding. In a business Google Workspace account, an administrator can block or limit automatic forwarding to external addresses — this is a common and sensible control to stop company email being quietly redirected outside the organisation. If the option is greyed out or the verification email never arrives, forwarding to that address is likely disabled by policy. Check with your IT provider or Workspace admin before assuming it's broken.
