Quick answer
In Outlook on the web, go to Settings → Mail → Forwarding, tick Enable forwarding, enter the destination address, tick Keep a copy of forwarded messages, and save. If you only want to forward some mail, use a rule instead. If forwarding to an outside address is blocked, that's a security policy — talk to your IT administrator.
BEFORE YOU START
Two ways to forward — pick the right one.
There's a simple Forwarding setting that sends every message on to another address — best for "everything to my assistant while I'm away". And there's a rule, which forwards only messages that match conditions you choose (from a certain person, containing a keyword, and so on). Decide whether you want all mail or just some before you start. Also know the difference between forward and redirect: forward sends a new copy with you as the sender, so replies come back to you; redirect passes the original message straight through, so replies go to the original sender. Forward keeps you in the loop; redirect hands the conversation off.
HOW TO TURN ON FORWARDING
Do it in Outlook on the web.
- Open Outlook on the webSign in at outlook.office.com with your work account. The web version has the cleanest forwarding controls and settings you make here apply no matter which device you read mail on.
- Go to the Forwarding settingsClick the gear icon (Settings) at the top right, choose Mail, then Forwarding. This is the setting that forwards all incoming mail.
- Enable forwarding and enter the addressTick Enable forwarding, then type the email address you want your mail sent to. Double-check it — a typo here means missed messages.
- Keep a copy of forwarded messagesTick Keep a copy of forwarded messages so a copy stays in your mailbox. Without this, forwarded mail can leave your inbox and you lose your own record of it. Then click Save.
- Prefer to forward only some mail? Use a ruleInstead of the Forwarding setting, go to Settings → Mail → Rules → Add new rule. Set a condition (for example, from a specific sender), choose the action Forward to (or Redirect to), enter the address, and save. Rules run automatically as mail arrives.
- Test itSend yourself a message, or ask a colleague to, and confirm it lands at the destination and — if you ticked it — a copy stays in your mailbox. Testing now saves surprises later.
- Turn it off when you're doneForwarding is easy to forget. Come back to the same screen, untick Enable forwarding (or delete the rule), and save so mail stops being sent on once you no longer need it.
Why external forwarding is often blocked. Microsoft 365 blocks automatic forwarding to external addresses by default, and most well-run businesses keep it that way. The reason is Business Email Compromise (BEC): when an attacker breaks into a mailbox, one of the first things they do is set a quiet forwarding rule to siphon off copies of your email. If your forward to an outside address won't save or silently doesn't deliver, it's almost certainly this policy — not a bug. If you have a genuine need to forward externally, ask your IT provider to enable it for your specific mailbox rather than looking for a workaround.
