How to Forward Emails in Gmail (One, Many or Automatically)

Gmail has three ways to forward mail: one message at a time, several messages bundled as attachments, or automatic forwarding of new mail to another address. Here are Google’s steps for each.

Forward one email

On a computer

1. Open the email in Gmail.
2. At the bottom of the email, click Forward.
3. Add your recipients, then click Send.

To forward one message from inside a conversation, click More at the top right of that message, then Forward.

On Android, iPhone or iPad

1. Open the email in the Gmail app.
2. Tap Forward at the bottom of the message.
3. Add the recipients and tap Send.

In a conversation, tap More at the top right of the message, then Forward.

Forward a whole conversation

Turn on Conversation view first — Google says it’s required. Then, in the toolbar at the top of the email, click More › Forward all, add recipients and click Send.

Forward several emails at once

1. In Gmail on a computer, tick the box next to each email.
2. At the top, click More › Forward as attachment.
3. Add recipients, a subject and a message, then click Send.

Each email is attached as an .eml file, and you don’t need to download anything first. If the attachments come to more than 25 MB, Gmail adds them as a Google Drive link.

Forward new mail automatically

Google’s steps for this are for Gmail on a computer.

1. Click Settings › See all settings, then the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
2. Click Add a forwarding address, enter it, then Next › Proceed › OK.
3. Open the verification email in the other account and click its link.
4. Back in Gmail, refresh the page and reopen the tab. Select Forward a copy of incoming mail to.
5. Choose what happens to Gmail’s copy — Google recommends Keep Gmail’s copy in the Inbox — and click Save Changes.

All new mail is forwarded except spam. To stop, click Disable forwarding on the same tab and save.

Forward only some emails

Turn automatic forwarding off first, or everything will still be forwarded. Then open the search options, describe the emails, click Create filter, tick Forward it, choose the address and click Create filter. You need one filter per forwarding address. See Gmail filters.

A forwarding notice you didn’t set up?

For a week after forwarding is turned on, Gmail shows “You are forwarding your email to…”. If you didn’t set that up, Google says to change your password immediately and turn forwarding off — someone else may have access. Then work through Gmail security.