Why is cPanel Email Forwarding not Working? & Its Solutions

  Mohit Kumar Jha
Written By Mohit Kumar Jha
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh
Modified On September 4th, 2025
Reading Time 6 Min Read

You’ve set up email forwarding in cPanel, but it is not working as the importnat does not forward to your inbox. There can be many reasons behind this problem, which I will explain in this article. Also, discuss the solutions to fix the cPanel email forwarding not working error.

cPanel is a web hosting company that provides email services to its customers. Just like any normal email application, users can manage their emails, send and receive email messages, and easily integrate with the Roundcube web client. In normal circumstances, cPanel is a great option as it also provides your email forwarding option.

The function of cPanel email forwarding is the same as any other function, i.e., automatically direct incoming email from one address to another. So, if you have another email account and want to see your cPanel emails. Then, this function will be very helpful. However, many individuals complain that the email forwarding stops working. For the professionals, this inconvenience as they miss important email messages. But why does this problem occur? and how to resolve them. We will explain them both in the upcoming section of the article.

Why is cPanel Email Forwarding not Working?

Whenever you face any technical issues, it is important to understand the reasons behind the problem. Therefore, here I have mentioned all the common reasons why the email forwarding stops working.

  • One of the main reasons for the problem is an incorrect forwarding email address. A typo or wrong email ID prevents your message from being redirected.
  • You are using spam filters or custom filters that may block your emails from forwarding.
  • Due to strict spam or authentication policies, the receiving mail server rejects your forwarded emails.
  • Your DNS records are misconfigured, and your forwarded emails will be marked as spam.
  • Some hosting providers have a limited set of number of email forwarding or sending items. If you exceed the limit, then you can no longer forward your cPanel emails.
  • To reduce spam abuse, some web hosts disable automatic forwarding.
  • A full or large recipient’s mailbox won’t deliver your forwarded emails.

These are the possible reasons why email forwarding stops in cPanel. Now, if you want to resolve them. I have some solutions that will work.

Common Solutions to Fix cPanel Email Forwarding Issue

Sometimes a big problem is easily solved with small solutions. Thus, I have some minor tricks that can help you in this situation. Properly follow them as I have provided clear instructions.

  1. If your destination email provider thinks that your forwarded email is spam. Then, your mail will go through the spam folder or junk folder. So, check the spam or junk folders to see your missing emails. Also, you can use a reliable alternative cPanel forwarder.
  2. If your forwarded email is not in the spam folder, then go to the cPanel, check your email account details, especially the email address. Log in to the cPanel account, go to Email Forwarder. Verify the forwarding email ID and correct it.
  3. When you are trying to forward your emails, ensure that DNS settings like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are updated.
  4. Also, add the destination mail server’s IP or domain to your SPF records to prevent any rejection.
  5. If the recipient’s email provider flagged your emails, then ask them to whitelist them from the list of spam emails.
  6. You should also check your cPanel email filters and global email filters. If you find any filters that are blocking your forwarded emails, remove or edit them.
  7. Try to forward your emails using a different email address to see if the problem is with the destination server or not.
  8. If the problem is because of a full inbox at the destination. Then, try to reduce its storage space by deleting old or unimportant email messages.
  9. Don’t forget to review your mail logs in cPanel by going through the Email Deliverability. Then, Track Delivery and find the error messages like rejected, blocked, or mailbox is full.
  10. If nothing works, then call the cPanel support team to help you resolve the cPanel email forwarding not working problem.

The above solutions will help you resolve the problem of cPanel email forwarding not functioning. But it does not work properly. So, the only option is to move your cPanel emails to the destination email host. Below is the method you can use in the destination.

Alternative Solution: When cPanel Email Forwarding is not Working

The main reason why users forward their cPanel email is to manage their emails from multiple accounts into one inbox. This means that without logging into each account separately, you can easily get your emails. To do that, you provide an email address where your mail is forwarded. However, if you are not capable of forwarding your emails. You can do an alternative, i.e, move your emails to the destination account. And to do this, a professional software like SysTools IMAP Migration Tool would be great.

This is an advanced solution that makes the process of transferring your cPanel emails easy. If your destination account and cPanel support an IMAP server. Then, this solution will make the process easier. To know how it works. Follow the steps below.

Download Now Purchase Now

Instructions to Use the Alternative Solution

  1. The first step is to download and install the software. Also, activate the tool.
    downlaod and activate the software
  2. Choose the IMAP option from both the source and destination sections.
    choose imap options
  3. Click on the Email option and set the date filter function to sort out the emails you want to move.
    click on email and use date filter
  4. From the source tab, select the cPanel server and validate the account.
    choose cpanel server
  5. Choose your required destination server and validate that as well.
    choose destination server
  6. Now, add your user by clicking the download template option and submitting the CSV file in the Import users option.
    add your user
  7. Lastly, click on the Start Migration option.
    click on start migrtion process

Final Words

Those who are suffering from cPanel email forwarding not working are now at ease. In this article, I have explained various solutions to resolve the email forwarding problem. If using them does not resolve the issue. So, you can use the alternative solution to move their cPanel emails to their destination account.

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By Mohit Kumar Jha

Mohit is a Microsoft Certified expert for all things Microsoft. He brings a unique perspective gained from nearly a decade of active participation in various IT forums, blogs, and social media. Known in admin circles as the go-to guru for solving user queries in the domain of cloud migration, data backup, and digital forensics. The secret to his core expertise lies in solving problems practically. Through this hands-on experience, he has acquired knowledge in diverse domains like Microsoft 365 Cloud, On-Premise Exchange Server, AD, and Entra ID.