Creating Email Aliases and Catch-All Addresses

Email aliases let you create additional email addresses that deliver to an existing mailbox without needing separate accounts. A catch-all address captures every email sent to your domain, even if the specific address does not exist. Together, these tools help you manage communications efficiently. This guide covers how to set up both.

What Is an Email Alias?

An alias is an alternate email address that delivers mail to an existing mailbox. The alias does not have its own inbox, password, or storage quota — it simply redirects to a real account.

Example:

• Real account: [email protected]
• Aliases: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
• All three aliases deliver to John's inbox

Benefits of Aliases

• Professional appearance — Use role-based addresses (info@, support@, billing@) without creating separate accounts
• Privacy — Give out aliases instead of your real address; delete the alias if it receives too much spam
• Organization — Filter incoming mail based on which alias received it
• Cost savings — No need to purchase additional mailboxes

Creating Aliases in cPanel

Step 1: Log In to cPanel

Access your cPanel at https://yourdomain.com:2083 or through your {{COMPANY_NAME}} dashboard.

Step 2: Navigate to Forwarders

In cPanel, aliases are implemented as forwarders. Go to Email → Forwarders.

Step 3: Add the Alias

1. Click Add Forwarder
2. Enter the alias address (e.g., support) in the Address to Forward field
3. Select your domain
4. Under Destination, choose Forward to Email Address
5. Enter the real mailbox address (e.g., [email protected])
6. Click Add Forwarder

Tip: To create an alias that delivers to multiple people, add a separate forwarder for each destination address using the same alias.

Step 4: Sending as the Alias

To send email from your alias address (so replies come back to the alias), configure it in your email client:

In Gmail (via SMTP):

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Import → Send mail as
2. Click Add another email address
3. Enter the alias address and your SMTP server details
4. Verify the address via the confirmation email

In Outlook:

1. Go to File → Account Settings → Account Settings
2. Select your account → Change → More Settings
3. Under From, add the alias address

Creating Aliases in DirectAdmin

1. Log in to DirectAdmin
2. Navigate to E-Mail Manager → E-Mail Accounts
3. Click the email account that should receive the alias
4. Add the alias address in the account settings
5. Save changes

Alternatively, use E-Mail Forwarders to create a forwarder from the alias to the real account, which functions identically.

What Is a Catch-All Address?

A catch-all (or wildcard) address receives all email sent to your domain that does not match an existing mailbox or forwarder. If someone sends a message to [email protected] and that address does not exist, the catch-all address receives it.

When to Use a Catch-All

• During migration — Ensure no emails are lost while moving to a new system
• Small businesses — Capture emails to misspelled addresses
• Testing — Catch all incoming mail for a new domain

When to Avoid a Catch-All

• Spam-heavy domains — Spammers send to random addresses; a catch-all collects all of it
• Large organizations — The volume of misdirected email can be overwhelming

Warning: Catch-all addresses attract significant spam. Only enable one if you have strong spam filtering in place.

Setting Up a Catch-All in cPanel

Step 1: Navigate to Default Address

1. In cPanel, go to Email → Default Address (also called "Catch-All")

Step 2: Configure the Catch-All

1. Select your domain
2. Choose Forward to Email Address
3. Enter the email address that should receive catch-all mail (e.g., [email protected])
4. Click Change

Disabling the Catch-All

1. Go to Email → Default Address
2. Select Discard or Return to Sender (bounce)
3. Click Change

Tip: The recommended default setting is Return to Sender with an error message. This informs the sender that the address does not exist rather than silently discarding the email.

Setting Up a Catch-All in DirectAdmin

1. Log in to DirectAdmin
2. Navigate to E-Mail Manager → E-Mail Accounts
3. Look for the Catch-All or Default account setting
4. Set the destination address
5. Save changes

Best Practices

1. Use aliases over catch-all — Create specific aliases for each purpose rather than relying on a catch-all
2. Document your aliases — Maintain a list of all aliases and who they forward to
3. Review regularly — Remove aliases that are no longer needed, especially if they receive spam
4. Set up filters — Create inbox rules to sort mail by which alias received it
5. Monitor catch-all volume — If catch-all spam becomes excessive, disable it and create specific aliases instead

Troubleshooting

Related Articles

• How to Set Up Email Forwarding
• How to Configure Spam Filters
• Understanding SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Records

Need help with email aliases or catch-all configuration? Contact our support team at {{SUPPORT_URL}} or email {{SUPPORT_EMAIL}}.