GuideUpdated November 1, 2026

Outlook forwarding: set it up in every version, fix 5.7.520

To forward Outlook email automatically, open Settings → Mail → Forwarding, switch on Enable forwarding, enter the destination address and select Save[1]. That works in new Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web and Outlook.com; in classic Outlook for Windows you set up a rule instead[1]. This guide walks through each version, explains forward versus redirect, shows how to turn forwarding off, and covers possible restrictions on external forwarding for work accounts.

Command Mail is our product and shows up further down as one possible destination. The Outlook steps follow Microsoft's help pages as retrieved on 2026-11-01. This guide does not claim a run with real accounts.

Updated: Fact-checked: About 13 min readAs Markdown

Contents
  1. The short version
  2. Which Outlook do you have, and which path fits?
  3. Before you start
  4. New Outlook and Outlook on the web
  5. Outlook.com: forwarding a personal account
  6. Classic Outlook for Windows: forwarding with a rule
  7. Outlook for Mac
  8. Forward or redirect: who gets the reply?
  9. Forwarding only some emails
  10. Forwarding to several addresses
  11. On your phone: can the Outlook app forward?
  12. Forwarding while you're away
  13. Turning Outlook forwarding off
  14. Work accounts: error 5.7.520 and blocked external forwarding
  15. Forward Outlook to Command Mail
  16. Did it work?
  17. Problems and fixes
  18. Next steps
  19. Sources and date
  20. Frequently asked questions
  21. Sources

01The short version

  1. Check which Outlook you're in: new Outlook, Outlook on the web, Outlook.com or classic Outlook[1].
  2. New Outlook, web and Outlook.com: Settings → Mail → Forwarding, Enable forwarding, destination address, Keep a copy of forwarded messages, Save[1][3].
  3. Classic Outlook: a rule for every message you receive, with a redirect or forward action[1][2].
  4. If replies should reach the original sender, or only some messages should go out, use a rule[2]. Microsoft says new Outlook doesn't support rules for connected third-party accounts such as Gmail, Yahoo and iCloud; set those up with the email provider instead[8].

02Which Outlook do you have, and which path fits?

Microsoft splits its instructions into four tabs because the menus differ[1]. If the steps for new Outlook don't match your screen, Microsoft says you're probably still on classic Outlook[1].

VersionSimplest pathWhere to find it
New Outlook for WindowsForwarding setting[1]Settings → Mail → Forwarding[1]
Outlook on the web (work or school account)Forwarding setting[1]Settings → Mail → Forwarding[1]
Outlook.com (personal account)Forwarding setting[3]Settings → Mail → Forwarding, or Forwarding and IMAP depending on the layout[1][3]
Classic Outlook for WindowsInbox rule[1]Home → Rules → Manage Rules & Alerts[1]
Outlook for MacRule in Settings[5]Outlook → Settings → Rules[5]
Outlook app for iPhone and Androidcreating inbox rules is unavailable according to Microsoft's comparison[6]set it up in a browser on a computer

03Before you start

You need a computer with a browser, or Outlook for Windows or Mac. According to Microsoft's comparison, creating inbox rules is unavailable in the Outlook mobile apps[6].

On Outlook.com, forwarding requires two-step verification. If it isn't on for your Microsoft account, you'll be asked to enable it when you turn forwarding on[3]. Outlook may also ask you to sign in again on the Forwarding and IMAP page before the settings appear[1].

On a work or school account, your organization decides whether mail may be forwarded automatically to outside addresses[4]. The 5.7.520 section below explains what that looks like.

04New Outlook and Outlook on the web

The steps are the same in new Outlook for Windows and in Outlook on the web[1]:

  1. Select Settings (the gear) at the top of the window.
  2. Go to Mail → Forwarding. If you're asked to sign in, complete it.
  3. Turn on Enable forwarding and enter the destination address.
  4. Tick Keep a copy of forwarded messages if the original should stay in your mailbox.
  5. Select Save.

Microsoft's steps include no verification link sent to the destination[1]. The help describes the setting as forwarding messages sent to your mailbox[1]. Keep the copy for a while, until you've seen everything arrive at the destination.

05Outlook.com: forwarding a personal account

For a personal address ending in @outlook.com, @hotmail.com or @live.com, open Outlook.com in a browser[3]:

  1. Select Settings at the top.
  2. Go to Mail → Forwarding. Some layouts call the page Forwarding and IMAP[1].
  3. Turn on two-step verification if Outlook.com asks for it, and verify your identity if prompted again.
  4. Select Enable forwarding, enter the destination address and tick Keep a copy of forwarded messages.
  5. Select Save.

Outlook.com is upfront about one catch: forwarded messages appear as forwarded from your account, so replies to them go to you, not to the original sender[3]. If that's not what you want, Microsoft points to a redirect rule, covered below[3].

06Classic Outlook for Windows: forwarding with a rule

For classic Outlook, Microsoft describes an inbox rule that applies to every message you receive, in place of a forwarding switch[1].

  1. On the Home tab of the ribbon, select Rules → Manage Rules & Alerts[1]. Another Microsoft article starts the same path from Move[2].
  2. If you have several accounts, set Apply changes to this folder on the Email Rules tab to the address you want to forward from[1].
  3. Select New Rule, then under Start from a blank rule pick Apply rule on messages I receive and select Next[1].
  4. Leave every condition unticked, select Next, and confirm with Yes that the rule should apply to every message[1].
  5. As the action, tick redirect it to people or public group, or forward it to people or public group[1][2].
  6. In the rule description, click the people or public group link, type the destination address in the To box and select OK[1].
  7. Select Finish, Apply and OK[1].

When you first test the rule, Microsoft suggests looking in the destination's Junk or Spam folder too, since forwarded messages can end up there[1]. Some rules made in classic Outlook are client-side and new Outlook can't process them; Microsoft's fix is to create a new rule there[8].

07Outlook for Mac

In current Outlook for Mac, rules live under Outlook → Settings → Rules → +Add Rule, where you name the rule and pick a condition and an action[5]. Microsoft notes that Outlook for Mac creates server rules only and no longer supports client rules, and that Stop processing more rules is on by default[5].

The Mac article doesn't list which forwarding actions appear in the action menu[5]. For a Microsoft 365 or Outlook.com account, you can also set forwarding up in a browser, through Outlook on the web or Outlook.com as described above[1]. Microsoft names October 2026 as the end of support for legacy Outlook for Mac and notes that continued support depends on the Microsoft 365, Office or Outlook license[5].

08Forward or redirect: who gets the reply?

The rule paths in this and the following sections apply to Microsoft accounts. Microsoft says new Outlook doesn't support rules for connected third-party accounts such as Gmail, Yahoo and iCloud[8].

A forwarded message appears to be forwarded by you, and a reply goes to the address it was forwarded from. A redirected message appears to come from the original sender, and a reply goes to that sender[2].

Redirect suits a stand-in or a second mailbox you answer from, where the conversation should continue with the sender directly. Forward suits cases where replies should come through your own account. In new Outlook, on the web and in Outlook.com, a redirect rule looks like this[2]:

  1. Settings → Mail → Rules → Add new rule.
  2. Give the rule a name.
  3. Condition: Apply to all messages.
  4. Action: Redirect to, plus the destination address. To forward instead, pick Forward to or Forward as attachment.
  5. Optionally tick Stop processing more rules, then select Save.

If you use the rule in place of the setting, switch the plain forwarding off. Otherwise each message may arrive twice.

09Forwarding only some emails

A rule can use a different condition in place of Apply to all messages, such as a sender or a word in the subject, and you can add further conditions and exceptions[2][8]. Microsoft describes no conditions for the forwarding setting; it covers the messages sent to your mailbox[1].

In classic Outlook, you tick the condition you need under Select conditions instead of leaving it empty[2]. Afterwards, send one test message that matches and one that doesn't, and check that only the first goes through.

10Forwarding to several addresses

A forward or redirect rule can hold more than one recipient[2]. Microsoft adds a caveat: the number of addresses allowed depends on your account settings, and a rule with more than that won't work[2]. Send a test message and check each destination.

Microsoft's steps for the forwarding setting take one forwarding address[1]. For several destinations, use a rule.

11On your phone: can the Outlook app forward?

Microsoft's comparison of Outlook versions marks Create inbox rules as available in Outlook for PC and Outlook on the web, and not in Outlook for iOS or Android[6]. A Microsoft Q&A answer from 2025-03-07 also says rules and automatic forwarding can't be set on mobile, neither in the app nor in the phone's browser[7].

So set forwarding up on a computer. Microsoft describes it as forwarding the messages sent to your mailbox[1]; the help doesn't describe setting it up per device.

12Forwarding while you're away

Microsoft names the case where someone else should receive and answer your email while you're away, but describes no time window for forwarding[1][3]. Following Microsoft's steps, it stays on until you switch it off.

Automatic replies work differently: you can set them to go out only during a chosen period[9]. For a stand-in during a holiday, set the automatic reply with a time period, and switch forwarding or the redirect rule on by hand before you leave and off when you return.

13Turning Outlook forwarding off

In new Outlook, on the web and in Outlook.com, open Settings → Mail → Forwarding, turn forwarding off and select Save[1][3]. In classic Outlook, turn off or delete the rule under File → Manage Rules & Alerts[8].

Rules run separately from the setting[1][2]. Check Settings → Mail → Rules as well for any forward or redirect rule that's still there[8].

If you find forwarding you never set up, treat it as a warning. Microsoft explicitly lists inbox rules that forward mail outside after an account has been compromised[4]. Turn the forwarding off, delete the unknown rule and change your password.

14Work accounts: error 5.7.520 and blocked external forwarding

In Microsoft 365, admins control automatic forwarding to external recipients through the outbound spam filter policy[4]. The default is Automatic - System-controlled. Since 2021 that value has behaved like Off - Forwarding is disabled for new organizations and for existing ones that weren't actively using it[4].

With external forwarding off, neither your inbox rules nor mailbox forwarding set up by an admin will send mail outside the organization[4]. The message is returned to the sender in a non-delivery report containing 5.7.520 and the text “Access denied, Your organization does not allow external forwarding”[4]. Forwarding between people inside the same organization isn't affected by this setting[4].

Admins can also restrict forwarding through remote domains and mail flow rules, and where two settings disagree, the block typically wins[4]. Allowing external forwarding is your organization's security decision. Ask your IT team instead of looking for a way around it.

15Forward Outlook to Command Mail

Command Mail brings several of your own addresses into one inbox, where your AI agent works within the permissions you grant[10][11]. Every connected address has its own private inbound address, and that's where Outlook forwards to[10].

  1. Connect your Outlook address in Command Mail. During initial setup, Connect a mailbox leads to the Set up forwarding page, with your private inbound address under Forward to and a Copy button. Additional addresses you connect under Settings → Connections → Connect a mailbox; copy the inbound address straight from the address entry there.
  2. Enter it in Outlook as the destination: in new Outlook, on the web or in Outlook.com under Settings → Mail → Forwarding, with Keep a copy of forwarded messages ticked[1][3]. In classic Outlook, use the rule above.
  3. Send a test message to your Outlook address from another account and open it in Command Mail.
  4. Command Mail shows the sender from the incoming message's From header. If it shows your own Outlook address instead of the real sender, replace the forwarding with a Redirect to rule and turn the plain forwarding off[2].

An agent with the mailboxes permission can connect the address itself and tell you where to forward[10]. According to the app code, the setup guidance Command Mail gives it also covers Outlook.com. Forwarding delivers copies. Sorting, archiving or reading in Command Mail leaves your Outlook mailbox unchanged[10].

Free covers one address, the last 90 days and no sending[11]. Sending needs Pro, and you set it up separately for each sender address[10][11]. According to the app code, that happens only in the app under Settings → Connections, not through an agent's access. For Outlook.com and Hotmail the code offers only sending through Command Mail: recipients see a Command Mail address with your name, and their replies go to your Outlook address.

Older mail doesn't come through forwarding. Command Mail imports MBOX and EML exports once through the CLI, for example commandmail import export.mbox --mailbox you@outlook.com --state archive, without ongoing sync[10]. The docs don't mention Outlook PST files[10].

16Did it work?

Send a test message to your Outlook account from a different address. It should arrive at the destination. If you ticked Keep a copy of forwarded messages, it also stays in your Outlook mailbox[1][3]. On the first test, check the destination's Junk or Spam folder too[1].

Look at the sender of the test message. After a redirect it shows the original sender; after a forward it appears as forwarded by you[2]. For a rule with a condition, send one matching and one non-matching message.

In Command Mail, Settings → Connections shows “Last mail” with a time next to the address once forwarded mail has arrived; until then it reads “No mail has arrived yet”.

17Problems and fixes

The Forwarding page shows no settings. Outlook may want you to sign in again there; Forwarding, POP and IMAP appear only after that[1]. On Outlook.com, Microsoft also requires two-step verification[3].

Saved, but nothing reaches the destination. Check that the switch is really on, the address is right and you selected Save. Look in the destination's Junk or Spam folder[1].

A bounce with 5.7.520. Your organization blocks external forwarding[4]. Only its admins can change that.

Replies go to you instead of the sender. You're forwarding. Use a rule with Redirect to, and replies go to the original sender[2].

A rule with several destinations does nothing. You may have added more recipients than your account allows[2]. Use fewer recipient addresses in the rule and test again.

Forwarding rules suddenly stop. If your mailbox is over its size limit, Outlook may block sending and receiving; forwarding rules may also stop working until you delete enough messages[2].

A rule from classic Outlook doesn't run in new Outlook. One possible cause is a client-side rule that new Outlook can't process. Microsoft recommends creating a replacement for such migrated rules[8].

You can't find forwarding on your phone. Microsoft's comparison lists creating inbox rules as unavailable on iOS and Android[6]. Set up forwarding on a computer.

Command Mail still says “No mail has arrived yet”. Check the saved forwarding or rule in Outlook, look for a 5.7.520 bounce on work accounts, and compare the destination with the copied inbound address.

18Next steps

Keep Outlook's copy for the first few weeks, until you trust the destination. In new Outlook, Outlook on the web and Outlook.com, find your rules under Settings → Mail → Rules. In classic Outlook, use File → Manage Rules & Alerts[8]. Our recommendation: after a month, review whether you still need the forwarding rules.

For Gmail, see Gmail forwarding. If you want an AI agent working on Outlook, Connect Outlook to ChatGPT and Connect Outlook to Claude compare the built-in connectors with working on a forwarded copy.

Start Command Mail for free, forward your Outlook address and connect your agent.

19Sources and date

As of 2026-11-01. Microsoft's help pages, the Microsoft Q&A answer and Command Mail's pages were retrieved that day. Statements about the private inbound address, the sender shown from the From header, the “Last mail” display, the setup guidance for agents and sending for Outlook.com also rest on the app code at commit ae32456 (src/lib/server/intake.ts, cloudflare-inbound.ts, mailbox-setup.ts, src/routes/onboarding/+page.svelte, SettingsPage.svelte, messages/en.json, docs/accounts.md). This guide does not claim a run with real accounts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I set up Outlook forwarding on my phone?

Not in the Outlook app, as far as Microsoft documents it. Microsoft's comparison lists creating inbox rules as available in Outlook for PC and Outlook on the web, but unavailable on iOS and Android. A Microsoft Q&A answer from March 2025 adds that rules and automatic forwarding can't be set on mobile, in the app or in a phone browser. Use a computer, either a browser or Outlook for Windows.

What's the difference between forward and redirect in Outlook?

A forwarded message shows up as forwarded by you, and replies come back to your address. A redirected message looks as if it came straight from the original sender, and replies go to that sender. Redirect is an action you pick in an Outlook rule.

Can Outlook forward to more than one address?

Yes, with a rule. Microsoft says a forward or redirect rule can hold several recipients, but the number allowed depends on your account settings, and a rule with too many addresses won't work. Test any rule with several destinations.

What does error 5.7.520 mean?

Your Microsoft 365 organization doesn't allow automatic forwarding to addresses outside the organization. The message comes back in a non-delivery report that says “Access denied, Your organization does not allow external forwarding”. Only your organization's admins can change that.

Can Outlook forward only while I'm out of office?

Microsoft doesn't describe a time window for forwarding; it stays on until you turn it off. Automatic replies, by contrast, can be limited to a time period. So turn forwarding on before you leave and off again when you're back.

Sources

  1. Microsoft: Turn automatic forwarding on or off in Outlook support.microsoft.com, accessed
  2. Microsoft: Use rules to automatically forward messages support.microsoft.com, accessed
  3. Microsoft: Turn on or off automatic forwarding in Outlook.com support.microsoft.com, accessed
  4. Microsoft Learn: Control external email forwarding and fix 5.7.520 errors learn.microsoft.com, accessed
  5. Microsoft: Create a rule in Outlook for Mac support.microsoft.com, accessed
  6. Microsoft: Compare Outlook for PC, Outlook on the web, and Outlook for iOS & Android support.microsoft.com, accessed
  7. Microsoft Q&A: Can't find Rules and Forwarding when using Mobile (answer of 2025-03-07) learn.microsoft.com, accessed
  8. Microsoft: Manage email messages by using rules in Outlook support.microsoft.com, accessed
  9. Microsoft: How to set up out of office automatic replies in Outlook support.microsoft.com, accessed
  10. Command Mail: documentation, sections on forwarding addresses and importing existing mail commandmail.app, accessed
  11. Command Mail: plans and agent permissions commandmail.app, accessed
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