Removing a destination stops mail forwarding to that inbox. Aliases assigned to the removed destination remain in the account but stop delivering mail until reassigned to a working destination. This page covers reassignment of affected aliases, replacement of a default destination where required, and removal of the destination.
Destinations and forwarding#
A destination is the real inbox that receives mail forwarded from an alias. Each alias forwards to one destination. Removal of a destination breaks the forwarding link for every alias assigned to it, while the aliases themselves remain in the account. The order of work is therefore fixed: identify the affected aliases, reassign them, resolve the default setting where it applies, and then remove the destination.
Removal requires access to the Destinations page and the Aliases page. A different working destination is required before removal of a default destination, and before removal of the only destination on an account. The replacement destination should be verified and ready before work starts, so no alias is left without a forwarding target.
Affected aliases#
The destination row shows an alias count. That count states how many aliases forward to that destination. Filtering the alias list by destination lists each affected alias by name. That list should be worked through before removal, because every alias on it needs a new destination or deletion.
An old inbox that is no longer checked provides a typical case. Several aliases may still point to it, including aliases used for newsletters, shopping accounts and account recovery messages. Reassignment of those aliases to an inbox that is checked daily keeps their mail arriving without interruption.
Reassignment of aliases#
Reassignment moves each affected alias to a working destination. Every alias on the filtered list should be reassigned, or deleted where it is no longer needed, before the removal step.
- Open Aliases: Go to Aliases and filter the list by the destination that will be removed.
- Open an alias: Find the first affected alias and open it for editing.
- Select a working destination: Select a different, working destination for the alias.
- Save the change: Save the alias, then repeat the same steps for each remaining alias on the filtered list.
- Check the list again: Filter by the old destination once more. The list should be empty before removal continues. An alias left on the list will stop forwarding as soon as the destination is removed.
Default destination#
A default destination cannot be removed while it holds that status. The default is the destination that new aliases forward to unless a different destination is chosen during creation. Changing the default affects new aliases only. Existing aliases keep their assigned destinations, so changing the default does not reassign existing aliases by itself.
- Open Destinations: Go to Destinations and find the destination that will become the new default.
- Open its menu: Open the menu on that destination.
- Set it as default: Choose Set as default. Full details are in Setting a default destination.
- Confirm the change: Check that the new destination is marked as default before returning to the removal steps.
Only destination on an account#
An account always needs at least one destination, because aliases need a place to forward to. The only destination on an account cannot be removed on its own. A new destination must be added and verified first, then aliases reassigned to it, then the old destination removed. The steps for adding are in Adding a destination.
Removal#
Removal itself is short. The preparation described above is what makes it safe.
- Open Destinations: Go to Destinations.
- Find the destination: Find the destination to remove and check that its alias count is zero, or that every alias on it has already been reassigned.
- Open its menu: Open the menu on that destination.
- Choose Remove: Choose Remove.
- Confirm: Confirm the removal. The destination is then removed from the account.
Verification#
After removal, three checks apply. First, the destination no longer appears in the Destinations list. Second, filtering the alias list by the removed destination returns no aliases. Third, a test message sent to one reassigned alias should arrive in the new destination inbox. Arrival of the test message in the new inbox confirms that reassignment and removal both worked.
Effects of removal#
Removal breaks forwarding, not the aliases themselves. The effects are:
| What changes | Result |
|---|---|
| Aliases assigned to the removed destination | They stay in the account but stop delivering mail until reassigned |
| Aliases assigned to other destinations | They are unaffected and keep forwarding as before |
| New aliases | They forward to the default destination, not to the removed one |
| The removed destination address | It no longer receives forwarded mail, and it can be added again only as a new, verified destination |
Mail sent to an affected alias after removal has no forwarding target, so it does not reach any inbox. That is why reassignment comes before removal, not after. Removal of a destination is not a method for pausing an alias. To pause a single alias without touching its destination, deactivate that alias instead.
Blocked removal#
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Removal is blocked because the destination is the default | A default destination cannot be removed while it holds that status | Set a different destination as default first, then remove the old one |
| Removal is blocked because it is the only destination | An account always needs at least one destination | Add and verify a new destination first, then remove the old one |
| An alias stops receiving mail after removal | The alias was still assigned to the removed destination | Open the alias in Aliases, select a working destination, and save |
| A test message does not arrive after reassignment | The alias still points to the wrong destination, or the new destination is not verified | Check the alias destination setting, confirm the new destination is verified, and send a second test message |
Related guides#
- Adding a destination: add and verify a replacement destination before removing the only destination or the default.
- Setting a default destination: change which destination new aliases forward to.
- What is a destination: how destinations, aliases and inboxes fit together.
- How Email Aliases Actually Work: how forwarding from an alias to a destination works, step by step.