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How to Set Up Email Forwarding

Updated today

Option 1: Reply-To Address (Simpler)

Set up a reply-to address so when leads click "Reply," their response goes directly to your designated email address. When to use this:

  • You only want replies forwarded, not all emails

  • You want a simple, quick setup

  • You want to manage replies in a different inbox

  • You don't need warmup emails forwarded

How to Set Up Reply-To Address:

  • Critical step: Connect your reply-to email address to Instantly

  • Go to Email Accounts dashboard

  • Click on the sending account you want to configure

  • In the right pop-up panel, go to Settings section

  • Scroll down to find "Reply-to" field

  • Type the reply-to email address in the field

  • Click "Save" to apply the reply-to configuration

What happens:

  • Leads see your sending account as the sender

  • When lead clicks "Reply", the email client auto-populates the "To" field with the Reply-To address

  • Your designated inbox receives all replies

  • Warmup and other emails stay in original inbox

Limitation: Even though the reply-to address should populate the "To" field automatically, there's no mechanism to prevent recipients from manually changing it back to your original sending address.


Option 2: Email Forwarding (All Emails)

Set up email forwarding directly in your email provider to forward all incoming emails automatically. When to use this:

  • You want all emails forwarded (replies, warmup, notifications, etc.)

  • You want complete inbox consolidation

  • You manage multiple accounts and want one central inbox

How to Set Up Email Forwarding

The setup process depends on your account type:

For DFY/Pre-Warmed Accounts (Purchased from Instantly)

Step 1: Get Your Account Password

  • Go to Billing β†’ Email accounts & Domains

  • Find your DFY/Pre-warmed accounts

  • Click "Request passwords"

  • Passwords will be provided

Step 2: Set Up Email Forwarding in Gmail

Follow Google's official forwarding guide to configure email forwarding.

  • In Gmail, go to Settings (gear icon) β†’ See all settings

  • Click "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab

  • Click "Add a forwarding address"

  • Enter your designated email address

  • Click "Next" β†’ "Proceed" β†’ "OK"

  • Check your designated inbox for verification email

  • Click the verification link

  • Return to Gmail settings

  • Select "Forward a copy of incoming mail to" [your designated address]

  • Choose what to do with Gmail's copy: "Keep Gmail's copy in the Inbox"

  • Click "Save Changes"

Important: Ensure original emails aren't moved or deleted when forwarding is enabled, only copies should be forwarded for reply detection to work.

If DFY/Pre-warmed accounts are canceled, email forwarding will stop working.

For Other Email Providers

Contact your email provider for specific email forwarding setup instructions.

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