--- title: The cPanel Default Address and why catch-all mailboxes are a bad idea description: What the cPanel Default Address does, and why we recommend against using a catch-all mailbox. --- [Skip to content](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/the-cpanel-default-address-and-why-catch-all-mailboxes-are-a-bad-idea#main-content) English - United Kingdom Show submenu for translations [More support](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/kb-tickets/new) [Support Portal](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/support-portal) [![Blake Mark Digital Logo](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset%205.png?width=200&height=57&name=Asset%205.png)](https://blakemarkproductions.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English - United Kingdom Show submenu for translations - [More support](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/kb-tickets/new) - [Support Portal](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/support-portal) - [Contact Support](https://help.blakemarkproductions.com/support-portal) [Contact Support](https://help.blakemarkproductions.com/support-portal) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Knowledge Base](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/) 2. [Email](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/email) # The cPanel Default Address and why catch-all mailboxes are a bad idea By default your cPanel account will reject email sent to an address that you have not already setup with a mailbox or forwarder. We strongly recommend you leave these default settings alone. Mail addressed to a non existent mailbox or forwarder is called unrouteable. While it is possible to send all such email to a catch-all address we strongly recommend against this practice as catch-all addresses are prime targets for spammers. Once your domain becomes known, spammers will target random usernames@yourdomain - it will be harder for us to filter spam, as your account will no longer reject email for unknown recipients. If using a catch-all email address is unavoidable for you, and you wish to read such email using a third party system such as Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo etc then we recommend you configure a LOCAL mailbox to receive the messages, and then collect mail from that mailbox using the third party's POP3 collection tools. This is described in Step 3 below. 1. Follow the guide [How to create a mailbox in cPanel](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/adding-a-new-cpanel-email-account) to create your catch-all mailbox. A catchall mailbox is no different from any other mailbox. 2. Click the **Default Address** icon in the **Email** section of cPanel. ![](https://files.helpdocs.io/8nzbvyta9f/articles/3nuyg0j0us/1650979841754/cpanel-default-email-address-image-1.png) Under the Default Address Maintenance heading, select your domain from the drop-down list (1) and the select the Forward to email address radio button (2). Enter the address of your catch-all mailbox in the Forward to email address box (3). Click the Change (4) button to save your changes. ![def-email-2](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/def-email-2.png?width=463&height=305&name=def-email-2.png) In our example, any email that the server receives which is not addressed to a known mailbox or forwarder within the blakemarkdemo.co.uk domain will be redirected into catchall@blakemarkgroup.co.uk mailbox. 3. If you wish to read your catch-all email using a third part system such as Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo etc, then you must use the tools made available to you on their system. ### A special note about the system account We strongly recommend you do not forward all mail to the system account unless you have a very good reason. Again, this option will make your account a prime target for spammers. ![](https://files.helpdocs.io/8nzbvyta9f/articles/3nuyg0j0us/1650979890002/cpanel-default-email-address-image-3.png)     - [Getting Started](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/getting-started) - [Web Hosting](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/web-hosting#main-content) - [Elementor](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/web-hosting#elementor) - [WordPress](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/web-hosting#wordpress) - [Security](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/web-hosting#security) - [Email](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/email#main-content) - [Mail Clients](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/email#mail-clients) - [SpamExperts](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/email#spamexperts) - [MailChannels](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/email#mailchannels) - [Domains](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/domains#main-content) - [Domain Privacy](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/domains#domain-privacy) - [Billing](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/billing) - [cPanel](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/cpanel#main-content) - [JetBackup](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/cpanel#jetbackup) - [Softaculous](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/cpanel#softaculous) - [WordPress Glossary Terms](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/wordpress-glossary-terms#main-content) - [H](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/wordpress-glossary-terms#h) [![Blake Mark Digital Logo](https://help.blakemarkdigital.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset%205.png?width=250&height=71&name=Asset%205.png "Blake Mark Digital Logo")](https://blakemarkdigital.co.uk/) Blake Mark Digital is a digital marketing agency supporting SMEs and non-profits with strategic branding, content, and campaigns that drive real results 124-128 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX [support@blakemarkdigital.co.uk](mailto:support@blakemarkdigital.co.uk) +44 20 4578 9582 [mailto:support@blakemarkproductions.com](mailto:support@blakemarkproductions.com) Copyright © Blake Mark Productions Ltd