Creating a set of rules to process incoming emails is the best thing you can
do to keep your inbox organised and clear of distractions.Althougha rulecanbecreatedtoforward
orredirectemails,it onlyworkswhenthe
Macis poweredupandtheMailappis
running.Switchoffandgoonholidayfor
twoweeksandnomailwillbeprocessed.
Thesolutionis tocreatethemailrulein the
MailappontheiCloudwebsiteinsteadof
ontheMac.iCloudis alwaysonlineand
alwaysprocessesrules,evenwhenyour
Macis poweredoff.Here’showit works.Mail’s one
major flaw
1
Create a rule
Log into iCloud.com in Safari and click
the Mail app. Click the gear icon and select
‘Rules’ or ‘Preferences’. Click ‘Add a Rule’.
Select ‘is addressed to’ and enter your email.2
Add the action
For the action, select ‘Forward to’, and
enter your email. There is no Redirect in Mail
online, just Forward. Click ‘Done’ and emails
will be forwarded until the rule is stopped.Step-by-step Forward or redirect emails with rules
1
Mail rules
Open the Mail app and then select
Preferences in the Mail menu. To automatically
forward or redirect emails we need to create an
automated rule. Click ‘Rules’, then ‘Add Rule’.4
Forward or redirect?
Click the action and choose what to do
with the email, such as forward or redirect
it. We will choose ‘Forward Message’, but
‘Redirect Message’ is almost identical.2
Begin the rule
Click in the Description box and then
enter a name for the rule. An example is
displayed and it applies the rule to a single
sender. Replace the email address if you want.5
Add an email
Who should your emails be forwarded to?
Type an email address in the to: box, such as a
work colleague. If it is recognised as a contact,
it is replaced by their name.3
Check for contacts
Click ‘From’ and there are many
alternatives. A good one to use is ‘Sender is
in my contacts’. The rule is then only applied if
you know the sender and not random people.6
Add a message
The main difference between forward and
redirect is that a message can be added to
forwarded emails. Click the Message button
and add one. Click ‘OK’ and ‘Don’t Apply’.