Why is cPanel email not forwarding to Gmail?

​If your cPanel email isn’t forwarding to Gmail, it could be due to several common issues related to spam filters, incorrect configurations, or security policies from email providers. Here are some of the main reasons why this might happen, to solve the issue why is cPanel email not forwarding to Gmail.

Spam Filters Blocking Forwarded Emails

Gmail has strict spam filters, and sometimes, forwarded emails get flagged as spam because they’re coming from a different domain (your cPanel domain) than they were originally sent from. This often happens if the original sender’s domain has strict SPF or DKIM records, which Gmail checks to confirm the email is legitimate.

Incorrect Forwarding Setup in cPanel

If the email forwarder in cPanel isn’t configured correctly, the emails might not be redirected properly. To check this, go to your cPanel, navigate to the Email Forwarders section, and make sure the forwarding address is set up correctly. You may need to delete and recreate the forwarder to reset the configuration.

The email must be created as an Email Forwarder, and not a standard cPanel email account.

Gmail Blocking Forwarded Messages Due to Anti-Spam Policies

Gmail sometimes blocks forwarded emails, especially if a large number of emails are being redirected in a short period. To Gmail, this can look like spam, which may cause them to silently block or drop the emails without them even reaching your spam folder.

Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) Issues

SPF and DKIM records are used to authenticate emails sent from a domain. When an email is forwarded, it may fail these checks if the cPanel server is not authorized to send emails on behalf of the original sender’s domain. This failure can cause Gmail to reject the forwarded email. Check your SPF record to ensure it includes the IP address of your cPanel server.

Use of Gmail’s Import Feature as a Workaround

As an alternative to forwarding, you can set up Gmail to fetch your cPanel email directly. In Gmail, go to Settings > Accounts and Import > Check mail from other accounts. Enter your cPanel email credentials, and Gmail will periodically check for new emails in that account, bypassing forwarding issues.

Why is cPanel email not forwarding to Gmail? Try these solutions to troubleshoot and resolve forwarding issues between cPanel email and Gmail.