What is an email alias?
An alias is a way to receive email without exposing your Microsoft 365 email address. All emails sent to your alias address go into your primary email account’s inbox.
Aliases can diversify a single email account without having to pay for multiple inboxes. You can create up to 400 aliases for the same email account.
To learn more about aliases, select a question to see its answer:
- Will I see emails in my inbox addressed to my alias?
- Can I send emails from my alias?
- What’s the difference between an alias and a forwarding address?
- Can my alias filter to a specific folder?
- How long before an alias becomes active?
- Can I turn an email address into an alias?
- What if my alias isn't working?
- Can an alias go to multiple email addresses?
Will I see emails in my inbox addressed to my alias?
No, all mail sent to an alias shows up in your inbox addressed to your primary email address. For example, if you have the email account jane@coolexample.com and create the alias support@coolexample.com, mail sent to support@ will show in your inbox as sent to jane@.
If you want support@ to show as the To address, create a distribution group with your primary email account as a member.
Can I send emails from my alias?
Yes, send emails using an alias in Outlook on the web. Your messages will show your alias address as the sender and disguise your primary email address.
For example, if you have jane@coolexample.com as your primary email account and you create the alias jobs@coolexample.com, all emails sent to jobs@ goes into your regular inbox. When you reply to mail, you can use the alias jobs@ so that the recipient never sees jane@.
Note: This feature is in Microsoft's Public Preview mode and might have issues or bugs. Find out how to send emails using an alias.
What’s the difference between an alias and a forwarding address?
When you create a forwarding email address, any messages sent to your Microsoft 365 email is directed to a different email address. For example, if you forward email from sales@coolexample.com to jane@coolexample.com, all messages sent to sales@ will automatically forward to jane@. See forwarding options for your Microsoft 365 email address.
Can my alias filter to a specific folder?
No, inbox rules don't filter aliases to specific folders. However, you can create the address as a distribution group (with your primary email account as a member) and make a rule that automatically moves mail sent to your distribution group to a folder. Learn more about inbox rules from Microsoft.
Note: An email address can't be both an alias and a distribution group at the same time. To change an address from an alias to a distribution group, first delete the alias before creating it as a distribution group.
How long before an alias becomes active?
As soon as you add an alias, you can receive mail for it. However, it can take up to 24 hours for a new alias to start delivering mail.
Can I turn an email address into an alias?
If you change the username of your Microsoft 365 email account, the previous username is automatically added as an alias. Or, if the address is already set up as an email account, distribution group, or shared mailbox, you need to delete it before adding it as an alias to your primary email account.
What if my alias isn't working?
If your alias isn't working, try the following:
- Check the alias' spelling. Typos happen to the best of us.
- Confirm the sender is spelling the alias correctly.
- Make sure you've given the alias 24 hours to set up.
- If you're using Advanced Email Security, you might need to add the alias.
Can an alias go to multiple email addresses?
You can't assign an alias to multiple email addresses. Create a shared mailbox or distribution group instead.
