Bogus Forwarding Email

Question

Bogus Forwarding Email

N. Ellis 20

When I went to my email, it showed a forwarding email to an unknown address. How do I turn off the forwarding option? Someone has hacked into my email.

Hornblower409 14,815 Reputation points

2026-08-26T12:15:05.3133333+00:00

@N. Ellis said

it showed a forwarding email to an unknown address

Please advise if the suggestions from TaoLi do not stop the forwarding. I am tracking another case where the user could not find any settings or Rules to account for the forwarding and wondering if you are seeing the same.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/discussions/outlookgeneral/how-to-turn-off-email-forwarding-that-i-did-not-set-/4550061
N. Ellis 20 Reputation points

2026-08-26T14:30:37.2733333+00:00

Thank you!

Answer accepted by question author

TaoLi 110.9K Independent Advisor

Yes, an unknown forwarding address is a strong sign that you should secure the account immediately.

In Outlook.com, go to Settings > Mail > Forwarding (or Forwarding and IMAP), select Disable forwarding, then Save. Microsoft instructions: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/mail/turn-automatic-forwarding-on-or-off-in-outlook

Also check Settings > Mail > Rules and delete any rule you did not create, because forwarding can also be hidden there.

Then immediately change your Microsoft account password, review Recent activity for unknown sign-ins, and use “Sign out everywhere.” https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/security/what-is-the-recent-activity-page https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/manage/how-to-sign-out-of-your-microsoft-account-everywhere

Finally, enable two-step verification for extra protection. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/security/how-to-use-two-step-verification-with-your-microsoft-account

After doing this, send yourself a test email and check Forwarding and Rules again to make sure the unknown address does not return.

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Hornblower409 14,815 Reputation points

2026-08-26T12:15:05.3133333+00:00

@N. Ellis said

it showed a forwarding email to an unknown address

Please advise if the suggestions from TaoLi do not stop the forwarding. I am tracking another case where the user could not find any settings or Rules to account for the forwarding and wondering if you are seeing the same.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/discussions/outlookgeneral/how-to-turn-off-email-forwarding-that-i-did-not-set-/4550061
N. Ellis 20 Reputation points

2026-08-26T14:30:37.2733333+00:00

Thank you!

Answer 1

To turn off forwarding in Outlook on the web or Outlook.com:

Select Settings.
Go to Mail > Forwarding.
- In some Outlook.com experiences, this appears as Mail > Forwarding and IMAP.
Turn off forwarding:
- In Outlook on the web or new Outlook, toggle Disable forwarding and select Save.
- In Outlook.com, clear Enable forwarding or select Disable forwarding, then select Save.

Since an unknown forwarding address appeared, also check for other unauthorized forwarding methods:

Go to Settings > Mail > Rules.
Delete any rule that forwards, redirects, moves, or deletes messages unexpectedly.
Review account sign-in and security info, remove anything unfamiliar, change the password, and enable two-step verification.

If the account was compromised, Microsoft guidance for suspicious forwarding activity recommends disabling and deleting the inbox forwarding rule and resetting account credentials.

References: