What forwarding does and when to use it

Forwarding sends an email you received to someone else, with the original message and attachments included. The person who receives your forward sees the original sender's name, the original subject line, and all the text and files that came with it. You can add your own message at the top before you send it.

Use forwarding when you want to share something someone sent you — a document, a question, a receipt, a photo — without retyping it or explaining it from scratch. The recipient gets the full context of what was originally sent.

Forwarding is different from replying. When you reply, only the original sender sees your message. When you forward, a new person gets the original message, and the original sender does not know you shared it with anyone else.

Key Takeaways

  • Forwarding sends the complete original email — subject line, body text, and attachments — to a new recipient you choose.
  • Most email programs put a "Forward" button near the top or bottom of the message, or you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+F (Windows) or Command+F (Mac).
  • You can add your own message at the top of the forwarded email before sending, so the recipient knows why you are sharing it.
  • The forwarded email shows "Fwd:" at the start of the subject line so the recipient knows it is a message you are passing along, not an original one.

How to forward in Gmail

Open the email you want to forward. Look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the message (next to the back arrow). Click it and select "Forward" from the dropdown menu.

A reply box opens at the bottom of the screen. The subject line now shows "Fwd:" followed by the original subject. Type the email address of the person you want to send it to in the "To" field. If you want to add a message explaining why you are forwarding it, click in the message body area above the original email text and type your note.

Click the "Send" button. The email with the original message and any attachments goes to the recipient you named.

How to forward in Outlook

Open the email you want to forward. Click the "Forward" button in the toolbar at the top of the message. (If you do not see it, look for a three-dot menu and select "Forward" from there.)

A new message window opens with "Fwd:" added to the subject line. The original message and attachments are already included below. Type the recipient's email address in the "To" field. Add your own message in the body area above the forwarded content if you want to explain why you are sending it.

Click "Send". The forwarded email reaches the recipient with the original message intact.

How to forward in Apple Mail

Select the email you want to forward. Click the "Forward" button in the toolbar at the top of the window, or use the keyboard shortcut Command+F.

A new message window opens. The subject line shows "Fwd:" followed by the original subject. Type the recipient's email address in the "To" field. You can add a message above the forwarded content to explain what you are sending and why.

Click "Send". The email goes to the recipient with all original attachments included.

What happens to the forwarded email

When someone receives a forwarded email, they see your message at the top (if you added one), then the original message below it. The subject line shows "Fwd:" so they know it is something you are passing along. They can see who originally sent it, when it was sent, and all the attachments that came with it.

If the recipient forwards it again to someone else, the subject line will show "Fwd: Fwd:" and so on. This chain can get long if an email is forwarded many times, but the original message stays the same.

Forwarding attachments and large files

When you forward an email, all attachments come along automatically. You do not have to do anything extra to include them. If the original email had three documents, a photo, and a spreadsheet, all of those travel with your forward.

Be aware of file size limits. Most email providers allow messages up to 25 MB total (Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail). If the original email had very large video files or many high-resolution photos, the forwarded message might hit that limit. If it does, your email program will warn you before you send.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I forward an email to multiple people at once?

Yes. In the "To" field, type the first email address, then type a comma or semicolon (depending on your email program), then type the next address. You can add as many recipients as you need. All of them will receive the same forwarded message.

What if I want to forward an email but remove some of the original text?

Most email programs let you edit the forwarded message before you send it. Delete the parts you do not want to include, then send. The recipient will see only what you left in. Be careful not to remove context that the recipient needs to understand the message.

Does the original sender know I forwarded their email?

No. The original sender does not receive any notification that you forwarded their message to someone else. Forwarding is private — only you and the person you forward it to know it happened.

Can I forward an email to myself?

Yes, though it is not common. You might do this to move an email from one account to another, or to create a backup copy. Type your own email address in the "To" field just as you would for anyone else.