This guide explains how to create a "catchall" type email address on a Service Mail.

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Preamble

• A "catchall" type email address retrieves all emails sent to non-existent email addresses on the domain.
  • This is ideal if you want to receive all messages for which there is no specific address on your domain.
  • This type of address cannot be used to send emails.
• If you configure the "Automatic reply" (out of office message) function on a catchall@ address, no automatic reply will be sent to senders who contacted a non-existent address on your domain.
  • This restriction notably avoids reply loops and the sending of unwanted messages.
• Also, take note of the important recommendations at the end of this guide.

Create a catchall address

Prerequisites

• Have a Service Mail on your Infomaniak Manager.
• Have a quota of available free addresses or adjust it in advance if necessary.

Then, the administrator of a Service Mail creates a new generic email address:

1. Click here to access the management of your product on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click directly on the name assigned to the product in question.
3. Click on the chevron to the right of the blue button Create an email address.
4. Click on Create a generic email address:
   
5. Choose Catchall.
6. Click on Continue:
   

Once the catchall address is created, it is automatically visible on your Infomaniak Mail Web app.

To use it elsewhere, you just need to add a password for your devices/users.

Example of use

Once the catchall address is created:

1. You use the email address jonnie.smith@domain.xyz which works and exists on the Mail Service domain.xyz.
   • You have also created an address catchall@domain.xyz on the Mail Service domain.xyz.
2. An email is sent to smith.johnny@domain.xyz because the sender misspelled the recipient's address.
3. The email will still arrive in the catchall@domain.xyz box, which you just need to check in the Mail interface of your choice.
4. Same if you delete the address jonnie.smith@domain.xyz one day; if you keep the catchall address, then it is the latter that will receive everything that is still addressed to the non-existent address...

Important recommendations

Creating this type of account is not recommended:

• Catchall addresses receive all emails sent to any domain address; this means they are often flooded with spam, which can be difficult to manage and filter.
• Due to the high volume of spam, legitimate messages can be drowned out and lost in the mass, which can result in the loss of important communications.
• Catch-all addresses can potentially be used by attackers to target your domain with brute force attacks or other methods, as they provide an easy target for testing different address combinations.