Overview
This article describes how to modify an existing email address, including changing it to another type.
Difference between email address types
The following table describes the difference between each type of email address available at DreamHost:
| Type of email Address | Can it send or store email? | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fully Hosted | Yes |
A Fully Hosted email address can send and store emails received. |
| Forward-only | No |
A forward-only email address is only able to forward emails that are sent to it. |
| Garbage | No |
A Garbage email address silently deletes any messages sent to it. |
How to convert to a different type of email address
The following steps explain how to convert an email address into one of the three types available at DreamHost.
Changing your email address from Fully Hosted to Forward-only or Garbage permanently deletes all emails stored under that address. Make sure you back up any email you want to save before changing the address type.
Do not proceed unless you have backed up your email first. It will not be possible to restore your email after you have converted your address.
Converting to a Fully Hosted email address
- Navigate to the Manage Email page.
- Locate the forward-only email address you want to convert into a Fully Hosted address.
- To the right of that address, click the Manage button.
- Scroll down to the Fully Hosted Email section and click the Change button.
- Enter a mailbox name and password.
- Click the Change to Fully Hosted button to convert this address into a Fully Hosted address.
Converting to a Forward-only email address
- Navigate to the Manage Email page.
- Locate the Fully Hosted email address you want to convert into a forward-only address.
- To the right of the address, click the Manage button.
- Scroll down to the Forward-Only section and click the Change button.
- Within the Forward to box, enter the email address you wish to have this user forward to.
There are four mail-hosting providers DreamHost does not allow forwarding to: AOL, Comcast, Microsoft, and Verizon. When attempting to set up a forward to any of these hosts, you will receive an error message.
- Click the Change to Forward Only button to convert this address into a forward-only address.
Converting to a Garbage email address
- Navigate to the Manage Email page.
- Locate the email address you want to convert into a Garbage email address.
- To the right of that address, click the Manage button.
- Scroll down to the Garbage Email section and click the Change button.
- Click the Change to Garbage button to convert this address into a Garbage email address.
Modifying your email address settings
If an email address is already configured as Fully Hosted or forward-only, you can modify its settings by clicking the Manage button on the Manage Email page. You can make the following changes to your email addresses:
Fully Hosted emails
- Change the mailbox name.
- Change the email's password.
- Set, edit, or remove a disk usage limit for the mailbox.
- Disable or enable the mailbox.
Forward-only emails
- Add or remove email addresses to forward to.