Managing Catch‑All E‑mails in DirectAdmin
Summary
This guide explains how to configure Catch‑All e‑mails in DirectAdmin. A Catch‑All address receives any message sent to a non‑existent e‑mail address under your domain.
Overview
Normally, if someone sends mail to an address that doesn’t exist (example: randomname@yourdomain.com), the message bounces.
A Catch‑All address lets you choose what happens instead:
- Deliver all unknown mail to a specific mailbox
- Forward it to another address
- Discard it entirely (recommended for spam-heavy domains)
Requirements
- DirectAdmin user-level access
- A domain with e‑mail enabled
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Access Catch‑All E‑mails
- Log in to DirectAdmin
- Go to Advanced Features → Catch‑All E‑mails
- Select the domain you want to configure
2. Choose How to Handle Unknown Addresses
You will see three main options:
A) Send to an existing e‑mail account
- Choose an account from the dropdown
- All unknown mail goes to that inbox
B) Forward to another address
- Enter an external e‑mail (example: you@gmail.com)
- All unknown mail is forwarded
C) Discard (recommended)
- Deletes all unknown mail
- Best for reducing spam
3. Save Your Settings
- Click “Save”
- Changes apply immediately
Common Use Cases
Receive All Misspelled Addresses
Example:
info@yourdomain.com
infro@yourdomain.com
infor@yourdomain.com
→ All delivered to one inbox
Forward All Unknown Mail to Support
Useful for small teams that want to catch every inquiry.
Discard All Unknown Mail
Best for domains targeted by spam bots.
Troubleshooting
Receiving Too Much Spam
- Switch Catch‑All to “Discard”
- Or forward to a filtered mailbox instead of your main inbox
Catch‑All Not Working
- Ensure the domain’s MX records point to your server
- Confirm the mailbox you selected exists and is active
Forwarding Not Delivering
- Check the destination address for spam filtering
- Verify SPF/DKIM/DMARC settings
Mail Loop Detected
- Do NOT forward Catch‑All to another domain that also has a Catch‑All enabled
Security Notes
- Catch‑All addresses attract spam by nature
- Use “Discard” unless you have a specific business reason to keep it enabled
Related Articles
- [E‑mail Accounts](ca://s?q=Email_Accounts)
- [Forwarders](ca://s?q=Email_Forwarders)
- [SPAM Filters](ca://s?q=SPAM_Filters)
- [MX Records](ca://s?q=MX_Records)
- [Backup & Restore](ca://s?q=Backup_and_Restore)