Hover Email's Forward Opt-In feature helps protect mailboxes from forwarding abuse by requiring the recipient of a forward to approve it before any forwarded mail is delivered. This article explains why the feature exists, walks through how a typical approval works, and answers common questions about setting up mail forwards.
Why Hover requires forward approval
Attackers sometimes abuse mail-forwarding rules to send spam or scam messages without the recipient's knowledge or consent. To prevent this kind of abuse, Hover requires the person receiving a forwarded message to approve it before forwarding begins.
Note: This article previously described the Forward Opt-In feature as a change scheduled to take effect on September 18, 2025. That date has now passed, and the description below reflects how the feature is expected to work now that it's live.
How the opt-in process works
Action | Behavior |
|---|---|
Adding a forward | Sends an opt-in email to the recipient. |
Recipient selects the approval link | Forwarding begins. |
No approval within 24 hours | The request expires. |
Forward removed | Approval is revoked. |
Re-adding a forward | Requires a new approval. |
Maximum pending requests | 20 per mailbox. |
Note: The opt-in email cannot be customized, for security reasons.
Example: how a forward approval works
Scenario: me@mydomain.com forwards mail to john@example.com.
- You add john@example.com as a forward.
- John receives an opt-in email.
- John selects Approve.
- After you save the new forward, a warning label reading "Waiting for recipient to accept forwards" appears beside it.
- The forward stays inactive until the recipient accepts.
- Once John confirms, the warning disappears and the forward works normally.
Frequently asked questions
Question | Answer |
|---|---|
Can the opt-in email be customized? | No. |
Can old approvals be reused? | No — a new opt-in is required after a forward is removed and re-added. |
What if a recipient never approves? | No mail is forwarded, and the request expires after 24 hours. |
What happens if I hit the limit of 20 pending requests? | You'll need to wait for an existing request to expire or remove it before adding another. |
Can support bypass this process? | No — manual override isn't possible. You'll need to re-enter the forwarding email address yourself. |
Are messages sent before approval delivered later? | No — only messages sent after approval are forwarded. |
Does the opt-in requirement apply to forwards set up in webmail? | Yes. |
What this feature doesn't cover
- The opt-in process doesn't apply to third-party systems outside Hover Email.
- Hover Support can't override or customize the opt-in workflow.
Next steps
- Set up or manage a mail forward: see Buying and Managing Your Email Accounts for step-by-step instructions.
Questions? Contact Hover Support.
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