# How to set your default address in cPanel

> Set a default email address in cPanel to catch any mail sent to addresses that don't exist on your domain.

Source: https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/email-in-cpanel/how-to-set-your-default-address-in-cpanel
Updated: 2026-06-04

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Your default address (sometimes called a catch-all) receives any email sent to your domain that doesn't match an existing mailbox or forwarder. Here's how to configure it in cPanel.

## What the default address does

If someone sends a message to an address you haven't set up - say, `typo@yourdomain.com` - cPanel needs to know what to do with it. By default, unrouted mail is held in your main account inbox, but you can forward it to any address you prefer, or discard it entirely.

## Setting your default address

1. Log in to cPanel and open the **Email** section.
2. Click the **Default Address** icon.
3. Your current setting is shown at the top of the page. To change it, select **Forward to email address** from the options.
4. Enter the email address you want to receive unrouted mail.
5. Click **Change**.

The page will refresh and display your new default address setting.

:::tip
If you receive a lot of spam through your catch-all, consider setting the default address to **Discard** (with an optional failure message) rather than forwarding it to an active inbox.
:::

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_Source: Kualo Knowledgebase — https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/email-in-cpanel/how-to-set-your-default-address-in-cpanel · © Kualo Ltd._