How to forward emails in Gmail automatically

Gmail can forward chosen emails to another address on its own: add the address, confirm it, then add a filter. The steps below forward bank alerts and receipts to Graiden, and work the same for any address.

Not on Gmail? Pick your email provider

You'll need a computer

Gmail's forwarding settings only exist in Gmail in a browser. The Gmail app has no forwarding option. On your phone right now? Open this page on a computer, or switch your phone's browser to Desktop site.

The quick way

Watch the 30-second demo, then open guided setup in the Graiden app. It gives you direct links to the right settings pages and ticks each step off as soon as it works, so you always know where you are.

Open guided setup

Prefer to read? The three steps are below, with what each screen looks like.

  1. Step 1

    Add Graiden as a forwarding address

    Copy your Graiden address from the Graiden app (Settings, under your forwarding address). It ends in @graiden.xyz.
    1. In Gmail, click the gear, then See all settings, then the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. Open it directly
    2. Click Add a forwarding address, paste your Graiden address and click Next.
    3. A small window opens. Click Proceed, then OK.
    Gmail's Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab with the Add a forwarding address button
    Forwarding and POP/IMAP → Add a forwarding address
    The Add a forwarding address dialog with a Graiden address typed in
    Paste your Graiden address, then Next
    Gmail's Confirm forwarding address window with the Proceed button
    Confirm with Proceed
    The Forwarding tab after verification, with Disable forwarding still selected
    Once verified, leave Disable forwarding selected

    Don't forward all your email

    After your address is verified, the Forwarding tab shows two options. Leave Disable forwarding selected. Forwarding everything costs you privacy and uses up your monthly limit. The filter in Step 3 sends only the emails you choose.

  2. Step 2

    Graiden confirms it for you

    Gmail sends a confirmation email to your Graiden address. Graiden catches it, and the app asks you to approve: tap Approve when it says your Gmail wants to forward to Graiden. If Gmail asks for a code instead, open Recent emails in the Graiden app and use the link or code in Gmail's message.

    Confirmation email not arriving?

    • Wait a minute or two, then refresh Recent emails in Graiden.
    • Check the address you typed in Gmail matches your Graiden address exactly. One wrong character sends the confirmation nowhere.
    • Still nothing after 5 minutes? Email support@graiden.xyz with the address you tried and we'll sort it out.

  3. Step 3

    Import your filter

    One file holds the filters for your banks and receipts. Gmail adds them in one go, so there's nothing to type.

    In the Graiden app under Settings. It ends in @graiden.xyz.

    Forward alerts from

    Paste your Graiden address to get your file.

    1. In Gmail settings, open Filters and Blocked Addresses and click Import filters.
    2. Click Choose file, pick graiden-gmail-filters.xml, then Open file.
    3. Leave Apply new filters to existing email unticked and click Create filters.
    Gmail's Filters and Blocked Addresses tab with the Import filters link
    Filters and Blocked Addresses → Import filters
    Gmail's Upload filters form with graiden-gmail-filters.xml chosen
    Choose the file, then Open file
    Gmail listing the filters to import, with Create filters
    Leave Apply to existing email unticked, then Create filters
    Gmail's filter list showing the two Graiden filters forwarding to the Graiden address
    Done: your filters forward to Graiden
Make the filter by hand insteadFor your own conditions, or banks we don't list yet.
  1. In Gmail's search bar, type what the emails have in common, for example from:ibanking.alert@dbs.com, then open the search options (the sliders icon) and click Create filter.
  2. Tick Forward it to, choose your Graiden address, then Create filter.
  3. Test it: on the Filters tab click edit next to your filter, then Search. You should see only the emails you want forwarded.

Phrases need straight double quotes

To match a phrase, wrap it in straight double quotes: "transaction was completed". Curly quotes (“like this”) and single quotes don't work in Gmail filters, so type them rather than paste from a note app.

One filter for several senders

Join senders with OR in brackets: from:(ibanking.alert@dbs.com OR unialerts@uobgroup.com). Our bank guides list the sender address for each bank.

Stuck? Email support@graiden.xyz and we'll help you finish.