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Does Deleting a Microsoft 365 User Stop Email Forwarding?
Question details
The user wants to know if email forwarding remains active after deleting a Microsoft 365 user account, particularly whether the 30-day recovery retention period keeps the forwarding alive.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- An administrator is deleting a user account and needs to understand the impact on pre-configured email forwarding settings.
- Observed behavior
- When a Microsoft 365 user account is deleted, the mailbox and its associated forwarding settings are immediately deactivated.
Before deleting a user account, ensure you have backed up any necessary emails and configured alternative routing (like a shared mailbox or transport rule) if you still need to receive emails sent to that address.
Understanding Microsoft 365 Forwarding Behavior for Deleted Accounts
Clarifies how Microsoft 365 handles email forwarding upon account deletion and where to look if emails continue to forward unexpectedly.
Deleting a user account in the Microsoft 365 Admin Portal immediately impacts the user's mailbox and its personal settings.
The 30-day deleted-user retention period is solely for account recovery purposes and does not keep standard email forwarding active.
When a Microsoft 365 user account is deleted, the mailbox is deactivated. Any email forwarding rules set up directly on that user's mailbox will typically stop functioning immediately.
If emails are still being redirected after deletion, navigate to the Exchange Admin Center. Check under 'Mail flow' > 'Rules' to ensure there are no separate organization-wide transport rules forwarding the mail.
If the deleted user's email address was added as an alias to another account or converted to a Shared Mailbox prior to deletion, forwarding will continue based on the new configuration. Review 'Teams & groups' > 'Shared mailboxes' in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I forward emails from a former employee without paying for their license?
Before deleting the user account, you can convert their mailbox into a Shared Mailbox. Once converted, you can remove the user's Microsoft 365 license and set up email forwarding from the Shared Mailbox to another active user.
Will a deleted Microsoft 365 user's mailbox still receive new emails during the 30-day retention period?
No. During the 30-day soft-deleted retention period, the mailbox is inactive and cannot receive or forward new emails. Senders will receive a bounce-back message unless alternate routing is configured.
Can I recover a deleted Microsoft 365 user and restore their forwarding settings?
Yes. If you restore the deleted user account within the 30-day retention window, the mailbox and its previous configurations, including email forwarding rules, will be fully restored.
