A catch-all email address (also called a default address) receives all emails sent to non-existent addresses at your domain. For example, if someone types slaes@yourdomain.com instead of sales@yourdomain.com, a catch-all ensures that message is still received rather than bouncing. This guide shows how to set one up in Google Workspace (formerly Google Apps).

Before You Start

• You must be a Google Workspace Super Admin or have the Gmail admin privilege
• The catch-all destination must be an existing Google Workspace user or group in the same domain — you cannot forward to an external address directly from the catch-all setting (use a routing rule instead)
• Enabling a catch-all significantly increases spam volume to the destination inbox — using a dedicated mailbox or a Google Group (with spam filtering) is strongly recommended over forwarding to a real user’s inbox

Step-by-Step: Set Up a Catch-All Address in Google Workspace

Step 1 — Open the Google Admin Console

Go to admin.google.com and sign in with your Super Admin account.

Step 2 — Navigate to Gmail Settings

From the Admin Console home page, follow this path:

Apps → Google Workspace → Gmail

Step 3 — Open the Routing Settings

On the Gmail settings page, scroll down and click Routing. This expands the routing configuration options.

Step 4 — Configure the Catch-All Address

Scroll to the Catch-all address section and click Configure (or Edit if a catch-all is already set).

1. In the Catch-all address dialog, select Forward the email to
2. Enter the destination email address (must be a user or group within your Google Workspace domain)
3. Click Save

Changes typically propagate within a few minutes but can take up to 24 hours in some cases.

Step 5 — Verify the Catch-All is Working

Send a test email from an external account to a clearly non-existent address at your domain (e.g., doesnotexist123@yourdomain.com). Within a few minutes the message should arrive in the configured catch-all mailbox rather than bouncing.

Alternative: Use a Google Group as the Catch-All Destination

Rather than forwarding to an individual user’s inbox, a better practice is to create a dedicated Google Group (e.g., catchall@yourdomain.com) and set that as the catch-all destination. Benefits:

• Multiple team members can monitor the group inbox without sharing a password
• You can apply Google Groups spam filtering before delivery
• Messages are archived in the group and easy to search
• You can add or remove members without changing the catch-all setting

To create a group: Admin Console → Directory → Groups → Create group, then use that group address as the catch-all destination in Step 4.

Catch-All vs. Default Routing: What’s the Difference?

Feature	Catch-All Address	Default Routing Rule
Scope	Only catches mail to non-existent addresses	Can match any message pattern (sender, recipient, content)
Destination	Single user or group within the domain	Any address, including external
Configuration	Simple — one setting	Flexible — full routing rules engine
Spam risk	High — all typo mail arrives	Configurable — can add spam checks
Use case	Catch mistyped addresses	Complex mail flow, external forwarding

Security Considerations

• Spam increase: Spammers often send to random addresses at known domains. Enabling a catch-all means every such message reaches your inbox instead of bouncing. Enable Google Workspace’s spam filter on the destination mailbox/group.
• Email harvesting: A catch-all confirms your domain accepts mail, which can attract more spam. Consider whether the benefit of catching mistyped addresses outweighs this risk.
• Phishing exposure: Emails impersonating staff sent to plausible-but-wrong addresses (e.g., cfo@yourdomain.com) will now be delivered. Train your team to scrutinise unexpected catch-all messages carefully.