> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://speedypage.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Default address (catch-all)

> How to configure the default address in cPanel to control what happens to email sent to nonexistent addresses on your domain.

The default address controls what happens when someone sends email to an address that does not exist on your domain. For example, if someone emails `typo@yourdomain.com` and that account does not exist, the default address setting decides whether the message is forwarded somewhere, bounced back, or silently discarded.

## Recommended setting

Set the default address to **discard with an error message**. This bounces undeliverable mail back to the sender with a clear "no such address" notice and prevents spam from piling up in your mailbox.

If you leave the default address set to forward to your system account (the default out of the box), you will receive every message sent to a nonexistent address. Spammers often target random addresses on a domain, which can fill your inbox quickly.

## Configure the default address

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Default Address">
    Log in to cPanel through your [client area](https://my.speedypage.com) or at `yourdomain.com/cpanel`. Go to **Email** and click **Default Address**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the domain">
    Choose the domain from the **Send all unrouted email for the following domain** menu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose how to handle unrouted mail">
    Select one of the following:

    * **Discard the email while your server processes it by SMTP time with an error message** — bounces the message back to the sender. You can customise the error text in the **Failure Message** field. The default message is "No such person at this address."
    * **Forward to Email Address** — sends unrouted mail to a specific address.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Change**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Under **Advanced Options** you can also:

* **Forward to your system account** — sends unrouted mail to your cPanel default email account
* **Pipe to a Program** — passes the message to a script at a path you specify
* **Discard** — silently deletes the message without notifying the sender (not recommended, since the sender has no way to know the delivery failed)

<Warning>
  If spammers target your domain and you have the default address set to forward to a real mailbox, that mailbox can fill up fast. Discarding with an error message avoids this problem.
</Warning>

<Note>
  The default address is not the same as the system default email account. The default address controls where undeliverable mail goes. The system default email account is the `cpanelusername@yourdomain.com` account created with your hosting. They are configured separately.
</Note>

<Note>
  Domain forwarders override the default address. If you have both set up, the domain forwarder takes priority.
</Note>