GoAdmio
GoAdmio Documentation

Default Address

From the GoAdmio knowledge base.

Default Address

This page explains the Default Address (also called a catch-all address) in GoAdmio. It defines where the server delivers email sent to invalid or non-existent addresses on a domain.

Location: Admin Panel → Email → Default Address
Location (User Panel): Email → Default Address


Overview

A default address catches all email sent to a domain that does not match an existing mailbox. For example, if a sender types infoo@example.com instead of info@example.com, the message is delivered to the domain's default address instead of bouncing back [citation:2][citation:7].

This is useful for:

  • Preventing lost email due to typos or outdated addresses
  • Catching misdirected mail intended for a person or department
  • Consolidating all unrouted mail into one monitored inbox
> Warning: Catch-all addresses are a well-known spam magnet. Spammers routinely send mail to random addresses at a domain (e.g., admin@, sales@, test@). If you forward all unrouted mail to a real inbox, that inbox will receive a significant amount of spam [citation:2][citation:15]. Use this feature only if you can manage the volume, or prefer specific Forwarders instead.

What the Page Shows

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Domain | The domain whose default address is being configured |
| Current Setting | The active catch-all behaviour (Discard, Forward, etc.) |
| Actions | Change the default address configuration |


Default Address Options

GoAdmio's Default Address page mirrors the cPanel interface and typically offers these options [citation:2][citation:7]:

Discard with Error Message

Rejects the email at SMTP time and returns a failure message to the sender. You can customize the error text (e.g., "No such user here").

> Tip: This is the safest option if you do not want a catch-all. The sender knows the address is invalid, and you do not accumulate spam.

Forward to Email Address

Forwards all unrouted mail to a specified mailbox (e.g., catchall@example.com or a personal address).

> Warning: This is the most common cause of spam floods. If you choose this, monitor the destination mailbox and enable spam filtering (see Spam Filters or IP Spam Filter).

Discard (Silently)

Deletes unrouted mail without notifying the sender.

> Warning: Not recommended — the sender will never know their message failed, and you will never see legitimate mail sent to a mistyped address [citation:2].

Advanced Options

Depending on your GoAdmio version, additional options may include:

| Option | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Forward to system account | Delivers to the account's system user mailbox |
| Pipe to a Program | Sends the message to a script for custom processing |


How to Configure a Default Address

  1. Log in to the GoAdmio Admin Panel (or User Panel).
  2. Navigate to Email → Default Address.
  3. Select the domain you want to configure.
  4. Choose the handling method:
- Discard with error message (recommended for most domains) - Forward to email address (enter the destination address) - Discard silently (not recommended)
  1. Click Change (or Save).
The setting takes effect immediately.

Related Commands

| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
| /go/mailtop | Identify the most active email accounts, useful for spotting spam floods to a catch-all [citation:6] |
| /go/undelivered | Manage undelivered and bounced mail |
| /go/mailpwd | Bulk change email account passwords [citation:3] |


Related Pages

Troubleshooting

| Problem | Likely cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Default address inbox flooded with spam | Catch-all forward enabled on a public domain | Switch to Discard with error message, or use specific Forwarders instead |
| Legitimate email not reaching the catch-all | Domain forwarder overrides the default address | Check Forwarders — a forwarder for that address takes precedence [citation:2] |
| Sender does not receive a bounce | Default address set to silent discard | Change to Discard with error message |
| Cannot set a default address | Feature disabled for the domain or account | Check package permissions in Add/Modify Packages |
| Default address set but email still bounces | Mail routing misconfigured, or domain not local | Verify MX records in DNS Manager; check mail exchanger mode in Modify Account |
| Catch-all mailbox fills disk | No quota, or spam accumulation | Set a quota on the destination mailbox; enable spam filtering |


Last updated: 2026-11-08

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