BigCommerce’s email guidance warns against testing a forwarding address from the mailbox that receives forwarded messages, because the message can enter a forwarding loop. If a BigCommerce email forwarding test is not receiving emails, send a message from a separate mailbox to the store’s displayed address, then check the forwarding destination. Test order confirmations separately with a test order; do not treat one test as proof that the other route works. (BigCommerce’s email setup guidance)
This is for sellers verifying a store-domain forwarding address, operators checking order emails, and small businesses keeping test messages away from a customer-facing inbox.
BigCommerce email forwarding test not receiving emails: identify the failed route
Before changing settings, write down three things: who sent the message, which address it was sent to, and which inbox you expected to receive it. Without those details, it is easy to troubleshoot the wrong route.
A store-domain address displayed on a storefront is not necessarily an independent mailbox. With built-in forwarding, it can act as an address that passes incoming mail to an existing mailbox. That is different from hosting a full inbox through a third-party email service. BigCommerce documents both its email forwarding setup and a restriction: when you use a third-party email service, you cannot also use BigCommerce’s built-in forwarding for that setup. Confirm which method your store actually uses before switching settings. (BigCommerce’s forwarding and email service notes)
BigCommerce can also send store-generated messages, including order confirmations. That does not establish that any particular message was sent successfully or reached a recipient’s inbox. A forwarding test and an order notification test have different senders, recipients, and configuration points. (BigCommerce’s email overview)
| Test type | Sender | Address to use as recipient | What a successful result tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store-address forwarding | A separate mailbox that is not the forwarding destination | The store’s displayed domain address | Whether this message reaches the forwarding destination through the route you are testing |
| Order confirmation | The store sends the notification after a test order | The customer email entered for that test order | Whether the order flow generates and delivers that notification to the test recipient |
| Mailbox access | A sender you control | The actual destination mailbox | Whether you can access the destination and find incoming messages |
A pass on one row does not validate the other rows. Keep the results separate, especially if you are changing the store’s notification settings while also checking domain forwarding.
Avoid a forwarding loop during the test
The sender matters. When you verify a forwarding address, send from an independent mailbox to the store’s displayed address. Do not use the address in the “Forwarding email to” field as the sender for this test. BigCommerce warns that testing this way can cause a forwarding loop or leave the message stuck. The warning applies to the documented setup; it is not a claim that every forwarding service behaves identically. (BigCommerce’s forwarding test warning)
For example, suppose the store displays contact@yourstore.example and forwards messages to a mailbox you already use. The forwarding check should come from another mailbox you can access, with contact@yourstore.example as the recipient. Then inspect the forwarding destination. If you send the message from that destination itself, you may have tested a loop instead of the intended incoming path.
If a test appears stuck, do not repeat it from the same sender and destination combination. Start a new check from a separate mailbox, or review the forwarding method with the mail provider that manages the domain. Do not assume that a message you cannot find was never sent; it may have been routed elsewhere, filtered, or held by the receiving mailbox.
Step 1: Check the route before editing settings
Use this sequence to isolate the failure. Check your own store’s current configuration rather than assuming every store uses the same forwarding arrangement.
- Record the sender. Note the mailbox that sent the test. Confirm it is not the address configured as the forwarding destination.
- Copy the displayed address exactly. Check spelling and the domain shown to customers. Avoid relying on an old note or a browser autofill entry.
- Confirm the expected destination. Identify the mailbox that should receive forwarded mail. Sign in to that mailbox directly rather than assuming that a forwarding address has its own inbox.
- Identify the forwarding method. Check whether the store uses BigCommerce built-in forwarding or a third-party email service. Do not configure both as if they were interchangeable; BigCommerce’s documentation says its built-in forwarding cannot be used alongside a third-party email service for the same setup.
- Send one controlled test. Use an independent sender and address the message to the store’s displayed address. Keep the subject recognizable so you can search for it.
- Search the destination. Check the inbox, spam or junk folder, archive, and any folders or rules that could move incoming mail. Mail-provider guidance recommends checking filters and folders when a message appears missing. (A provider’s steps for finding missing mail)
- Check sending and receiving guidance. If the message is not visible, use the sending mailbox’s help for sent or rejected messages and the destination provider’s help for missing messages. Sender configuration and recipient filtering are separate parts of delivery. (Email sender guidance for improving delivery)
Avoid making several changes at once. First confirm the displayed address and destination. Then verify the forwarding method. If you still cannot locate the test, consult the instructions for the service that controls your domain or destination mailbox. The names of settings and available options can vary with the current account setup.
| What you observe | Likely place to investigate | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing appears at the destination | Address, forwarding route, destination filters | Verify the recipient spelling and forwarding method, then search all destination folders |
| A message appears only in spam or another folder | Destination mailbox rules or filtering | Review the rule or filter that moved it; use your provider’s instructions before changing it |
| Forwarding seems to stall when sent from the destination | Test sender and forwarding loop | Repeat from a separate mailbox to the store’s displayed address |
| Forwarding works but an order notice is missing | Store order and notification flow | Run a separate test order and inspect the customer recipient’s mailbox |
| A message reaches a mailbox other than the expected one | Active mail service or destination configuration | Confirm which service currently handles the domain and where its forwarding is set |
These are troubleshooting leads, not proof of a particular cause. The same symptom can have different explanations depending on your domain host, mailbox provider, filters, and current store settings. Check the configuration that is actually active before replacing it.
The displayed store address may not have its own inbox
A displayed address can be a forwarding address without being an independent mailbox. In that arrangement, mail addressed to the store’s domain is redirected to an existing destination. You should therefore check both the address customers see and the mailbox where you expect forwarded messages to land.
This distinction matters when a test message seems to disappear. Signing in to a destination mailbox and finding nothing does not by itself show that the displayed address is invalid. The forwarding route may not be active, the message may be filtered, or another mail service may be handling the domain. Conversely, being able to send mail from a business mailbox does not prove that the store’s displayed address is configured to receive or forward messages.
If you use a third-party email service, follow that provider’s instructions for receiving mail and domain setup. BigCommerce’s documentation states that its built-in forwarding is not available at the same time as a third-party email service in this configuration. Avoid toggling between methods as an experiment unless you understand how your active mail service will be affected. If your domain’s mail settings are managed outside the store, confirm the required changes with that provider before editing them.
For a temporary test recipient, decide how long you need to access the message and whether the address is appropriate for the test. Msgforward’s mailbox lifetime planning guide can help you think through that decision. It does not replace checking whether your store permits the address or whether you can access it when needed.
Run a separate test for order confirmations
A forwarding check does not trigger or validate a customer order notification. To inspect an order confirmation, use BigCommerce’s supported test-order process and enter an email address you control as the test customer. Then check the order record, the store’s notification settings, and the receiving mailbox as separate checkpoints. BigCommerce provides instructions for creating a test order as part of testing store settings. (BigCommerce’s test-order instructions)
A controlled test helps you answer a limited question: did this store flow produce a notification for this test order, and did that test recipient receive it? It does not prove that all buyer mailbox services will accept or display the message in the same way. A buyer’s filters, mailbox rules, and provider handling can differ from your test environment.
Use this order when checking the notification:
- Create a test order using BigCommerce’s documented test process and a recipient address you can access.
- Confirm the order appears in the store’s order records.
- Review the relevant notification settings and make sure you are checking the message type you intended to test.
- Open the test recipient’s mailbox and search the inbox, spam or junk folder, and any filtered folders.
- Record whether the message was generated and where it appeared. If the order exists but the message is missing, investigate notification and mail-delivery settings rather than changing the domain forwarding address first.
The test address should be separate from a real customer’s account. Do not place a real order or use real buyer details merely to see whether an email arrives. If your store’s current interface or test-order options differ, follow the instructions shown in your account and BigCommerce’s current documentation.
Choose a test address that fits the job
A separate test address can keep one-off, low-risk messages out of your business inbox, but only use it when the store permits it and you can actually open the inbox. A temporary address is not a replacement for a mailbox that must remain under your control.
| Address option | Suitable use | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term business mailbox | Customer questions, orders, payments, store administration, and recovery messages | Keeps important business communication accessible, but test and service messages can add noise |
| Dedicated business test mailbox | Repeated order-notification checks and ongoing store operations tests | Requires someone to manage access and keep the test mailbox available |
| Temporary test inbox | A permitted, low-risk test when you only need to inspect a message | May not suit messages you need to retain, retrieve later, or use for account recovery |
Do not use a temporary inbox for buyer inquiries, payment notifications, store administration, or account recovery. If you lose access to the address, you could also lose access to follow-up messages. For an ongoing business process, use a mailbox your team can retain and manage.
For a single controlled test, keep the purpose narrow: use the address only to inspect the test message, record the result, and do not treat it as the store’s official customer contact. Msgforward’s privacy guidance for temporary email use can help you assess the trade-offs before choosing a separate test recipient. A temporary inbox cannot guarantee delivery or override your store’s or mailbox provider’s policies.
Frequently asked questions
Which address should send a forwarding test?
Use a mailbox that is separate from the forwarding destination. Send from that mailbox to the store’s displayed domain address, then inspect the configured destination. This tests the intended route without using the destination as the sender. BigCommerce warns that using the forwarding destination to test can cause a forwarding loop or leave the message stuck.
Does a missing forwarded message prove the address is wrong?
No. A typo is one possibility, but the message could also have gone to spam, been moved by a rule, or passed through a different mail service than expected. Check the exact displayed recipient and the destination, then verify whether built-in forwarding or a third-party service handles the domain. Change the address only after you have ruled out those route and mailbox checks.
What is the difference between forwarding and order confirmation testing?
Forwarding testing checks whether mail sent to the store’s displayed domain address reaches its destination mailbox. Order confirmation testing checks a message generated by the store after a test order. The sender, trigger, recipient, and settings are different, so success on one route cannot confirm delivery on the other. Use a separate, controlled test for each.
Can a temporary inbox receive a test order notification?
It may be suitable for a permitted, low-risk test if you can access the inbox and only need to inspect that message. Do not use it for real customer communications, payment notices, store administration, or account recovery. For those purposes, use a long-term mailbox your business controls and can continue to access.
If you are diagnosing a permitted test and only need a separate place to inspect a message, review Msgforward’s available temporary email options and confirm that the address is accessible for your test. Keep customer inquiries, orders, payment messages, and account recovery on a long-term business mailbox. That gives you a clean test without making a short-lived address part of your store’s operating contact path.
Frequently asked questions
Which address should send a forwarding test?
Send the test from a separate mailbox that is not the forwarding destination. Address the message to the store’s displayed domain address, then check the destination mailbox and its spam or filtering folders. Using the destination as the sender can create a forwarding loop, so it does not reliably test the route.
Does a missing forwarded message mean the store address is wrong?
Not necessarily. The destination may be mistyped, but the message could also be in spam, moved by a rule, or routed through a different mail service than you expect. Check the exact recipient and forwarding method before changing the address. If the store uses a third-party email service, verify its setup instructions.
How is a forwarding test different from an order confirmation test?
A forwarding test checks whether a message sent to the store’s displayed address reaches its destination mailbox. An order confirmation test checks a store-generated notification sent to the customer email on a test order. They involve different senders and routes, so a successful result for one does not confirm the other.
Can I use a temporary inbox to test BigCommerce order emails?
Only consider one for a permitted, low-risk test when you can open the inbox and the store setup allows that address. A temporary inbox cannot stand in for a controlled business address used for orders, customer inquiries, payments, administration, or account recovery. Those messages need a mailbox you can keep accessing.
Choose your next step by contact lifespan
Create a temporary mailbox for a single verification code; use a forwarding alias for recovery and notifications.