Forward e-mails after Office 365 account expires?

[Deleted]

Due to a company reorganisation several Office 365 accounts will be terminated. However, I would like to avoid that e-mails sent to these accounts after termination are lost.

Is there a way to auto-forward these e-mails to a new account (at least for a limited period of time) after termination? Or install an automatic response like "please contact xxx@xxx.com" instead.

Thank you for your support!

Sören

[#2]

Hi @Deleted,

You can create transport rules on Exchange Online console to do that.

[#3]

You can also convert tja mailboxes to shared if tou want ti retail the mails and use license somewhwre else

[#4 · Accepted solution]

You have a number of options

1.) With rules (as said)
2.) Convert to Shared and then give other full permissions over the mailbox (as said)
3.) Convert to Shared and then set forwarders to different accounts
4.) Convert to Shared, remove the mail address and repurpose that address for a mail alias on another mailbox or a distribution list

I would recommend any of these actions over an auto response.

Best, Chris

[#5]

Hi Adam,

Thnak you for the quick response. However, that part of the company is sold, so the licenses are not required anymore.

Please confirm if it is possible to convert the e-mail address of an Office 365 to a mailbox with auto-forwarding? So this would be a one-time configuration issue without extra cost like license?

Best regards,

Sören

[#6]

Hi @Deleted

Yes, see above

3.) Convert to Shared and then set forwarders to different accounts

Shared mailboxes are free

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/office365/admin/email/convert-user-mailbox-to-shared-mailbox?redirectSourcePath=%252fen-us%252farticle%252fConvert-a-user-mailbox-to-a-shared-mailbox-2e122487-e1f5-4f26-ba41-5689249d93ba&view=o365-worldwide

Remember to remove the licence after doing the conversion

Best, Chris

[#7]

Hi Christopher and everyone else!

Thank you for all these helpful responses! We will try to set up the affected accounts as suggested!

Best regards,

Sören

[#8]

Although the licenses aren't required for the Shared Mailbox, keep in mind, if any of your users have over 50GB after converting they will require an exchange license for the Shared Mailbox if you want them to keep receiving e-mail.

Most likely this isn't the case, but just a technicality to be aware of :P.
Tony Redmond has a great article covering the ins and outs of the licensing: https://www.petri.com/licensing-exchange-online-shared-mailboxes