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

# Forwarding modes

> Anonymous forwarding by default, or control mode with per-sender rules and a held inbox.

Every alias runs in one of two modes. You set the mode per alias, so one address
can forward everything while another holds mail for review.

## Anonymous mode

The default. Maski receives a message, holds it briefly, forwards it to your
destination, and keeps nothing. There is no stored copy and no inbox to manage.

Anonymous mode still honours blocking. Block a sender, or add a rule that blocks a
pattern, and matching mail is dropped silently. Rules that would hold or route mail
collapse to a plain forward, because anonymous mode never retains anything.

Use anonymous mode when you just want a maskable address that forwards and forgets.

## Control mode

Available on Pro. Control mode adds per-sender rules and a held inbox, so you
decide what happens to each message instead of forwarding everything.

### Per-sender rules

A rule matches a sender and chooses an action:

* **Forward** — send it to your destination.
* **Block** — drop it silently.
* **Hold in inbox** — keep it in a dashboard inbox instead of forwarding, with an
  optional expiry.

A pattern is either a full address, `bob@example.com`, or a domain wildcard,
`*@example.com`. Rules are evaluated in priority order and the first match wins, so
put your most specific rules first. Reorder them by dragging in the dashboard.

Each alias also has a default action for mail that matches no rule, normally
forward. A Pro alias can flip the default to hold everything, which makes
forwarding an explicit per-sender choice.

### Held inbox

Mail held by a rule lands in a per-alias inbox in the dashboard. New messages
appear in real time. You read, release to your destination, or delete them, and
anything you leave expires automatically after its retention window (7 days by
default, adjustable from 1 to 30).

<Note>
  One hold happens on every plan, including free. If your destination keeps bouncing,
  Maski pauses forwarding and holds incoming mail so nothing is lost while you fix the
  address. Rule-driven holds remain a Pro feature.
</Note>

## Choosing a mode

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Use anonymous mode" icon="forward">
    You want a throwaway-friendly address that forwards and retains nothing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use control mode" icon="sliders">
    You want to block, sort, or triage senders and keep some mail out of your real
    inbox.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>