ARCHIVED: When I reply to an email message, how is the recipient decided?

When you reply to an email message, the destination of your reply depends on the mail program you're using and the nature of the email you received. Very old email clients may ignore the "Reply-to:" field. In general, if your mail program offers a "Reply-to:" option in the heading when you mail a message, then it will respect the "Reply-to:" lines in incoming messages.

Workstation-based email clients

If you are using a modern email client such as Mozilla Thunderbird, Mac OS X Mail, or Microsoft Outlook, a normal reply will automatically be sent to the address in the "From:" or (if it has been specified) the "Reply-to:" field. If you want to reply to everyone in the "To:" and "CC:" fields, choose Reply All or Reply to All.

When you reply to a distribution list, your message is sent to the entire list, not just to the original sender.

Web-based email clients

If you are using IU Webmail or Outlook Web Access (OWA), your reply will automatically be sent to the originator of the message, using the "Reply-to:" address if applicable. If you want to reply to all the users who received the message, click Reply to all.

Other Unix mail programs

Most Unix mail programs (like BSD Berkeley mail) and almost all newsreaders will look for a "Reply-To:" address before looking for the "From:" address when you reply to a message.

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