Use email aliases without losing access to your accounts

Understand where the message goes

Firefox Relay describes its masks as addresses that forward messages to your real inbox. Its dashboard lets you create and label masks and control unwanted messages. Read the Relay explanation for the current limits and availability rather than assuming every feature is included everywhere.

SimpleLogin also documents an alias-to-inbox model, with controls for receiving and replying through an alias. The precise features depend on the service and account. Its product documentation is a starting point for understanding those choices, not a reason to move every account immediately.

Start with one low-stakes account

A practical first test is a newsletter or an account you can comfortably recover another way. Create an alias, label it with the service’s name, and check that a confirmation message arrives. Keep the address in your password manager or existing account notes so you can identify it later.

Using a different alias for each service can make your own records clearer. When an unwanted message arrives, the receiving alias tells you which address was used. It does not, by itself, prove who shared the address or how the sender obtained it. Avoid turning that clue into an unsupported accusation.

Test replies and recovery before relying on it

Check whether your chosen plan supports replying through an alias and whether the recipient sees the expected sender address. Test with another inbox you control. Do not assume that manually composing a new message from your normal inbox preserves the mask.

Check account-recovery and attachment requirements too. Mozilla specifically cautions against using Relay masks for identity verification and certain very important messages. Its examples include financial, medical and travel communications. See the provider’s usage guidance before changing a critical contact address.

Keep the delivery route working

Think of the setup as a dependency chain. The website needs a working contact address, the alias service needs a working destination, and you need access to the destination inbox. When planning a change, inspect all three rather than only the account’s visible email field.

Before disabling an alias, check whether it is still used for password resets, receipts or ongoing support. For an account you intend to keep, update its address and test delivery first. For an account you intend to close, follow its closure process rather than assuming that stopping email closes the account.

Keep expectations specific

The forwarding provider becomes another party in your email workflow. Review its privacy terms and recovery options before relying on it. A mask is a way to reduce routine exposure of a contact address, not a substitute for protecting the inbox or deciding what other information you share.

Sources and further reading

1. Firefox Relay: How masks work and when to use them Consulted 27 September 2026.
2. SimpleLogin: How email aliases work Consulted 27 September 2026.

Consult the linked documentation for current details. Settings, availability and interface labels may change.