cPanel can restrict individual mailbox functions without immediately deleting the mailbox or its stored messages.
- Open cPanel → Email → Email Accounts.
- Locate the mailbox and select Manage.
- Find the Restrictions section.
- Choose the appropriate setting for incoming mail, outgoing mail, or login access.
- Save the updated email settings.
Available restriction types
- Receiving Incoming Mail — Allow/Suspend: Suspended receiving causes the server to reject incoming messages for the account.
- Sending Outgoing Mail — Allow/Suspend/Hold: Suspend rejects outgoing messages. Hold retains outgoing messages in the server queue until sending is allowed again.
- Logging In — Allow/Suspend: Suspended login prevents the user from authenticating to the mailbox.
When incoming or outgoing behavior is restored, retest the mailbox. If outgoing mail was placed on Hold, changing it back to Allow permits the server to deliver the queued messages.
Forwarding impact: cPanel documents that suspending an email account can also disable aliases or forwarders that redirect mail to that account.
