Routing
What Is Split Delivery and When Do You Need It?
Quick Answer
Split delivery sends copies of incoming mail to two mail systems at once, typically used temporarily while migrating to Google Workspace. It should generally be turned off once migration is complete, since leaving it active can cause duplicate or missing mail.
Split delivery is a legitimate, useful tool during a transition period, but it is meant to be temporary. Left active indefinitely, it tends to cause more confusion than it resolves.
Common Causes
- Split delivery left active well after migration was actually completed.
- Both systems configured to receive mail, but only one being actively checked, so messages appear to go missing.
- Duplicate mail causing confusion about which copy is authoritative.
Safe Troubleshooting Steps
- Confirm whether split delivery is currently active in your routing configuration.
- If migration is complete, disable split delivery and route mail only to Workspace.
- If still migrating, set a clear end date for when split delivery will be turned off.
What to Verify
- You know whether split delivery is currently active.
- If active, there is a clear reason and end date for it.
When Professional Help May Be Useful
If it is unclear whether split delivery is still needed or was simply never turned off, reviewing current routing configuration can clarify this quickly.