{"id":7,"date":"2012-06-17T05:30:00","date_gmt":"2012-06-17T05:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pheonixsolutions.com\/?p=7"},"modified":"2026-09-05T10:13:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T04:43:11","slug":"mailscanner-allow-extensions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pheonixsolutions.com\/blog\/mailscanner-allow-extensions\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Allow DOCX, XLSX, APP, and Other File Extensions in MailScanner"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n

MailScanner is a popular email security solution used on Linux and cPanel servers to protect users from spam, malware, viruses, and potentially dangerous email attachments. By default, MailScanner blocks certain file types based on predefined security rules to prevent malicious files from reaching users’ inboxes.<\/p>\n

However, there are situations where legitimate business files such as Microsoft Word documents (.docx<\/code>), Excel spreadsheets (.xlsx<\/code>), application packages (.app<\/code>), or other custom file formats need to be sent and received through email. In such cases, administrators must modify MailScanner’s configuration to allow specific file extensions.<\/p>\n

This guide explains two methods for allowing blocked file extensions in MailScanner, either for a single domain or server-wide for all domains hosted on the server.<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n

Solution 1: Disable MailScanner Protection for a Specific Domain<\/h2>\n

If only one domain needs to send or receive restricted file types, the easiest solution is to disable MailScanner scanning for that domain.<\/p>\n

Steps<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Log in to cPanel<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  2. Navigate to:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Email \u2192 MailScanner Configuration<\/code><\/pre>\n
      \n
    1. Locate the domain name.<\/li>\n
    2. Under the Spam Scanning<\/strong> option, select:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      No<\/code><\/pre>\n
        \n
      1. Under the Virus Scanning<\/strong> option, select:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        No<\/code><\/pre>\n
          \n
        1. Save the configuration.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          Result<\/strong><\/p>\n
          MailScanner will no longer scan emails for that domain, allowing users to send and receive all file types without attachment restrictions.<\/p>\n
          \n
          Note:<\/strong> This method reduces email security for the selected domain and should only be used when necessary.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
          \n
          \n<\/div>\n
          Solution 2: Allow Specific File Extensions Server-Wide<\/h2>\n
          If you want all domains hosted on the server to send and receive specific file types, update the MailScanner filename rules.<\/p>\n
          Step 1: Connect to the Server<\/strong><\/p>\n
          Log in as root via SSH.<\/p>\n
          ssh root@server-ip<\/code><\/pre>\n
          \n
          \n<\/div>\n
          Step 2: Locate the MailScanner Rules File<\/strong><\/p>\n
          On most cPanel servers:<\/p>\n
          \/etc\/MailScanner\/filename.rules.conf<\/code><\/pre>\n
          Some installations may use:<\/p>\n
          \/etc\/MailScanner\/filename.rules.conf<\/code><\/pre>\n
          Verify the exact file location before making changes.<\/p>\n
          \n
          \n<\/div>\n
          Step 3: Edit the Configuration File<\/strong><\/p>\n
          vi \/etc\/MailScanner\/filename.rules.conf<\/code><\/pre>\n
          Search for the section containing existing allow<\/strong> rules.<\/p>\n
          \n
          \n<\/div>\n
          Step 4: Add the Required Extensions<\/strong><\/p>\n
          To allow Microsoft Office files and other extensions, add:<\/p>\n
          allow \\.docx$ - -\nallow \\.xlsx$ - -\nallow \\.app$ - -\nallow \\.x(ml)?\\d{0,}\\.rel$ - -<\/code><\/pre>\n
          Additional examples:<\/p>\n
          allow \\.pptx$ - -\nallow \\.csv$ - -\nallow \\.json$ - -\nallow \\.xml$ - -\nallow \\.zip$ - -<\/code><\/pre>\n
          \n
          \n<\/div>\n
          Important Formatting Note<\/strong><\/p>\n
          When entering these rules:<\/p>\n
          allow \\.docx$ - -<\/code><\/pre>\n
          Use the TAB key<\/strong> between the fields.<\/p>\n
          Correct:<\/p>\n
          allow[TAB]<\/span>\\.docx$[TAB]<\/span>-[TAB]<\/span>-<\/code><\/pre>\n
          Incorrect:<\/p>\n
          allow \\.docx$ - -<\/code><\/pre>\n
          Using spaces instead of tabs may cause MailScanner to ignore the rule.<\/p>\n
          \n
          \n<\/div>\n
          Step 5: Restart MailScanner<\/strong><\/p>\n
          After saving the file:<\/p>\n
          service MailScanner restart<\/code><\/pre>\n
          or on newer systems:<\/p>\n
          systemctl restart MailScanner<\/code><\/pre>\n
          \n
          \n<\/div>\n
          Verify the Configuration<\/h2>\n
          Send a test email containing one of the newly allowed file types:<\/p>\n