How to Fix @Mentions Not Working with Guest Users in Word Online
Question details
Users are unable to use or receive @mentions in Word Online comments when working as or with guest or external users.
- Product
- Word Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Collaborating on Microsoft Word documents with external clients or guest users across different tenants.
- Observed behavior
- Guest and external users cannot be tagged using @mentions, and they cannot use @mentions in files that reside outside their own home tenant.
Verify whether the users you are attempting to tag belong to your internal organization or if they are external guest accounts, as Office web apps treat these differently.
Use Direct File Sharing Instead of @Mentions
Since @mentions are unsupported for external accounts, use the direct sharing feature to grant access and notify the guest user.
Office web apps currently restrict the @mention functionality to users within your own tenant. To ensure external collaborators are notified and can access the document, you should share the file directly.
Click the 'Share' button located in the top right corner of the Word Online interface.
Type the full email address of the guest or external user you wish to collaborate with.
Add an optional message explaining what they need to review, then click 'Send' to notify them directly via email with a secure link to the document.
Submit Feedback to Microsoft
Request official support for guest user @mentions directly from Microsoft to help prioritize future updates.
Collaborate Seamlessly with WPS Office
Avoid tenant restrictions and complex guest permission issues. WPS Office provides a lightweight, free alternative with excellent collaboration tools and seamless Microsoft Word format compatibility.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install and Launch: Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software and open WPS Writer.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Easily open your existing .docx files and start collaborating via shared links without external tenant restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I @mention an external client in my Word document?
Office web apps currently restrict the @mention feature to users within your organization's tenant. External and guest users are not supported for @mentions in comments.
Can guest users mention me if I own the document?
No, guest users cannot use @mentions in files that reside outside their own tenant, even if they have full edit access to your document.
Is there any workaround to notify an external user in a comment?
Currently, there is no direct workaround within the commenting system itself. You must share the document directly via the Share button or send an email to notify them of updates.
