Permission & Access Issues

How to Invite External SharePoint Users with an Alias Email Address

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 13, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know if they can invite an external guest to SharePoint using the guest's alias email address instead of their primary email, and how this affects the displayed sign-in attributes.

How to Invite External SharePoint Users with an Alias Email Address

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Inviting external users to collaborate on SharePoint resources using their alias email addresses.
Observed behavior: The user needs to verify if the alias email can be used for the invitation and whether the directory will display the alias or the user's primary identity after the guest account is successfully created.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary administrator privileges in Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) to add external guest users and modify tenant directory settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Add the Alias as a Guest User in Microsoft Entra ID

Use Microsoft Entra ID to invite the guest user with their alias email. This ensures the guest account is properly provisioned in your directory before accessing SharePoint.

By inviting the user directly through Microsoft Entra ID, you can explicitly define the email address used for the invitation. While the guest account can initially display the alias address used, the final displayed sign-in and primary identity attributes often depend on how the external tenant's directory is configured.

Access Microsoft Entra ID

Navigate to Users

In the left-hand navigation pane, select 'Users', and then click on 'All users'.

Create a New Guest User

Click on 'New user' at the top of the page, then select 'Invite external user' from the dropdown menu.

Enter the Alias Address

In the identity section, enter the external user's alias email address into the Email field, fill in their display name, and configure any necessary welcome message.

Send and Verify

Click 'Invite' to send the invitation. Once accepted, check the directory to verify whether the alias or the external user's primary identity is displayed.

Add the Alias as a Guest User in Microsoft Entra ID

Test in a Controlled Environment: Because sign-in behaviors and identity resolution depend heavily on the external organization's configuration, it is highly recommended to test this process with a single alias in a controlled environment before rolling it out broadly.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Collaboration

While managing SharePoint external user access requires Microsoft admin configurations, you can use WPS Office as a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for creating, editing, and sharing your collaborative documents with external partners easily.

1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and open the document, spreadsheet, or presentation you want to share.
2. Click the Share Button: Locate and click the 'Share' button in the upper right corner of the application window.
3. Configure Access Settings: Set the permission level to 'Anyone with the link can edit' or 'Anyone with the link can view' based on your external collaborator's needs.
4. Copy and Send the Link: Click 'Copy Link' and send it directly to your external guest's alias email address for immediate access.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formats.Built-in cloud sharing features for effortless external collaboration without complex directory setups.Lightweight installation ensuring fast startup and smooth performance.Free to use with a familiar user interface, minimizing the learning curve for new external guests.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can the invited guest sign in using their alias email address?

Yes, typically they can sign in using the alias if it is configured as a valid proxy address in their home tenant. However, depending on their Identity Provider's setup, they might be prompted to use their primary User Principal Name (UPN) during the actual authentication process.

Will the SharePoint directory display the alias or the primary email address?

The displayed address in your directory usually depends on how the external tenant's identity attributes are synchronized. It may initially show the alias used for the invitation, but could resolve to their primary identity after they accept the invitation and authenticate.

Can I change a guest user's email address in SharePoint after inviting them?

You cannot directly change the email address of an existing guest user in Microsoft Entra ID or SharePoint. If an email address needs to be updated, you must delete the existing guest account and send a new invitation to the correct alias or primary address.

Document & File Issues