File Sharing Problems

How to Stop Excel and OneDrive Shared File Email Notifications

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to disable automated email notifications sent by OneDrive when collaborators post or reply to comments in a shared Excel file.

Product: Microsoft Excel / OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Collaborating on a shared Excel file using a personal OneDrive account where active comments are triggering excessive emails.
Observed behavior: OneDrive automatically sends email notifications for every comment or reply, and there is no visible setting to turn this off on a personal account.

Before you start

Check if you are using a personal OneDrive account or an enterprise/business account, as notification settings and administrative controls vary depending on your Microsoft subscription type.

Solution 1Recommended

Manage comments directly in the shared Excel file

Since personal OneDrive accounts do not have a built-in disable button for these notifications, reducing the number of comments is the primary workaround.

Email alerts for comments in shared documents are currently a built-in, mandatory feature for personal OneDrive accounts. To stop the emails, you must address the comments themselves.

Communicate with collaborators

Ask your team to avoid leaving unnecessary comments in the shared document and use alternative messaging apps instead.

Resolve or delete comments

Open the shared Excel file, locate the active comment threads, and resolve or delete them once a discussion is finished to prevent further replies from triggering emails.

By Design Feature: Microsoft designed this feature to draw attention to important changes, so it cannot currently be turned off with a toggle switch on personal accounts.

Solution 2

Submit feedback to Microsoft regarding notification settings

Let Microsoft know that a toggle button for comment email notifications is a needed feature for personal users.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I receiving email notifications from OneDrive?

OneDrive automatically sends an email notification whenever a collaborator posts a new comment or replies to an existing comment in a shared document. This is a built-in feature designed to keep all members updated on document changes.

Is there a disable button for comment notifications on personal OneDrive accounts?

Currently, personal OneDrive accounts do not feature a direct disable button for shared file comment notifications. This behavior is by design, requiring users to manage comments manually to stop the emails.

How do I stop the notifications if I cannot disable them in settings?

The most effective workaround is to ask your collaborators to stop adding comments to the shared Excel file. Once the existing comments are resolved or deleted, the automated email notifications will stop.

Can I turn off OneDrive comment notifications for enterprise accounts?

Yes, unlike personal accounts, enterprise or business OneDrive accounts often have more granular notification controls in the OneDrive web settings where specific email alerts can be toggled off.

Document & File Issues