Send & Receive Issues

How to Remove 'On Behalf Of' from Outlook.com Alias Emails

Olivia Miller Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users want to remove the 'on behalf of' tag that appears to recipients when sending emails from a non-Outlook alias configured in their Outlook.com account.

How to Remove 'On Behalf Of' from Outlook.com Alias Emails

Product: Outlook.com
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Sending an email using a third-party email alias that is connected to an Outlook.com account.
Observed behavior: Recipients see 'on behalf of [Outlook.com address]' in the sender field instead of seeing only the alias email address.

Before you start

Ensure you have the correct SMTP server details, including the server address, port number, and encryption method (SSL/TLS), from your non-Outlook email provider before updating your settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure the Alias to Use the Provider's SMTP Server

Prevent Outlook.com from using its own servers by configuring the connected alias with your third-party email provider's direct SMTP settings.

Outlook.com displays 'on behalf of' when it is forced to send mail through its own Microsoft servers instead of the address's native SMTP server. By updating your connected account settings to route outgoing mail through your original provider's server, you can eliminate this message.

Access Outlook Settings

Log in to your Outlook.com account on a web browser. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner, then select 'View all Outlook settings'.

Navigate to Sync Email

Go to 'Mail' and then select 'Sync email' to view your connected accounts and aliases.

Update Alias Settings

Locate the non-Outlook alias causing the issue. If it is configured as a connected account, click the edit (pencil) icon.

Enter Provider's SMTP Details

Select the option to manually configure your server settings. Input your email provider's specific SMTP server address, outgoing port, and authentication credentials, then save your changes.

Configure the Alias to Use the Provider's SMTP Server

Testing Your Setup: Send a test email to another address you own to verify that the 'on behalf of' tag no longer appears in the sender details.

Solution 2

Send Emails Directly Through Your Email Provider

If Outlook.com cannot successfully connect to your provider's SMTP server, send messages directly from that provider's native webmail to avoid the wording.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the 'on behalf of' message suddenly start appearing?

This usually occurs if the connection to your third-party provider's SMTP server was lost or if security settings changed, forcing Outlook.com to fall back on its own Microsoft servers to deliver your outgoing mail.

Does this happen with Microsoft-owned aliases like Hotmail or Live?

No. If your alias uses a Microsoft domain (@hotmail.com, @live.com, or @msn.com), emails are routed natively through Outlook servers, and the 'on behalf of' tag generally does not appear. This issue is specific to external, non-Microsoft domains.

Where can I find my email provider's SMTP settings?

You can typically find your SMTP server address, outgoing port number, and required SSL/TLS settings in your specific email provider's official support documentation or within their webmail account settings menu.

Outlook & Email Problems