Office Settings & Configuration

Can Microsoft Word @Mentions Include Email Groups?

Steve K Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know if they can tag or @mention entire email groups or distribution lists in Microsoft Word document comments.

Can Microsoft Word @Mentions Include Email Groups?

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Tagging colleagues in document comments for team collaboration.
Observed behavior: Word's @mention autocomplete displays individual users but fails to suggest or recognize group email aliases.

Before you start

Ensure you are signed into your Microsoft 365 account and connected to the internet, as the @mention feature relies on your organization's active directory to fetch contact names.

Solution 1Recommended

Acknowledge the Limitation and Submit Feature Feedback

Currently, Microsoft Word only supports tagging individual users via @mentions. You can submit feedback to Microsoft to request this feature.

Microsoft Word's directory search for @mentions currently only queries individual user accounts. It does not support tagging distribution lists, Microsoft 365 groups, or generic email aliases.

Understand the limitation

Recognize that typing '@' followed by a group name will not populate the group in the suggestion drop-down menu.

Open the Feedback Portal

Launch Microsoft Word, navigate to the Help tab on the ribbon, and click on Feedback. Alternatively, visit the official Microsoft Feedback portal online.

Submit your request

Select 'I have a suggestion' and detail your request for supporting email groups in Word @mentions so the product team can consider it for future updates.

Acknowledge the Limitation and Submit Feature Feedback

Current Workaround: Until this feature is introduced, you will need to mention multiple individuals manually within your comments.

Solution 2

Manually @Mention Individual Group Members

Since group tags are unsupported, the most effective workaround is to tag the necessary individuals separately in your comments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why aren't my individual @mentions working in Word?

Individual @mentions require the document to be saved in OneDrive or SharePoint. If the file is saved locally on your computer, the @mention feature will be disabled.

Can I use @mentions in older versions of Word?

No, the @mention feature is primarily available to Microsoft 365 subscribers and requires cloud-based file storage. Older standalone versions like Word 2019 do not support this functionality.

Will the tagged person receive an email notification?

Yes, when you @mention an individual in a Word document saved to OneDrive or SharePoint, they will receive an automated email notification containing a link directly to your comment.

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