Office Settings & Configuration

Can You Delay @Mention Notifications in Word and PowerPoint?

Maira Mehtab Oct 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know if there is a way to schedule or delay the email notifications triggered by using @mentions in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint comments.

Can You Delay @Mention Notifications in Word and PowerPoint?

Product: Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reviewing and commenting on collaborative documents outside of normal working hours without disturbing colleagues with immediate notification emails.
Observed behavior: Microsoft 365 sends @mention notifications immediately upon posting a comment, lacking any native delayed-send or scheduling feature for document alerts.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into your Microsoft 365 account and check your current notification preferences online to understand how your organization handles automated email alerts.

Solution 1Recommended

Workaround: Add Comments First, Tag Colleagues Later

Since Microsoft Office does not offer a delayed notification feature, the most practical workaround is to write your comments during off-hours but wait to add the @mention tags until regular working hours.

By separating the review process from the notification process, you can work at any time without sending disruptive late-night or weekend emails to your team.

Review out-of-hours

Open your Word or PowerPoint document and navigate to the relevant section you want to review.

Insert comments without tagging

Go to the 'Review' tab on the ribbon and click 'New Comment'. Type your feedback, but deliberately leave out the @mention tag.

Save your progress

Post the comment and save your document. Continue your off-hours review process normally.

Tag colleagues during work hours

When regular working hours resume, reopen the document, edit your previously saved comments, and type '@' followed by your colleague's name to trigger the notification at an appropriate time.

Workaround: Add Comments First, Tag Colleagues Later

Notification Timing: The notification email is triggered the moment the edited comment containing the new @mention is posted.

Solution 2

Submit a Feature Request to Microsoft

Because this is a recognized limitation in Microsoft 365, submitting direct feedback can encourage developers to introduce a scheduled-mention feature in future updates.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless and Free Document Collaboration

If you are looking for a highly compatible, lightweight, and cost-effective office suite, WPS Office provides excellent commenting and collaboration tools without the heavy subscription fees of Microsoft 365.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download and install WPS Office for free on your device.
2. Open Your Office Files: Open your existing .docx or .pptx documents directly in WPS Office without worrying about format distortion.
3. Collaborate with Ease: Navigate to the 'Review' tab to add comments, track changes, and collaborate efficiently with your team.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) and PowerPoint (.pptx) file formats.Robust built-in commenting and document review features for team collaboration.Free and lightweight alternative to Microsoft 365.Familiar user interface ensuring a zero-learning-curve transition.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Are @mention email notifications always sent immediately in Microsoft 365?

Yes. Currently, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel process and send @mention notification emails almost instantly once the comment is posted. There is no built-in delay or scheduling tool for these automated alerts.

Does Outlook's 'Delay Delivery' feature apply to Word and PowerPoint comments?

No. Outlook's scheduled send or delay delivery settings only apply to emails composed and sent directly from the Outlook application. They do not intercept or delay automated system notifications generated by Office document mentions.

Can I turn off @mention emails completely?

You can manage your personal notification preferences in your Microsoft account settings online to stop receiving mention emails. However, this only affects the emails you receive, not the notifications sent to others when you tag them.

Will my colleagues be notified if I resolve a comment they are tagged in?

Generally, resolving a comment thread does not trigger a new email notification alert in standard configurations, though this can sometimes vary based on your organization's specific Microsoft 365 tenant settings.

Office App Problems