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Do Microsoft Lists People Columns Send Notifications?

Natalie Taylor Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to know if assigning a coworker to a People or Group column in Microsoft Lists automatically triggers an email or Teams notification, as the default behavior does not seem to alert the user.

Do Microsoft Lists People Columns Send Notifications?

Product: Microsoft Lists
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Assigning users to tasks or items within a Microsoft List using the People or Group column and expecting them to be alerted.
Observed behavior: Adding someone to the People or Group column does not reliably send a notification, whereas mentioning them via @username in item comments does.

Before you start

Verify that all intended recipients already have the correct permissions to access the Microsoft List, as email alerts containing item links will require authorization to view.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Power Automate Workflow for Notifications

Since the People column does not natively send alerts, you must use Microsoft Power Automate to trigger custom emails or Teams messages when a user is assigned.

Power Automate bridges the functionality gap by monitoring your list for changes and automatically messaging the user whose name was added to the People column.

Open Power Automate

From your Microsoft 365 dashboard or directly within your List's 'Integrate' > 'Power Automate' menu, select 'Create a flow'.

Choose a Flow Trigger

Select 'Automated cloud flow' and set your trigger to 'When an item is created or modified' in SharePoint (which powers Microsoft Lists).

Set the Notification Action

Add a new step and search for the 'Send an email (V2)' or 'Post message in a chat or channel' action.

Configure Dynamic Content

Click into the 'To' or 'Recipient' field and select the dynamic content corresponding to your People column's Email Address. Customize your subject and message body.

Save and Test

Save your workflow and test it by modifying a list item and assigning a coworker to the People column.

Create a Power Automate Workflow for Notifications

Prevent Spam: Be careful when using the 'created or modified' trigger without conditions. You may want to add a Condition step so the email only sends if the People column specifically has changed.

Solution 2

Use Comment Mentions Instead

If you prefer not to build a Power Automate flow, use the built-in commenting feature to notify coworkers directly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the People column in Microsoft Lists not send an email automatically?

The People column is primarily a metadata field designed to store user information and manage list views or filters. Unlike the comments feature, it is not programmed to trigger a communication alert by default.

Do recipients receive an alert if I assign them in a connected Planner task?

Yes. If your list is integrated with Microsoft Planner or To Do, native assignments in those applications trigger standard assignment notifications. However, standalone Microsoft Lists require Power Automate.

How do I ensure Power Automate notifications don't go to the Junk email folder?

Ensure that the recipients' email addresses are correct and that emails originating from Power Automate (often sent via microsoft@powerautomate.com or similar system addresses) are whitelisted in your organization's email settings.

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