Fix Microsoft Lists and SharePoint Email Notifications Using Wrong Sender
Question details
Users need a solution for an issue where automated email notifications from Microsoft Lists and SharePoint display the rule creator's personal email address as the sender instead of the expected system service address.
- Product
- Microsoft Lists and SharePoint Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Setting up and receiving automated email notifications for new items or changes within a list.
- Observed behavior
- Automated emails are incorrectly sent from the account of the person who created the automation rule rather than the generic SharePoint Online service address.
Ensure you have the appropriate site permissions to edit list settings and manage alerts within your Microsoft Lists or SharePoint environment.
Use the "Alert Me" Feature for Notifications
Configure notifications through the traditional "Alert Me" menu to bypass the recent automation rule behavior change and use the default service address.
Recent updates to Microsoft's service behavior have caused list automation rules to send emails from the rule creator's address. To restore the standard sender behavior, you can use the legacy alert system.
Navigate to the specific Microsoft List or SharePoint list where you want to configure notifications.
Click on the ellipsis (...) menu located at the top command bar of the list view.
Choose "Alert me" from the dropdown menu to open the alert configuration panel.
Set up your notification preferences, specifying the conditions and frequency for the alerts, then click "OK" to save your settings.
Report the Sender Behavior Change to Microsoft
If the "Alert Me" workaround does not resolve the sender email issue, provide feedback directly to the Microsoft SharePoint development team.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my SharePoint alerts coming from my personal email address?
Recent updates to Microsoft Lists and SharePoint automation rules have altered sender behavior. Automated emails triggered by standard rules are now often sent using the email credentials of the person who created the rule instead of a generic system address.
Can I manually change the sender email address in SharePoint automation rules?
Currently, default automation rules in Microsoft Lists do not allow you to manually specify or override the sender address. The best workaround is to utilize the traditional 'Alert Me' feature, which defaults to the standard SharePoint Online service address.
Are SharePoint 'Alert Me' emails different from 'Automate' rules?
Yes. 'Alert Me' is a legacy SharePoint feature that typically relies on the system's standard service address (such as no-reply@sharepointonline.com) for notifications. Newer 'Automate' rules integrate with modern list architectures, which may use the creator's account to dispatch emails.
