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Fix SharePoint Designer 2013 Workflow Email Action Not Working

Maira Mehtab Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an error when a SharePoint Designer 2013 workflow attempts to send an email from a SharePoint list.

How to Fix SharePoint Designer 2013 Workflow Email Action Not Working

Product: SharePoint Designer 2013
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Executing a workflow to send an email notification based on SharePoint list activity.
Observed behavior: The workflow fails and displays an error message instead of successfully dispatching the email.

Before you start

Before proceeding with advanced troubleshooting, ensure you have a copy of the exact error message and a screenshot of your current workflow configuration.

Solution 1Recommended

Escalate to Microsoft Q&A Specialists

Because SharePoint Designer workflows involve complex enterprise configurations, escalating to Microsoft's specialized Q&A forum is the most effective way to find a tailored resolution.

SharePoint 2013 workflow issues often stem from backend server configurations, Active Directory sync issues, or deprecated features that require administrator-level diagnostics.

The Microsoft Community forum typically handles consumer products, making the specialized Microsoft Q&A platform the correct venue for SharePoint developer and administrator queries.

Document the error

Take a screenshot of the exact error message displayed in SharePoint Designer and note down your specific workflow configuration steps.

Navigate to Microsoft Q&A

Open your web browser and go to the official Microsoft Q&A portal at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/.

Submit your question

Click on 'Ask a question', apply the relevant 'SharePoint' tags, and paste your workflow configuration details along with the error description to get assistance from Microsoft specialists.

Include necessary details: Always include your SharePoint environment type (On-Premises or Online) and the specific trigger conditions of your workflow when asking your question.

Solution 2

Verify Workflow Recipient and Configuration Parameters

Often, email actions fail because the recipient fields are improperly configured or lack valid email addresses in the directory.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my SharePoint 2013 workflow email fail intermittently?

Intermittent failures are often caused by SMTP server timeouts, blocked ports, or throttling limits on your Exchange server. Verifying the SMTP service health and server load is recommended.

Do I need special permissions to send emails via SharePoint workflows?

Yes, the user account executing the workflow must have adequate permissions to read the list items, and the recipient must have a valid email address recognized by the SharePoint directory.

Will SharePoint 2013 workflows be supported indefinitely?

No, Microsoft has deprecated SharePoint 2013 workflows in newer environments (like SharePoint Online) and recommends migrating to Power Automate for future-proofing your automation tasks.

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