Understanding SIP and SPO Proxy Addresses in Microsoft 365 Exchange
Question details
The user needs to understand the purpose of SIP and SPO proxy address types within the Microsoft 365 Exchange admin center and how they should be managed.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 / Exchange
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Administering Microsoft 365 users and viewing proxy addresses in the Exchange admin center.
- Observed behavior
- SIP and SPO proxy addresses are generated and visible in the Exchange admin center alongside standard SMTP addresses.
Ensure you have Exchange Administrator privileges before accessing user mailboxes, and note that system-generated proxy addresses should be left as default unless troubleshooting a specific service failure.
Identifying and Managing Microsoft 365 Proxy Addresses
Learn the specific functions of SIP, SPO, and SMTP addresses and follow best practices to prevent service disruption.
In the Microsoft 365 Exchange admin center, proxy addresses determine how different cloud services route communication to a specific user. SIP addresses are dedicated to supporting Microsoft Teams functions such as calling, meetings, and presence tracking. SPO addresses are utilized by SharePoint Online and other interconnected Microsoft 365 cloud services.
Locate the 'SIP' prefix in the user's proxy addresses to identify routing rules assigned to Microsoft Teams.
Locate the 'SPO' prefix, which manages permissions, routing, and interactions for SharePoint Online services.
Look for the uppercase 'SMTP' label to find the user's primary email address. Secondary email aliases will be labeled with a lowercase 'smtp'.
Do not manually delete or modify SIP or SPO addresses. Leave them intact unless you receive specific, direct instructions from Microsoft Support.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does uppercase SMTP mean compared to lowercase smtp?
In the Exchange admin center, uppercase SMTP identifies the user's primary email address used for sending and receiving messages. Lowercase smtp entries are used to identify secondary email aliases associated with that mailbox.
Can I delete a SIP address if the user does not use Microsoft Teams?
No, it is highly recommended not to manually delete or modify SIP addresses. Even if Teams isn't actively used by the individual, modifying these system-generated addresses without guidance from Microsoft Support can cause unexpected backend synchronization issues.
What happens if an SPO proxy address is accidentally removed?
Removing an SPO proxy address can break integrations, file access, and routing for SharePoint Online and other connected Microsoft 365 cloud services for that specific user account.
