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Are you running into message rate limits in Office 365? You’re not alone! Microsoft enforces limits to prevent spam and excessive email traffic.
But don’t worry! There are ways to increase or work around these limits. Let’s explore how you can do it.
Understanding Office 365 Message Limits
Before we begin, let’s quickly go over some key limits:
- Recipient Rate Limit: 10,000 recipients per day
- Message Rate Limit: 30 messages per minute
- Recipient Limit per Message: 500 recipients
Microsoft sets these restrictions to ensure fair usage and reduce spam. If you find yourself needing more, there are solutions.
Ways to Increase the Limit
1. Upgrade to an Enterprise Plan
Some lower-tier Office 365 plans have stricter limits. Upgrading to an enterprise plan can give you more flexibility.
For instance, Exchange Online Plan 2 provides better limits than basic plans.
2. Use a Dedicated SMTP Relay
If you need to send a high volume of emails, consider setting up an SMTP relay.
- Microsoft allows authenticated SMTP relay.
- This lets you send more messages without hitting restrictions.
- It’s useful for automated services, applications, and bulk email needs.
You may need to configure an SMTP connector in Exchange Online for this.
3. Distribute Emails Over Time
Instead of sending all emails at once, spread them out!
Here are some ways to do it:
- Use email scheduling features.
- Send messages in smaller batches.
- Use Power Automate or scripts to control sending pace.
This prevents Microsoft from throttling your email activity.
4. Use a Third-Party Email Service
For businesses that need to send more emails, third-party services like SendGrid or Mailgun are great options.
These services offer:
- Higher sending limits.
- Better email deliverability.
- Advanced features like email tracking.
They integrate well with Office 365 and help bypass Microsoft’s restrictions.
5. Request a Limit Increase
In some cases, Microsoft may allow exceptions based on your account and sending history.
To request an increase:
- Sign in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
- Go to Support and create a new request.
- Explain your need for higher limits.
While there’s no guarantee, it’s worth a try, especially for large businesses.
Final Thoughts
Office 365 limits emails to fight spam and abuse. But with the right strategies, you can send more emails without disrupting your workflow.
Try upgrading your plan, using SMTP relays, or even third-party services. And if needed, contact Microsoft for an increase.
Happy emailing!
