Msn email alerts in sharepoint
A blast from the past!
MSN Email Alerts in SharePoint refers to the ability to receive email notifications when certain events occur in a SharePoint site or list. This feature was popular in the early days of SharePoint, especially when SharePoint was still using MSN as its default email service.
Here's how it works:
- Configure MSN Email Alerts: In SharePoint, you can configure email alerts for specific lists, libraries, or sites. You can set up alerts to notify you when new items are added, updated, or deleted.
- MSN Email Service: SharePoint uses the MSN Email Service to send these alerts to your email inbox. You need to have an MSN email account to receive these alerts.
- Alert Settings: When you configure an alert, you can specify the frequency of the alerts (e.g., daily, weekly, or immediate) and the email address to which the alerts should be sent.
- Alert Notifications: When an event occurs that triggers the alert (e.g., a new item is added to a list), SharePoint sends an email notification to your MSN email account.
While MSN Email Alerts were convenient, they have some limitations:
- Dependence on MSN Email Service: SharePoint relies on the MSN Email Service to send these alerts. If the service is down or experiencing issues, you may not receive your alerts.
- Limited customization: MSN Email Alerts have limited customization options, making it difficult to tailor the alerts to your specific needs.
- Security concerns: Using MSN Email Alerts may raise security concerns, as it requires sharing your email credentials with SharePoint.
In recent years, Microsoft has introduced alternative notification mechanisms in SharePoint, such as:
- SharePoint Alerts: A more robust and customizable alert system that allows you to set up alerts for specific events, such as changes to a list or library.
- Microsoft 365 Groups: A feature that enables you to create groups for collaboration and notification purposes.
- Microsoft Flow: A workflow automation tool that allows you to create custom notifications and workflows.
While MSN Email Alerts are still available in some older SharePoint versions, it's recommended to use the newer notification mechanisms for better security, customization, and reliability.