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What Do Microsoft’s New Exchange Online Email Limits Mean for You?
Starting April 2025, Microsoft will enforce outbound email limits for Exchange Online tenants. Why? To curb abuse and ensure fair use across its platform. This change affects how many emails a tenant can send, depending on their license count. Let’s break it down.
What’s Changing?
Microsoft introduced the Tenant External Recipient Rate Limit (TERRL). It caps the number of outbound emails based on the number of licenses your organization holds. Think of it as a safeguard against spamming or bulk emailing that could clog up resources.
- Purpose: Prevent misuse and maintain service reliability for all users.
- Who’s Affected: Tenants with fewer licenses will see stricter limits.
Microsoft doesn’t support bulk emailing through Exchange Online, but there’s an option for high-volume senders via specialized offers.
Rollout Timeline (Updated)
The enforcement was initially set for March 2025 but has been delayed by a month. Here’s the updated schedule:
- April 3, 2025: Tenants with ≤25 licenses
- April 10, 2025: Tenants with ≤200 licenses
- April 17, 2025: Tenants with ≤500 licenses
- May 1, 2025: All remaining tenants
After this phased rollout:
- May 30, 2025: EAC reporting enabled for monitoring email activity.
- June 30, 2025: Full enforcement begins across all tenants.
If your organization sends a lot of emails, you might need to rethink your strategy. Smaller tenants will face tighter restrictions first, so plan ahead:
- Monitor Usage: Use the EAC report to track email activity starting in May.
- Explore Alternatives: For bulk email campaigns, consider dedicated marketing platforms like Mailchimp or SendGrid.
- Upgrade Licenses: If you’re hitting limits often, adding more licenses could help.
This isn’t just about rules—it’s about balance. Microsoft wants to ensure that everyone gets reliable service without misuse bogging things down. If you’re a small business or heavy email sender, this might feel restrictive, but it’s manageable with the right tools and planning.