Skip to Content
IdentityUser GroupsDistribution Lists

Distribution Lists

Distribution Lists are email-only groups for sending messages to multiple recipients. They have no access control capabilities and can include external contacts as members.

Overview

Distribution Lists are designed purely for email distribution. Unlike Security Groups and M365 Groups, they cannot be used for access control, license assignment, or application permissions.

Use cases: All-staff announcements, department newsletters, external communication lists

Distribution List vs Other Group Types

FeatureDistribution ListSecurity GroupM365 Group
Email deliveryYesOnly if mail-enabledYes
Access controlNoYesYes
License assignmentNoYesYes
External contactsYesNoLimited
SharePoint/TeamsNoNoYes

Creating a Distribution List

Click “Add Group” and select Distribution type:

  • Display Name — Name shown in the address book
  • Email Address — The group email alias
  • Description — Optional description
  • Owners — Users who can manage membership
  • Members — Initial members (users and contacts)

Mail-Enabled Security Groups

Mail-Enabled Security Groups are a hybrid of security and distribution groups. They provide both access control and email distribution capability.

Use cases: SharePoint site access + email notifications to the same group

Managing Members

  • Add users, other groups, and external contacts as members
  • Manage owners who can modify the membership list
  • Nested groups are supported for hierarchical distribution

API Reference

  • GET /api/user-management-identity/groups?type=distribution — List distribution lists
  • POST /api/user-management-identity/groups — Create new distribution list
  • GET /api/user-management-identity/groups/:groupId/members — Get members
  • POST /api/user-management-identity/groups/:groupId/members — Add members
  • DELETE /api/user-management-identity/groups/:groupId/members/:userId — Remove member
Last updated on
All GroupsM365 Groups