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How to Use the Automatic Distribution List Expansion for Outlook

This is a step-by-step guide for how to send an email using automatic distribution list expansion for the Web Add-in and the Web App.

Using this, you can:

  • Send a single campaign using more than one expansion method
    • Graph, Exchange Online, and EWS are all supported in a single send. See this Help Center article to determine the type of list you are trying to send to; all are supported as long as your ContactMonkey Admin has approved those permissions in Settings → Integrations → General.
  • No longer manually decide which permission/expansion method to use — this is now done for you.

Sending with the Web Add-in

  1. Create a new message in Outlook
  2. Open the Web Add-in and click the gear icon above Send & Track
  3. If automatic expansion is enabled, you will no longer see the Default expansion method section
  4. Click Home to navigate back to the previous page
  5. Set up your email as you usually would, and click Send & Track when you're ready to send
Screenshot 2026-08-11 at 9.17.35 AM.png

 

Note: If a distribution list is added to the To field that is no longer authenticated, the campaign will still send to the remaining recipients and you will also receive an email with the failed email address(es) listed. Ask your ContactMonkey admin to re-authenticate the correct permissions by going to Settings → Integrations → and sign in to the Graph Backend or Exchange Admin Backend tiles.

Sending with the Web App

Ensure that your ContactMonkey Admin has set up the Azure Distribution List sync first.

  1. Click Emails at the top of the ContactMonkey dashboard
  2. Select Compose & Send
  3. Insert the necessary information for your email
  4. Under Azure Lists, choose the distribution list(s) that you want to send to
    • These can be a mix of distribution list types, not specified to a single expansion method
  5. Click Send now when you're ready to send
Screenshot 2026-08-10 at 11.54.57 AM

Note: If you try to select a distribution list under Azure Lists that is no longer authenticated, you will see the warning in the image below. Ask your ContactMonkey admin to re-authenticate the correct permissions by going to Settings → Integrations → and sign in to the Graph Backend or Exchange Admin Backend tiles.