--- title: Using Send-MgUserMail to send emails in Powershell slug: send-mgusermail-powershell published: 2024-06-20T20:46:42.000Z updated: 2024-10-17T03:11:10.000Z feature_image: /blog/images/send-mgusermail-powershell/send-mgusermail-syntax-microsoft-learn.1600.webp feature_image_alt: Microsoft Learn documentation for the Send-MgUserMail cmdlet showing its PowerShell syntax author: James Futhey author_slug: james meta_description: "In this guide, we’ll learn how to automate email communications in Microsoft 365 using Send-MgUserMail to send emails, enhance productivity and streamline operations effectively." status: published --- We all know that effective communication is crucial, and **email remains vital for professional interactions.** For administrators and developers using Microsoft 365, automating email notifications, reports, and alerts is not just convenient but essential. Today, we’ll explore **Send-MgUserMail** to understand its capabilities, applications, and best practices, including sending emails using this cmdlet. Join us as we uncover the potential of Send-MgUserMail and **how it can empower your organization's email automation strategy.** ## What Is the Send-MgUserMail Cmdelt? Send-MgUserMail is a command in the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK, used to send emails on behalf of a Microsoft 365 user (similar to the Send-EmailMessage cmdlet in [PowerShell Utility](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.utility/send-mailmessage)). It allows administrators and developers to **automate the process of sending emails through scripts by leveraging Microsoft Graph API endpoints.** This command requires appropriate permissions, such as Mail.Send, for the user whose mailbox is being accessed. It's part of a broader suite of tools provided by Microsoft Graph to **manage and interact with Microsoft 365 services programmatically**, offering flexibility in handling tasks like user and group management, calendar events, and more, directly from the command line or scripts. Here’s the syntax of the [Send-MgUserMail cmdlet](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.graph.users.actions/send-mgusermail) and the meaning of each of its parameters: ```powershell Send-MgUserMail -UserId [-ResponseHeadersVariable ] [-AdditionalProperties ] [-Message ] [-SaveToSentItems] [-Headers ] [-PassThru] [-ProgressAction ] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [] ``` - **\-UserId <String>:** Specifies the user ID of the mailbox from which the email will be sent. - **\-ResponseHeadersVariable <String>:** Stores the HTTP response headers from the request in the specified variable. - **\-AdditionalProperties <Hashtable>:** Allows you to specify additional properties as a hashtable to be included in the request. - **\-Message <IMicrosoftGraphMessage>:** Defines the email message to be sent, including details such as recipients, subject, body, and attachments. - **\-SaveToSentItems:** Indicates whether the sent email should be saved to the user's Sent Items folder. - **\-Headers <IDictionary>:** Specifies custom HTTP headers to include in the request. - **\-PassThru:** Returns the created or modified object for further use in the pipeline. - **\-ProgressAction <ActionPreference>:** Specifies how progress is displayed to the user. - **\-WhatIf**: Shows what would happen if the command runs, without actually executing it. - **\-Confirm:** Prompts for confirmation before executing the command. ## What Can You Use the Send-MgUserMail Command For? The Send-MgUserMail command can be used for several purposes in managing and automating email tasks within Microsoft 365 environments, such as the following: 1. **Automated Notifications and Alerts:** Organizations often need to send automated notifications and alerts to users or administrators. Using Send-MgUserMail, you can script notifications for events such as system downtime, scheduled maintenance, or critical security alerts. 2. **Scheduled Reports and Status Updates:** IT administrators often need to send scheduled reports or status updates to management or team members. With Send-MgUserMail, you can schedule PowerShell scripts to generate reports and email them automatically. 3. **User Provisioning and Onboarding:** During user onboarding or provisioning processes, it's common to send welcome emails, setup instructions, and policy reminders. Send-MgUserMail can be integrated into scripts to automate these communications, reducing manual effort and ensuring consistency. ## Prerequisites to Run the Send-MgUserMail Command If you want to run Send-MgUserMail without inconvenience, it’s important to comply with these prerequisites: **1\. Microsoft Graph Version 2.0 or higher:** Make sure you have [Microsoft Graph version 2.0](https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/Microsoft.Graph/2.0.0) or higher installed to use the new parameters and functionality provided by the command. **2\. Authentication and Permissions:** There are a few permissions you’ll need in order to run this command, which, according to [Microsoft’s website](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/permissions-reference), include the following: - **Delegated Permissions (Work or School Account):** You need the Mail.Send permission, which allows the script to send emails on behalf of the signed-in user. - **Delegated Permissions (Personal Microsoft Account):** Similar to work or school accounts, you need the Mail.Send permission. - **Application Permissions:** Currently, application permissions are not available for sending emails using this command. **3\. Email Format:** You can send the message specified in the request body using either JSON or MIME format. When using JSON format, you can include a file attachment in the same sendMail action call. When using MIME format, the method saves the message in the Sent Items folder. You can also create a draft message to send later. ## How to Use Send-MgUserMail to Send Emails in PowerShell Now, in order to start email messaging within PowerShell using this command, follow these quick three steps. ### Step 1: Install Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK Before you can use the Send-MgUserMail command, you need to install the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK if it's not already installed. This SDK provides cmdlets that **enable you to interact with Microsoft 365 services**, including sending emails through Microsoft Graph APIs. To install the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK, run this command on PowerShell: ```powershell Install-Module -Name Microsoft.Graph ``` After installation completes, you can **verify that the module is installed** by listing all installed modules using this command: ```powershell Get-Module -Name Microsoft.Graph -ListAvailable ``` ### Step 2: Authenticate and Obtain Permissions Now, **before we can send emails** using the Send-MgUserMail command, you need to authenticate to Microsoft Graph and obtain the necessary permissions. Run the following command to initiate the authentication process and request the necessary Mail.Send permission: ```powershell Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "Mail.Send" ``` This command will prompt you to sign in using your Microsoft 365 account credentials and grant the required permissions. ### Step 3: Send an Email by Executing the Command Now that you have installed the SDK, authenticated, and obtained the necessary permissions, you can use the Send-MgUserMail command to send an email. Take a look at the following example: ```powershell Import-Module Microsoft.Graph.Users.Actions $params = @{ Message = @{ Subject = "Go for a walk?" Body = @{ ContentType = "Text" Content = "Let’s walk by the park in an hour!" } ToRecipients = @( @{ Email Address = @{ Address = "simon@meetingroom365.com" } } ) CcRecipients = @( @{ EmailAddress = @{ Address = "james@meetingroom365.com" } } ) } SaveToSentItems = "false" } # A UPN can also be used as -UserId. Send-MgUserMail -UserId $userId -BodyParameter $params ``` This command **sends a basic email** with the subject "Go for a walk?", and the body "Let’s walk by the park in an hour!" to simon@meetingroom365.com. Additionally, it sends a copy of the email to james@meetingroom365.com, and does not save the email to the Sent Items folder. By following these steps, you can effectively use the Send-MgUserMail command to send emails programmatically in your Microsoft 365 environment using PowerShell. Keep in mind that the emails can **be further modified according to your needs**, including changing the list of recipients, identifiers, and more. ## Sending Emails with Send-MgUserMail in PowerShell Send-MgUserMail from the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK is a versatile tool that allows administrators and developers to **automate email communication effectively** within Microsoft 365 environments. Whether you're automating notifications, delivering scheduled reports, or facilitating user onboarding, Send-MgUserMail offers the **flexibility and reliability needed to meet diverse business needs.**