How do I join an Office 365 Distribution Group?

Overview

This article will show you how to join an Office 365 Distribution Group. This service is also known as "distribution lists" and you may have heard them called this as well.

Note from Microsoft: Beginning in August 2023, managing distribution groups will no longer be possible from Outlook on the web. Microsoft recommends the use of Microsoft 365 Groups. Managing distribution groups is now done through Exchange Admin Center, for administrators. Non-administrators can do so through the Groups page. 

Before you begin...

  • You must know the name or email address of the distribution group you would like to join.
  • Pay attention to the following types of distribution group types:
    • For Open groups, you may join or leave the group at any time without group owner action.
    • For groups with Owner approval turned on, you may request to join the group but your membership will not be granted until the group owner approves.
    • Closed groups cannot be joined by anyone and any new users must be added by the group owner.

Instructions

  1. Open Outlook Webmail by going to https://email.msudenver.edu in a web browser.
  2. Login with your MSU Denver email address and password if not already logged in.
  3. Click the gear icon in the top right-hand corner.
  4. Go to General then Distribution groups.
  5. Wait for the page to load, it may take a minute.You will then see the notice from Microsoft encouraging the use of Microsoft 365 Groups.
  6. Click on this portal on the line "To manage distribution groups, visit this portal."
  7. Under the section titled "Distribution groups I belong to" click the Join button.
  8. Click on magnifying glass next to "Search" in the  "All groups" accessibility side panel 
  9. Type in the name or email address of the distribution group you wish to join.
  10. Click the magnifying glass or hit enter on your keyboard.
  11. Once you have found the correct group, click the group and click the Join button at the top.

Result

You will receive a notice that you have joined the group successfully. If you get any other sort of error message, try again or make sure that the group you are trying to join is not a Closed group. You will receive all emails sent to this distribution group.

Print Article