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Get Read Receipt for Shared Mailbox when "Copy Items sent as this Mailbox" is unchecked

Regis, Joyson 20 Reputation points
2025-12-16T21:25:52.6366667+00:00

Hi Team,

I have a Shared Mailbox and "Copy Items sent as this Mailbox" is unchecked.

Multiple Users have access to this Mailbox and I am not sure who sent 7000+ emails but like to get Read receipt.

Is it possible to get the read receipt details without the original email? Also is it possible to check who sent those 7000 emails?

Thanks,

Exchange Online
Exchange Online

A cloud-based service included in Microsoft 365, delivering scalable messaging and collaboration features with simplified management and automatic updates.

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Anonymous
2025-12-17T00:45:51.7333333+00:00

Hi @Regis, Joyson

Thank you for posting your question in the Q&A Forum.

I see that the Q&A Assist AI has already provided a general overview of how read receipts and message tracking work when the “Copy Items sent as this Mailbox” feature is unchecked. Please refer to the response provided by Q&A Assist AI for the details. 

To clarify further, when sent items are not retained in the shared mailbox, checking individual users’ Sent Items is not reliable. This is because messages sent Send As a shared mailbox may not be saved in their Sent Items at all. 

To track who sent the emails, your administrator should use the following audit tools: 

  • Message Trace in Exchange Online: This is the most reliable option. It tracks message delivery details, including the sending user, timestamp, and status, regardless of whether the message was saved in the Sent Items. 
  • Audit Search in Microsoft Purview Compliance Portal: This tool allows you to check for SendAs or SendOnBehalf activity, which can help pinpoint who sent the messages on behalf of the shared mailbox. 

However, audit logs (such as SendAs activity) are retained for a limited time (typically around 90 days depending on your license), so it’s important to act quickly to retrieve this information. 

For detailed guides, your IT Admin can refer to the official Microsoft documentation: 

I hope this helps! Let me know if you need further assistance. 

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  1. Regis, Joyson 20 Reputation points
    2025-12-17T13:02:14.3633333+00:00

    Hi Jade,

    Thanks for the response and information. I will trace the emails but like to view the "Read Receipt" of the emails which is already send by a User from Shared Mailbox.

    How can I access the read receipt details once the email has been delivered?

    Thanks,

    Joyson

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  2. AI answer

    2025-12-16T21:26:10.8266667+00:00

    To obtain read receipts for emails sent from a shared mailbox when the "Copy Items sent as this Mailbox" option is unchecked, you would typically need to have the original emails to track their read status. Without the original emails, it is not possible to get the read receipt details directly, as read receipts are tied to the specific messages sent.

    As for identifying who sent the 7000+ emails from the shared mailbox, you would need to check the sent items folder of the shared mailbox. However, since the option to copy sent items is unchecked, those emails may not be stored in the shared mailbox's sent items. If the emails were sent by users with access to the shared mailbox, you might need to check the individual users' sent items if they have been configured to keep a copy.

    In summary, without the original emails, obtaining read receipts is not feasible, and tracking who sent the emails would require access to the sent items of the users who sent them, provided those items were saved appropriately.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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