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Distribution list members discrepancy in Outlook

X-Box-11-2021 80 Reputation points
2023-07-27T06:15:00.3066667+00:00

Hi guys,

When users want to send an email to a distribution group they can see the number of recipients 54.

tracy1

However, when they click on the distribution list address the number of the recipients is 43.

tracy2

The real number of the members in that distribution list is 54.

Is it an outlook glitch or Outlook doesn't sync address book properly.

It happens to all users not just one.

Thanks.

Outlook
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A family of Microsoft email and calendar products.
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  1. Kael Yao-MSFT 37,576 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2023-07-28T02:15:50.17+00:00

    Hi @X-Box-11-2021

    Is this distribution group a regular distribution group or a dynamic distribution group?

    Are there some recent changes in the group membership?

    I would suggest:

    1.check if in OWA (Outlook on the web) it is the same behavior

    2.check in Exchange Online Powershell to double confirm if the member count is correct

    For distribution group:

    Get-DistributionGroupMember -Identity "Marketing USA"

    For dynamic distribution group:

    Get-DynamicDistributionGroupMember -Identity <DDGIdentity>

    3.check if this issue only happens on other distribution groups

    If in Powershell the result is correct and in OWA the issue persists, to my knowledge recently there have been several similar issues.

    If possible please consider creating a service request in Microsoft 365 admin center to contact support for further investigation on this issue.

    Thanks for your understanding.

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  2. X-Box-11-2021 80 Reputation points
    2023-07-31T08:03:19.77+00:00

    @Kael Yao-MSFT

    I was advised that the same issue is happening in Web Outlook.

    It is a distribution group with assigned membership (i.e. not dynamic).

  3. Mike Hiersche 0 Reputation points
    2023-10-11T18:18:54.98+00:00

    Are any of the members marked as hidden from the GAL? Members hidden from the GAL will get the email, but will not show up in the member list or when expanded if they are hidden

    You can check if they are hidden from the GAL by checking the msExchHideFromAddressLists attribute in AD or with the following command in Exchange Online PowerShell:

    Get-ExoMailbox -Identity User@domain.com -Properties HiddenFromAddressListsEnabled

    Or you can check in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center

    1. Go to Users > Active Users
    2. Search for and open the user
    3. Switch to the Mail tab
    4. Check the setting under "Show in global address list"
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