How to receive a notification of a document change in SharePoint

Question

I need a notification from SharePoint when a spreadsheet I have shared has been modified. When I create an alert, the dialog box indicates that SharePoint Alerts are being retired in 2026. What is the new process for receiving these notifications?

Answer 1

Hi @Cameron Jaeger,  

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. 

Based on your information, you are finding a replacement for the retiring SharePoint Alerts feature that allows you to receive modification notifications for a single, specific spreadsheet. 

Therefore, after checking, I can confirm that the two recommended processes for receiving notifications are SharePoint Rules and Power Automate. 

• SharePoint Rules: This is the simpler, more direct replacement for basic alerts (e.g., "notify me when any file changes in this library"). 
• Power Automate (Flow): This is the flexible replacement used for more complex scenarios, like getting a notification for a single, specific file. 

Please review the two workarounds below and choose the one that best suits your workflow. 

Option 1/ Use SharePoint rules 

This method is the simple replacement for classic alerts. It allows you to get a notification when any file in a library is changed, added, or deleted. 

Note: The primary limitation of Rules is that they apply to the entire library. You cannot use this method to get a notification for only one specific file. 

• Go to the SharePoint Document Library where your spreadsheet is located. 
• On the command bar at the top, select Automate > Rules > Create a rule. 
• In the "Create a rule" panel, select a condition. For your case, the best option is "An item is modified". 
  
• The rule statement will appear: "When an item is modified, send email to...". 
• Click the name "Me" to change who gets the notification. You can enter your own name, the person who created the item, or the person who last modified the item. 
• Click Create. 

This rule is now active and will send you a simple notification email whenever any file or item in that library is modified. 

Option 2/ Use Power Automate (for Specific Files) 

To replicate your specific request, to be notified when only one specific spreadsheet is modified—you must use Power Automate. 

This tool allows you to build a custom "flow" with a conditional trigger that only runs when your specific file is changed. It is more powerful but also more complex to configure. 

For detailed, step-by-step instructions on setting up this type of advanced flow, we advise visiting the Microsoft Power Platform Community Forum Thread, where you can get assistance from experts and find existing templates.

This forum is dedicated to Power Automate and is supported by a knowledgeable community, including Microsoft experts and partners. By posting there, you'll have access to more specialized resources and insights, which can help resolve your issue more effectively. 

I hope this information is helpful. Please follow these steps and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can work together to resolve this.  

Thank you for your patience and your understanding. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.  

I'm looking forward to your reply.

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