SharePoint Alerts

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SharePoint Alerts

Joe M 0

For the "brains" at Microsoft: Why is the Alert Me functionality ending in SharePoint? This hairbrained idea is causing significant workflow issues in my organization. To make matters worse, rather than just turning this important feature off (dumb idea, BTW!), it's phased out so the functionality is hit or miss. It has caused me to miss several important and timely updates. Microsoft products are among the most inconsistent and complex things in the software industry today. Please bring this feature back immediately or provide a better solution!

Joe M 0 Reputation points

2026-03-09T16:18:41.63+00:00

The thing it, it does the OPPOSITE of streamlining operations. It removes functionality and is a step backwards. Why does Microsoft insist on making their products unnecessarily complex and lacking consistency?!
Kai-L 11,255 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-09T21:12:49.46+00:00

Dear @Joe M,
Thank you for sharing your feedback, and I completely understand your frustration. It can be incredibly challenging when changes to a product feel like they’re complicating operations rather than improving them.

Microsoft’s goal with product updates is to improve functionality and user experience, but I recognize that some changes can feel like a step backwards, especially when features you rely on are altered or removed. While updates and changes are often made to streamline certain workflows or add new capabilities, it’s not uncommon for these adjustments to impact how familiar tools work in the short term.

If you haven’t already, I recommend submitting detailed feedback through the SharePoint · Community. Product teams rely on feedback like yours to better understand user needs and to adjust features in future updates. The more feedback they receive about specific pain points, the better they can prioritize fixes or improvements.

I appreciate your patience as these changes take shape, and I hope future updates will better align with your needs. If there’s anything else I can assist with or any specific concerns you'd like to address, feel free to reach out. Wishing you a great day ahead, and thanks again for your valuable input!

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Joe M 0 Reputation points

2026-03-09T16:18:41.63+00:00

The thing it, it does the OPPOSITE of streamlining operations. It removes functionality and is a step backwards. Why does Microsoft insist on making their products unnecessarily complex and lacking consistency?!
Kai-L 11,255 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-09T21:12:49.46+00:00

Dear @Joe M,
Thank you for sharing your feedback, and I completely understand your frustration. It can be incredibly challenging when changes to a product feel like they’re complicating operations rather than improving them.

Microsoft’s goal with product updates is to improve functionality and user experience, but I recognize that some changes can feel like a step backwards, especially when features you rely on are altered or removed. While updates and changes are often made to streamline certain workflows or add new capabilities, it’s not uncommon for these adjustments to impact how familiar tools work in the short term.

If you haven’t already, I recommend submitting detailed feedback through the SharePoint · Community. Product teams rely on feedback like yours to better understand user needs and to adjust features in future updates. The more feedback they receive about specific pain points, the better they can prioritize fixes or improvements.

I appreciate your patience as these changes take shape, and I hope future updates will better align with your needs. If there’s anything else I can assist with or any specific concerns you'd like to address, feel free to reach out. Wishing you a great day ahead, and thanks again for your valuable input!

Answer 1

Dear @Joe M,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum.

I understand your frustration with the retirement of the "Alert Me" functionality in SharePoint, and I’m really sorry to hear that it’s causing disruptions in your workflows. While this change is intended to improve overall functionality, I know it can be difficult when such important features are retired without a smooth transition.

I can't stress enough the importance of your feedback in this scenario. I strongly recommend that you share your detailed experience and feedback directly with the Microsoft product team through their official feedback channels. This is the most effective way to make your voice heard and influence future feature improvements and adjustments.

You can visit the SharePoint · Community to submit a new idea or vote on existing one. Our product team is in charge of the site, and they constantly check customer reviews and feedback. The higher votes, the more attention the related team will pay, and a lot of the features are developed and improved based on customer feedback. As a moderator, I will also pass along your feedback to the appropriate team for further consideration. While I don't directly influence product design, user feedback is actively reviewed and helps prioritize future development. If you’re unable to submit feedback yourself, please feel free to reach out to me, and I’ll be happy to submit it on your behalf.

I really understand how convenient this feature would be for your workflow. I want you to know that I wish I had a way to change it for you directly but as a moderator of Q&A forum, my ability to assist is with the existing product functionality and the power to influence its design rests entirely with our product development team. I appreciate your kindness and understanding as we deal with these evolutionary product changes. Please get in touch if you need anything else. I wish you the best, and I hope things improve for you soon!

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