How to Resolve Outlook Send Error 5.7.50 Per Recipient Limit Exceeded

When you try to send an email in Outlook, you see the error 5.7.50 Per Recipient Limit Exceeded. This error means your email has too many recipients in the To, Cc, or Bcc fields. It is a server-side restriction set by your email provider or Exchange administrator to prevent spam and bulk sending. This article explains the cause of this send error and provides three practical methods to bypass or resolve the limit.

Why Outlook Shows the 5.7.50 Per Recipient Limit Exceeded Error

The error 5.7.50 is a rejection from the SMTP server. It occurs when the total number of recipients in your email exceeds the maximum allowed per message. In Microsoft 365, the default per-message limit is 500 recipients. For on-premises Exchange Server, the default is 1000 recipients. These limits exist to protect mail servers from overload and to reduce spam.

The server checks the sum of all addresses in the To, Cc, and Bcc fields. If you add 300 recipients in To and 300 in Cc, the total is 600, which exceeds a 500 limit. The server rejects the entire message, and Outlook displays the error in a non-delivery report or a send failure dialog.

Your organization may also set a per-recipient limit that is lower than the default. Administrators can configure this limit in Exchange Online or Exchange Server. If you see this error with a number lower than 500, your admin has set a custom limit.

Three Methods to Resolve the 5.7.50 Send Error

Choose one of the following methods based on your situation. Method 1 works for most users. Method 2 is best for recurring bulk sends. Method 3 requires administrator action.

Method 1: Split Recipients Into Smaller Batches

Reduce the number of recipients in a single email by sending multiple copies of the same message.

1. Count your total recipients
   Open the original email you are trying to send. Add the number of addresses in To, Cc, and Bcc. If the total exceeds 500, you need to split.
2. Create a new email for the first batch
   Click New Email in Outlook. Paste your message content. Add the first 50 to 100 recipients. Keep the total under your organization’s limit. For Microsoft 365, stay under 500.
3. Send the first batch
   Click Send. If the email goes through, repeat the process for the remaining recipients. Create a new email for each batch. Use the same subject line and body text.
4. Use Bcc for large lists
   If you do not want recipients to see each other, add all addresses to the Bcc field. Split Bcc addresses into batches as described above.

Method 2: Use a Distribution Group or Mailing List

A distribution group counts as one recipient regardless of how many members it contains. This method works only if your organization allows you to send to distribution groups.

1. Check if you can create a group
   In Outlook, go to the Home tab. Click Address Book. Click New Entry. Select Distribution List. If this option is missing, your admin controls group creation.
2. Create the distribution group
   In the Address Book, click File > New Entry. Choose New Distribution List. Give the group a name such as “All Customers Q3 2025.” Click Add Members and select recipients from your address book.
3. Send your email to the group
   Create a new email. In the To field, type the name of the distribution group. The group counts as one recipient. Click Send.

Method 3: Ask Your Administrator to Increase the Recipient Limit

If you regularly send to more than 500 recipients per message, an administrator can raise the limit. This change applies to your account or your entire organization.

1. Find your current recipient limit
   Send a test email to yourself with 501 recipients. If you get the 5.7.50 error, your limit is 500. If the error shows a different number, that is your limit.
2. Contact your Exchange or Microsoft 365 admin
   Send an email to your IT help desk or the person who manages your email. Include the exact error message and the number of recipients you need. Explain why you need a higher limit.
3. Admin changes the limit
   In Exchange Online, the admin goes to Exchange admin center > Mail flow > Settings. They adjust the “Maximum number of recipients per message” field. In on-premises Exchange, they use the Set-TransportConfig cmdlet. After the change, restart Outlook and try sending again.

If Outlook Still Shows the 5.7.50 Error After These Methods

Error persists after splitting into batches

If you split recipients but still get the error, you may have exceeded the daily recipient limit. Microsoft 365 has a default daily limit of 10,000 recipients per user. If you send 20 batches of 500 recipients each, you hit 10,000 and the server blocks further sends. Wait 24 hours or ask your admin to raise the daily limit.

Error appears when sending to a single recipient

If you get error 5.7.50 when sending to only one person, the problem is not the recipient count. Check if the recipient address is invalid or if your account is blocked. Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings > your email address > Repair. If that does not work, contact your admin.

Outlook shows the error but the email sends anyway

Some non-delivery reports arrive after the email is sent. If Outlook shows the error in a pop-up but the email still appears in Sent Items, check the recipient’s inbox. If the email is not there, the server rejected it. Use Method 1 to resend.

Item	Microsoft 365 Default	Exchange Server Default
Per-message recipient limit	500	1000
Daily recipient limit per user	10,000	No default (set by admin)
Per-message limit for distribution groups	500 members per group	1000 members per group
How to change limit	Exchange admin center > Mail flow > Settings	Set-TransportConfig cmdlet in Exchange Management Shell

You can now resolve error 5.7.50 by splitting your recipient list into smaller batches. For recurring bulk sends, use a distribution group to count all members as one recipient. If you need a permanent increase, ask your administrator to adjust the per-message or daily recipient limit in Exchange Online or Exchange Server. As an advanced tip, use the Bcc field with a distribution group to hide recipient identities while staying under the limit.