Managing Distribution Lists in Exchange Online

Distribution lists (DLs) let you send email to multiple recipients with a single address. Manage them in the Exchange admin center (admin.exchange.microsoft.com) under Recipients > Groups. To create a DL: click Add group > Distribution list. Enter a name, email address, and add owners and members. Owners can be given permission to manage membership themselves, reducing admin workload. Set "Require owner approval to join" if you want controlled membership. For modern scenarios, consider Microsoft 365 Groups instead of traditional DLs — they include a shared mailbox, calendar, SharePoint site, and Teams workspace. DLs remain useful for simple email distribution without the overhead of a full group. Audit membership quarterly to remove departed employees and keep lists current.