At some point between August and September, all instances of Microsoft Forms will start sending automated email using the from address "no-reply@forms.mail.microsoft."
And there will be great rejoicing throughout admin land, because that no-nonsense, self-explanatory address will be replacing the much-hated "maccount@microsoft.com."
Since at least 2017, Microsoft has used the maccount address for emails ranging from less vital (notifications about forms) to what could be enterprise-critical (authentication codes) to the persistent confusion of users specifically trained to spot strange-looking "from" addresses.
Over the years, users have turned to Reddit (many, many times) and various Microsoft forums in an attempt to figure out whether it is a real address.
Because Microsoft sometimes used it for its own spammy-seeming promotion, it was regularly user-reported, leading to false positives. But admins who opted to hard-write it would pay the price in phishing and scams.
The end is nigh, says MC1427970
Last week, in notification MC1427970, Microsoft blandly announced that "Microsoft Forms will change its automated email sender from maccount@microsoft.com to no-reply@forms.mail.microsoft."
It did not say why. It made no reference to years of complaints. It included no mention of a migration for other Microsoft products.
When The Stack reached out with questions, Microsoft said it had nothing to add beyond that customer notification.
But it appears that Microsoft may – finally! – be standardising automated email to a "no-reply" form, removing one tiny bit of friction from the everyday admin burden.
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