How to Administer a Microsoft 365 Group

Summary

This article explains how to administer a Microsoft 365 Group at Bowdoin College, including how to change group settings, and control who can send email to the group. It is intended for group owners who need to maintain their group using Outlook on the web..

Body

Questions

  • How do I manage a Microsoft 365 Group?
  • How do I change who owns a Microsoft 365 Group?
  • How do I update the settings for my Microsoft 365 Group?
  • How do I control who can send email to a group?
  • How do I make a Microsoft 365 Group private or public?
  • How do I see who is in my Microsoft 365 Group?
  • Can I manage my Microsoft 365 Group from Outlook on the web?
  • How do I change the name or description of a Microsoft 365 Group?
  • How do I leave or delete a Microsoft 365 Group?

Environment

This article applies to Bowdoin College faculty and staff who are owners of a Microsoft 365 Group. Group management is performed through Outlook on the web or the Microsoft 365 admin center. Personal devices are supported on a best-effort basis only.

  • Who: Faculty and staff who own a Microsoft 365 Group
  • Devices: Bowdoin-issued MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac Mini, Dell Laptop, Dell Desktop
  • OS: macOS Sequoia (15.x), macOS Tahoe (26.x) or newer; Windows 11
  • Access method: Outlook on the web (outlook.office.com) or the Microsoft 365 admin center
Note: Students are not typically owners of Microsoft 365 Groups. If you need a group created or believe you should be an owner, submit a request through the Service Catalog.

Resolution

Access Your Group Settings in Outlook on the Web

  1. Open a web browser and go to outlook.office.com. Sign in with your Bowdoin email address and password.
  2. In the left navigation panel, scroll down to find Groups. Expand the section to see groups you belong to.
  3. Click the name of the group you want to manage.
  4. In the group panel that opens, click the Settings icon (gear icon) or select Edit group near the top of the panel. This option is only visible if you are an owner of the group.

Add or Change Group Owners

  1. Open a web browser and go to outlook.office.com. Sign in with your Bowdoin credentials.
  2. In the left navigation panel, expand Groups and click the name of the group you want to manage.
  3. Click Members in the group header area.
  4. Find the person you want to make an owner. Click the ellipsis (...) or More options icon next to their name.
  5. Select Make owner. The person will now appear under the Owners section of the member list.
  6. To remove owner status from someone (without removing them from the group), click the ellipsis (...) next to their name and select Remove as owner.
Note: Every Microsoft 365 Group should have at least one active owner. If the original owner leaves Bowdoin, contact the IT Service Desk to transfer ownership.

Edit Group Name, Description, or Privacy Setting

  1. Open a web browser and go to outlook.office.com. Sign in with your Bowdoin credentials.
  2. In the left navigation panel, expand Groups and click the name of the group you want to manage.
  3. Click the Settings or Edit group option in the group header. This is only visible to group owners.
  4. In the edit panel, you can update the Group name and Description fields by clicking into them and typing your changes.
  5. To change the privacy setting, find the Privacy dropdown. Select Public (anyone at Bowdoin can join and see content) or Private (only approved members can access content).
  6. Click Save to apply your changes.

Control Who Can Send Email to the Group

By default, anyone inside Bowdoin can send email to a Microsoft 365 Group. As a group owner, you can restrict this so that only members can send email to the group.

  1. Open a web browser and go to outlook.office.com. Sign in with your Bowdoin credentials.
  2. In the left navigation panel, expand Groups and click the name of the group you want to manage.
  3. Click Settings or Edit group in the group header.
  4. Look for the option labeled Let people outside the organization email the group or a similar sending permissions toggle, and enable or disable it as needed.
  5. For more advanced send-as or send-on-behalf permissions, contact the IT Service Desk, as those settings require administrative access.

Leave or Delete a Microsoft 365 Group

  1. Open a web browser and go to outlook.office.com. Sign in with your Bowdoin credentials.
  2. In the left navigation panel, expand Groups and click the name of the group.
  3. To leave the group, click the ellipsis (...) or More options icon in the group header and select Leave group.
  4. To delete the group entirely, you must be an owner. Click Edit group, then scroll to the bottom of the settings panel and select Delete group.
Warning: Deleting a Microsoft 365 Group permanently removes all associated content, including the shared mailbox, SharePoint site, and any connected Teams workspace. This action cannot be easily undone. Contact the IT Service Desk before deleting if you are unsure.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.

Additional Resources

 

 

AI-assisted content: This article was created with AI. It was verified and edited by a human.

Details

Details

Article ID: 173586
Created
Tue 6/23/26 9:34 AM
Modified
Tue 6/23/26 9:51 AM

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