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Send-MailMessage

SYNOPSIS

Sends an email message.

SYNTAX

Send-MailMessage [-Attachments <String[]>] [-Bcc <String[]>] [[-Body] <String>] [-BodyAsHtml]
 [-Encoding <Encoding>] [-Cc <String[]>] [-DeliveryNotificationOption <DeliveryNotificationOptions>]
 -From <String> [[-SmtpServer] <String>] [-Priority <MailPriority>] [-ReplyTo <String[]>] [[-Subject] <String>]
 [-To] <String[]> [-Credential <PSCredential>] [-UseSsl] [-Port <Int32>] [<CommonParameters>]

DESCRIPTION

The `Send-MailMessage` cmdlet sends an email message from within PowerShell.

You must specify a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server or the `Send-MailMessage` command fails. Use the SmtpServer parameter or set the `$PSEmailServer` variable to a valid SMTP server. The value assigned to `$PSEmailServer` is the default SMTP setting for PowerShell. For more information, see about_Preference_Variables (../Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_Preference_Variables.md).

> [!WARNING] > The `Send-MailMessage` cmdlet is obsolete. This cmdlet does not guarantee secure connections to > SMTP servers. While there is no immediate replacement available in PowerShell, we recommend you do > not use `Send-MailMessage`. For more information, see > Platform Compatibility note DE0005 (https://aka.ms/SendMailMessage).

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Send an email from one person to another person

Send-MailMessage -From 'User01 <user01@fabrikam.com>' -To 'User02 <user02@fabrikam.com>' -Subject 'Test mail'

The `Send-MailMessage` cmdlet uses the From parameter to specify the message's sender. The To parameter specifies the message's recipient. The Subject parameter uses the text string Test mail as the message because the optional Body parameter is not included.

Example 2: Send an attachment

Send-MailMessage -From 'User01 <user01@fabrikam.com>' -To 'User02 <user02@fabrikam.com>', 'User03 <user03@fabrikam.com>' -Subject 'Sending the Attachment' -Body "Forgot to send the attachment. Sending now." -Attachments .\data.csv -Priority High -DeliveryNotificationOption OnSuccess, OnFailure -SmtpServer 'smtp.fabrikam.com'

The `Send-MailMessage` cmdlet uses the From parameter to specify the message's sender. The To parameter specifies the message's recipients. The Subject parameter describes the content of the message. The Body parameter is the content of the message.

The Attachments parameter specifies the file in the current directory that is attached to the email message. The Priority parameter sets the message to High priority. The -DeliveryNotificationOption parameter specifies two values, OnSuccess and OnFailure . The sender will receive email notifications to confirm the success or failure of the message delivery. The SmtpServer parameter sets the SMTP server to smtp.fabrikam.com .

Example 3: Send email to a mailing list

Send-MailMessage -From 'User01 <user01@fabrikam.com>' -To 'ITGroup <itdept@fabrikam.com>' -Cc 'User02 <user02@fabrikam.com>' -Bcc 'ITMgr <itmgr@fabrikam.com>' -Subject "Don't forget today's meeting!" -Credential domain01\admin01 -UseSsl

The `Send-MailMessage` cmdlet uses the From parameter to specify the message's sender. The To parameter specifies the message's recipients. The Cc parameter sends a copy of the message to the specified recipient. The Bcc parameter sends a blind copy of the message. A blind copy is an email address that is hidden from the other recipients. The Subject parameter is the message because the optional Body parameter is not included.

The Credential parameter specifies a domain administrator's credentials are used to send the message. The UseSsl parameter specifies that Secure Socket Layer (SSL) creates a secure connection.

PARAMETERS

-Attachments

Specifies the path and file names of files to be attached to the email message. You can use this parameter or pipe the paths and file names to `Send-MailMessage`.

Type: System.String[]
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases: PsPath

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName, ByValue)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Bcc

Specifies the email addresses that receive a copy of the mail but are not listed as recipients of the message. Enter names (optional) and the email address, such as `Name \<someone@fabrikam.com>`.

Type: System.String[]
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Body

Specifies the content of the email message.

Type: System.String
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: 2
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-BodyAsHtml

Specifies that the value of the Body parameter contains HTML.

Type: System.Management.Automation.SwitchParameter
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases: BAH

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: False
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Cc

Specifies the email addresses to which a carbon copy (CC) of the email message is sent. Enter names (optional) and the email address, such as `Name \<someone@fabrikam.com>`.

Type: System.String[]
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Credential

Specifies a user account that has permission to perform this action. The default is the current user.

Type a user name, such as User01 or Domain01\User01 . Or, enter a PSCredential object, such as one from the `Get-Credential` cmdlet.

Credentials are stored in a PSCredential (/dotnet/api/system.management.automation.pscredential)object and the password is stored as a SecureString (/dotnet/api/system.security.securestring).

> [!NOTE] > For more information about SecureString data protection, see > How secure is SecureString? (/dotnet/api/system.security.securestring#how-secure-is-securestring).

Type: System.Management.Automation.PSCredential
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: Current user
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-DeliveryNotificationOption

Specifies the delivery notification options for the email message. You can specify multiple values. None is the default value. The alias for this parameter is DNO .

The delivery notifications are sent to the address in the From parameter.

The acceptable values for this parameter are as follows:

  • `None`: No notification.
  • `OnSuccess`: Notify if the delivery is successful.
  • `OnFailure`: Notify if the delivery is unsuccessful.
  • `Delay`: Notify if the delivery is delayed.
  • `Never`: Never notify.

These values are defined as a flag-based enumeration. You can combine multiple values together to set multiple flags using this parameter. The values can be passed to the DeliveryNotification parameter as an array of values or as a comma-separated string of those values. The cmdlet will combine the values using a binary-OR operation. Passing values as an array is the simplest option and also allows you to use tab-completion on the values.

Type: System.Net.Mail.DeliveryNotificationOptions
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases: DNO
Accepted values: None, OnSuccess, OnFailure, Delay, Never

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Encoding

Specifies the type of encoding for the target file. The default value is `utf8NoBOM`.

The acceptable values for this parameter are as follows:

  • `ascii`: Uses the encoding for the ASCII (7-bit) character set.
  • `bigendianunicode`: Encodes in UTF-16 format using the big-endian byte order.
  • `bigendianutf32`: Encodes in UTF-32 format using the big-endian byte order.
  • `oem`: Uses the default encoding for MS-DOS and console programs.
  • `unicode`: Encodes in UTF-16 format using the little-endian byte order.
  • `utf7`: Encodes in UTF-7 format.
  • `utf8`: Encodes in UTF-8 format.
  • `utf8BOM`: Encodes in UTF-8 format with Byte Order Mark (BOM)
  • `utf8NoBOM`: Encodes in UTF-8 format without Byte Order Mark (BOM)
  • `utf32`: Encodes in UTF-32 format.

Beginning with PowerShell 6.2, the Encoding parameter also allows numeric IDs of registered code pages (like `-Encoding 1251`) or string names of registered code pages (like `-Encoding "windows-1251"`). For more information, see the .NET documentation for Encoding.CodePage (/dotnet/api/system.text.encoding.codepage?view=netcore-2.2).

Type: System.Text.Encoding
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases: BE
Accepted values: ASCII, BigEndianUnicode, BigEndianUTF32, OEM, Unicode, UTF7, UTF8, UTF8BOM, UTF8NoBOM, UTF32

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: UTF8NoBOM
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-From

The From parameter is required. This parameter specifies the sender's email address. Enter a name (optional) and email address, such as `Name \<someone@fabrikam.com>`.

Type: System.String
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: True
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Port

Specifies an alternate port on the SMTP server. The default value is 25, which is the default SMTP port.

Type: System.Int32
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: 25
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Priority

Specifies the priority of the email message. Normal is the default. The acceptable values for this parameter are Normal, High, and Low.

Type: System.Net.Mail.MailPriority
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:
Accepted values: Normal, High, Low

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: Normal
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-ReplyTo

Specifies additional email addresses (other than the From address) to use to reply to this message. Enter names (optional) and the email address, such as `Name \<someone@fabrikam.com>`.

This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 6.2.

Type: System.String[]
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-SmtpServer

Specifies the name of the SMTP server that sends the email message.

The default value is the value of the `$PSEmailServer` preference variable. If the preference variable is not set and this parameter is not used, the `Send-MailMessage` command fails.

Type: System.String
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases: ComputerName

Required: False
Position: 3
Default value: $PSEmailServer
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Subject

The Subject parameter isn't required. This parameter specifies the subject of the email message.

Type: System.String
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases: sub

Required: False
Position: 1
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-To

The To parameter is required. This parameter specifies the recipient's email address. If there are multiple recipients, separate their addresses with a comma (`,`). Enter names (optional) and the email address, such as `Name \<someone@fabrikam.com>`.

Type: System.String[]
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: True
Position: 0
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-UseSsl

The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol is used to establish a secure connection to the remote computer to send mail. By default, SSL is not used.

Type: System.Management.Automation.SwitchParameter
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: False
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

CommonParameters

This cmdlet supports the common parameters: -Debug, -ErrorAction, -ErrorVariable, -InformationAction, -InformationVariable, -OutVariable, -OutBuffer, -PipelineVariable, -Verbose, -WarningAction, and -WarningVariable. For more information, see about_CommonParameters.

INPUTS

System.String

You can pipe the path and file names of attachments to `Send-MailMessage`.

OUTPUTS

None

This cmdlet does not generate any output.

NOTES

about_Preference_Variables

Get-Credential

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