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Exchange Online's Message Trace Feature Hits General Availability
Microsoft announced the general availability of its redesigned Message Trace feature for Exchange Online, marking the completion of a long process that started with the first preview in 2023 and recently shown off in its final public preview. The update brings a rebuilt user interface, faster trace completion and enhanced visibility into mail flow for admins.
The new Message Trace tool is now available in all Microsoft 365 commercial environments and replaces the older version in the Exchange Admin Center (EAC). Microsoft said the updated version took in feedback from the community and offers faster and more reliable results across larger sets of data.
"We received a lot of great feedback on the new message trace design, performance, and feature parity throughout Public Preview and will begin the transition to the new Message Trace experience," said the Exchange Team, in a blog post.
The redesigned interface includes features like filters that stay in place between searches, page-by-page navigation for large lists of results and improved export options. These updates are meant to make it easier for IT admins to investigate mail issues and check how messages are delivered, according to the company.
Message Trace is designed to track the journey of an email through Exchange Online, which offers admins help in troubleshooting delays, delivery problems or issues with filters. Microsoft said the new version uses the same backend as the old one but comes with speed improvements and newer APIs.
A key improvement in the new Message Trace is that it now saves your search settings between sessions, allowing for admins to pick up where they left off. Each trace is limited to 10,000 results per request to keep the tool from slowing down. For larger data sets, admins can use export options (including the ability to download results as a CSV file).
Microsoft plans to depreciate the classic Message Trace tool in the coming months. Until then, both the old and new versions will be available so organizations can make the switch at their own pace. The company has yet to give a final transitional deadline to the new version.
Microsoft is encouraging Exchange admins to start using the new Message Trace now to benefit from faster performance and a more user-friendly design. Help guides and training materials are available on Microsoft Learn and in the Exchange documentation.