Allow External Users to Email Google Groups

By default, Google Groups are set to only allow users within your organisation to send emails to the group. This restriction helps protect your users from receiving spam or unsolicited messages from outside sources. However, there may be situations where allowing external users to email certain groups is necessary—such as for customer support or external communication.

This guide will walk you through editing Google Group settings to enable external users to send emails to specific groups, ensuring seamless communication when needed.

Step-by-Step Guide to Allow External Emails to Google Groups

Step 1: Log in to Google Admin Console

1. Go to admin.google.com and log in using your admin credentials.
2. This will bring you to the Google Admin Console dashboard, where you can manage various settings for your organisation.

Step 2: Locate the Group to Modify

1. Use the search bar at the top of the page to search for the Google Group you want to modify.
2. Once you find the desired group, click on its name from the list of results to open the group's settings.

Step 3: Edit Group Access Settings

1. Click on the Access Settings link to open the group’s configuration options.
2. Navigate to the External section to see the options for managing access for users outside your organisation.

Step 4: Enable External Posting

1. In the External section, check the box labeled Publish Posts.

   • This setting allows external users to send emails to this group.
   • External emails will be delivered just like internal messages, depending on other group settings (e.g., moderation).

2. Click the Save button at the bottom of the page to apply the changes.

Step 5: Confirm the Changes

Once saved, external users should be able to email this group successfully. To verify, you can perform a test by sending an email from an external address to the group's email.

Further notes...

• Use Caution with External Permissions: Allowing external users to send emails to your groups can increase the risk of spam. Consider enabling moderation settings to review external messages before they reach group members.
• Group Settings: Depending on your organisation’s security policies, some settings may require additional admin permissions to change. Make sure you have the necessary rights.
• Review Regularly: Periodically review which groups are open to external emails to ensure your settings align with current communication needs.

With these settings adjusted, you can ensure that the right Google Groups are accessible to external contacts while maintaining control over security and spam. If you have further questions or need help with advanced configurations, feel free to reach out to your Google Workspace admin for assistance.