Create Message

  • 4 minutes to read
  • Contributors
    • Jeremy Thake (Microsoft)

Important: APIs under the /beta version in Microsoft Graph are in preview and are subject to change. Use of these APIs in production applications is not supported.

Use this API to create a draft of a new message. Drafts can be created in any folder and optionally updated before sending. To save to the Drafts folder, use the /messages shortcut.

While creating the draft in the same POST call, you can:

Permissions

One of the following permissions is required to call this API. To learn more, including how to choose permissions, see Permissions.

Permission type Permissions (from least to most privileged)
Delegated (work or school account) Mail.ReadWrite
Delegated (personal Microsoft account) Mail.ReadWrite
Application Mail.ReadWrite

HTTP request

POST /me/messages
POST /users/{id|userPrincipalName}/messages
POST /me/mailFolders/{id}/messages
POST /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/mailFolders/{id}/messages

Request headers

Header Value
Authorization Bearer {token}. Required.
Content-Type application/json

Request body

In the request body, supply a JSON representation of the message object.

If you want to use mention to call out another user in the new message:

  • Include the required toRecipients property, the mentions property, and any writable message properties in the request body.
  • For each mention in the mentions property, you must specify the mentioned property.

Since the message resource supports extensions, you can use the POST operation and add custom properties with your own data to the message while creating it.

Response

If successful, this method returns a 201 Created response code and a message object in the response body.

Example

Request 1

Here is an example of the request to create a draft of a new message.

POST https://graph.microsoft.com/beta/me/messages
Content-type: application/json

{
    "subject":"Did you see last night's game?",
    "importance":"Low",
    "body":{
        "contentType":"HTML",
        "content":"They were <b>awesome</b>!"
    },
    "toRecipients":[
        {
            "emailAddress":{
                "address":"AdeleV@contoso.onmicrosoft.com"
            }
        }
    ]
}

In the request body, supply a JSON representation of message object.

Response 1

Here is an example of the response. Note: The response object shown here may be truncated for brevity. All of the properties will be returned from an actual call.

HTTP/1.1 201 Created
Content-type: application/json

{
    "@odata.context":"https://graph.microsoft.com/beta/$metadata#users('ad787b4f-1fda-4523-8e48-ffedb7f4635f')/messages/$entity",
    "@odata.etag":"W/\"CQAAABYAAAAmXr9SsE/UR4PcnTZcg7qWAAAFS12t\"",
    "id":"AAMkAGRWAAAFSmKXAAA=",
    "createdDateTime":"2017-12-23T07:29:57Z",
    "lastModifiedDateTime":"2017-12-23T07:29:58Z",
    "changeKey":"CQAAABYAAAAmXr9SsE/UR4PcnTZcg7qWAAAFS12t",
    "categories":[

    ],
    "receivedDateTime":"2017-12-23T07:29:58Z",
    "sentDateTime":"2017-12-23T07:29:58Z",
    "hasAttachments":false,
    "internetMessageId":"<MWHPR130@MWHPR130.namprd13.prod.outlook.com>",
    "subject":"Did you see last night's game?",
    "bodyPreview":"They were awesome!",
    "importance":"low",
    "parentFolderId":"AAMkAGRWAAAAAAEPAAA=",
    "conversationId":"AAQkAGRVYAsRJrRdc_mWNaxU=",
    "conversationIndex":"AQHTe7/VAniOJVgCxEmtF1z6ZY1rFQ==",
    "isDeliveryReceiptRequested":false,
    "isReadReceiptRequested":false,
    "isRead":true,
    "isDraft":true,
    "webLink":"https://outlook.office365.com/owa/?ItemID=AAMkAGRWAAAFSmKXAAA%3D&exvsurl=1&viewmodel=ReadMessageItem",
    "inferenceClassification":"focused",
    "unsubscribeData":[

    ],
    "unsubscribeEnabled":false,
    "mentionsPreview":null,
    "body":{
        "contentType":"html",
        "content":"<html>\r\n<head>\r\n<meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text/html; charset=utf-8\">\r\n<meta content=\"text/html; charset=us-ascii\">\r\n</head>\r\n<body>\r\nThey were <b>awesome</b>!\r\n</body>\r\n</html>\r\n"
    },
    "toRecipients":[
        {
            "emailAddress":{
                "name":"AdeleV@contoso.onmicrosoft.com",
                "address":"AdeleV@contoso.onmicrosoft.com"
            }
        }
    ],
    "ccRecipients":[

    ],
    "bccRecipients":[

    ],
    "replyTo":[

    ],
    "flag":{
        "flagStatus":"notFlagged"
    }
}
Request 2

The next example shows a draft email by Randi Welch to Samantha Booth. The message also includes a mention of another user, Dana Swope.

In the request body, supply a JSON representation of message object.

POST https://graph.microsoft.com/beta/me/messages
Content-type: application/json

{
    "subject": "Party planning",
    "toRecipients":[
      {
          "emailAddress":{
              "name":"Samantha Booth",
              "address":"samanthab@contoso.onmicrosoft.com"
          }
      }
    ],
    "mentions":[
      {    
        "mentioned":{
          "name":"Dana Swope",
          "address":"danas@contoso.onmicrosoft.com"
         }
      }
    ]
}
Response 2

Here is an example of the response. Note: The response object shown here is truncated for brevity. All of the properties will be returned from an actual call.

HTTP/1.1 201 Created
Content-type: application/json

{
  "@odata.context":"https://graph.microsoft.com/beta/$metadata#me/Messages/$entity",
  "@odata.id":"https://graph.microsoft.com/beta/users('266efe5a-0fd7-4edd-877b-b2d1e561f193@ae01a323-3934-4475-a32d-af1274312bb0')/messages('AQMkADJmMTUAAAW1fsAAAAA==')",
  "@odata.etag":"W/\"CQAAABYAAAAPFhK2FclcRbABBJhCde8iAAAAbYj7\"",
  "id":"AQMkADJmMTUAAAW1fsAAAAA==",
  "body":{
    "contentType":"Text",
    "content":""
  },
  "bodyPreview":"",
  "sender":null,
  "from":null,
  "subject": "Party planning",
  "toRecipients":[
    {
      "emailAddress":{
        "name":"Samantha Booth",
        "address":"samanthab@contoso.onmicrosoft.com"
      }
    }
  ],
  "mentionsPreview":{
    "isMentioned":false
  },
  "mentions@odata.context":"https://graph.microsoft.com/beta/$metadata#me/messages('AQMkADJmMTUAAAW1fsAAAAA%3D%3D')/mentions",
  "mentions":[
    {
      "@odata.id":"https://graph.microsoft.com/beta/users('266efe5a-0fd7-4edd-877b-b2d1e561f193@ae01a323-3934-4475-a32d-af1274312bb0')/messages('AQMkADJmMTUAAAW1fsAAAAA==')/mentions('4577bba4-b063-4cea-9073-6f7ca815fcec')",
      "id":"4577bba4-b063-4cea-9073-6f7ca815fcec",
      "mentioned":{
        "name":"Dana Swope",
        "address":"danas@contoso.onmicrosoft.com"
      },
      "mentionText":null,
      "clientReference":null,
      "createdBy":{
        "name":"Randi Welch",
        "address":"randiw@contoso.onmicrosoft.com"
      },
      "createdDateTime":"2016-07-22T02:22:44Z",
      "serverCreatedDateTime":"2016-07-22T02:22:44.201Z",
      "deepLink":null,
      "application":null
    }
  ]
}
Request 3

The next example adds a couple of customer Internet message headers when creating the message draft.

POST https://graph.microsoft.com/beta/me/messages
Content-type: application/json

{
    "subject":"9/8/2018: concert",
    "body":{
        "contentType":"HTML",
        "content":"The group represents Washington."
    },
    "toRecipients":[
        {
            "emailAddress":{
                "address":"AlexW@contoso.OnMicrosoft.com"
            }
        }
    ],
    "internetMessageHeaders":[
        {
            "name":"x-custom-header-group-name",
            "value":"Washington"
        },
        {
            "name":"x-custom-header-group-id",
            "value":"WA001"
        }
    ]
}

In the request body, supply a JSON representation of message object.

Response 3

Here is an example of the response. Note: Internet message headers are not returned by default in a POST response. The response object shown here may also be truncated for brevity. All of the properties will be returned from an actual call.

HTTP/1.1 201 Created
Content-type: application/json

{
    "@odata.context":"https://graph.microsoft.com/beta/$metadata#users('7f180cbb-a5ae-457c-b7e8-6f5b42ba33e7')/messages/$entity",
    "@odata.etag":"W/\"CQAAABYAAAC4ofQHEIqCSbQPot83AFcbAAAnjjuE\"",
    "id":"AAMkADhNmAAA=",
    "createdDateTime":"2018-09-09T02:54:56Z",
    "lastModifiedDateTime":"2018-09-09T02:54:56Z",
    "changeKey":"CQAAABYAAAC4ofQHEIqCSbQPot83AFcbAAAnjjuE",
    "categories":[

    ],
    "receivedDateTime":"2018-09-09T02:54:56Z",
    "sentDateTime":"2018-09-09T02:54:56Z",
    "hasAttachments":false,
    "internetMessageId":"<MWHPR220MB1120.namprd22.prod.outlook.com>",
    "subject":"9/8/2018: concert",
    "bodyPreview":"The group represents Washington.",
    "importance":"normal",
    "parentFolderId":"AAMkADhAAAAAAEPAAA=",
    "conversationId":"AAQkADhNCuP8OKSm-0NE=",
    "isDeliveryReceiptRequested":false,
    "isReadReceiptRequested":false,
    "isRead":true,
    "isDraft":true,
    "webLink":"https://outlook.office365.com/owa/?ItemID=AAMkADhNmAAA%3D&exvsurl=1&viewmodel=ReadMessageItem",
    "inferenceClassification":"focused",
    "unsubscribeData":[

    ],
    "unsubscribeEnabled":false,
    "mentionsPreview":null,
    "body":{
        "contentType":"html",
        "content":"<html>\r\n<head>\r\n<meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text/html; charset=utf-8\">\r\n<meta content=\"text/html; charset=us-ascii\">\r\n</head>\r\n<body>\r\nThe group represents Washington.\r\n</body>\r\n</html>\r\n"
    },
    "toRecipients":[
        {
            "emailAddress":{
                "name":"Alex Wilber",
                "address":"AlexW@contoso.OnMicrosoft.com"
            }
        }
    ],
    "ccRecipients":[

    ],
    "bccRecipients":[

    ],
    "replyTo":[

    ],
    "flag":{
        "flagStatus":"notFlagged"
    }
}

See also