How to download Message Trace Report in Exchange Online admin center

Exchange Online allows you to view message traces online or generate CSV reports with extended message trace. Extended message traces in the CSV format are particularly useful for diagnostic purposes. To learn how to generate them in Office 365, follow the guidelines below.

1. Open your Microsoft 365 admin center (Office 365 admin center) and go to Exchange admin center.

2. Select mail flow from the left menu and switch to the message trace tab. Here, you can define several criteria to filter emails you would like to include in your trace report.

Tip

If you would like to create a trace report for a specific message, use the Message ID: filter.
Learn how to find the Message-ID of an email

Message trace options in EAC.

3. Expand the Date range field and choose Custom.

   Important

   The time range you select has a direct effect on the resulting type of message trace:

   • If you choose a time period of the last 7 days or less, you will only be able to view a regular message trace online. Learn more about viewing trace results in EAC
   • To get an extended message trace report in CSV, you need to select a start date older than the last 7 days. You can choose any end date: if you want the report to cover your most recent emails, set the end date and time to your current date and time.
4. Once you select a correct time range for the extended message trace, as described above, additional options are displayed.

Additional options for extended message trace.

5. (Optional) If you are planning to send your extended message trace to CodeTwo Support, select the Include message events and routing details with report checkbox.
6. Type the name for your extended message trace report and provide an email address to which a notification with the report will be sent. If necessary, use the other options to further filter the trace results.
7. Click search to run your message trace (if you did not provide enough filters, you might be prompted to specify at least one of them to continue).
8. It might take a while (usually at least an hour) until the extended message trace report is generated. When it's completed, you will receive an email with a download link.

Info

You can track the progress of your traces in a separate window by clicking View pending or completed traces. The new window also allows you to download your extended message trace reports. You might need to scroll down to find the download link.

How to monitor and download message traces.