Managing Your LISTSERV List Without the Admin Web UI

Tags listserv

You do not need access to the LISTSERV Admin Web Interface to manage your list. List owners can perform all essential administration and moderation tasks directly by email. The web interface is optional — email commands remain the primary, system-wide method for controlling lists.

Contents

What you can do as a list owner (without the Admin UI)

Using only email, you can:

  • Approve or reject messages on moderated lists
  • Add subscribers
  • Remove subscribers
  • Review who is subscribed
  • Adjust basic subscriber options

Key LISTSERV email addresses

1. List Posting Address
Where normal list messages are sent.
Example: MYLIST@lists.dartmouth.edu
2. LISTSERV Command Address
Where list owners send LISTSERV commands.
Example: LISTSERV@lists.dartmouth.edu
3. List Owner Address
Used to reach the owners of the list.
Example: MYLIST-request@lists.dartmouth.edu

How LISTSERV email commands work

  1. Compose a new email.
  2. Send it to: LISTSERV@lists.dartmouth.edu
  3. Leave the subject blank or simple.
  4. Type LISTSERV commands into the body of the email.
  5. Send the email from the address that is listed as an owner of the list.
  6. If LISTSERV asks for confirmation, reply with OK or follow its instructions.

Approving or rejecting messages (moderated lists)

If your list is moderated, LISTSERV will send you an email whenever someone posts a message that needs approval. You can approve or reject the message entirely by replying to that email — no web interface is required.

What the moderation message includes

  • The email address of the person who sent the message
  • The subject and content of the message
  • A notice stating that the message is being held for approval
  • Instructions for how to respond

Approving a message via email

To approve a message, reply to the moderation notice and type the word:

OK

Send your reply. LISTSERV will release the message to all subscribers.

Rejecting a message via email

To reject a message, reply to the moderation email with:

REJECT

You may optionally include a short explanation after the command. LISTSERV will discard the message. Depending on the list configuration, the original sender may receive a brief notification that their message was not approved.

Notes

  • Reply only to the moderation email — do not change the subject line.
  • Commands must begin at the start of a line for LISTSERV to read them correctly.
  • You may receive multiple held-message requests; each must be approved or rejected individually.

Managing subscribers by email

The following commands can be sent to LISTSERV@lists.dartmouth.edu from your list-owner email address.

Add a subscriber

ADD MYLIST user@example.com Full Name

Remove a subscriber

DELETE MYLIST user@example.com

View who is subscribed

REVIEW MYLIST

Adjust subscriber mail options (optional)

LISTSERV supports subscriber “options” such as NOMAIL or DIGEST. If you need help, the IT/Listserv team can provide the exact command for the setting you want.

Troubleshooting & common issues

“You are not authorized to perform this command”

You must send the command from the email address that is registered as a list owner.

No response from LISTSERV

  • Check spam/junk folders
  • Confirm that the message was sent to LISTSERV@…, not the list address
  • Try sending the command as plain text instead of HTML

Approval or rejection doesn’t work

  • Make sure OK or REJECT is at the beginning of a line
  • Do not change the subject line when replying to moderation emails
  • Forward the moderation message to IT/Listserv support if it continues to fail

If you are ever unsure how to respond to a LISTSERV message, you can forward it to the IT/Listserv support team for guidance.

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