How to Set Message Size Limits in Exchange 2007 and Exchange 2003

The default email attachment size limit in Exchange 2007 and Exchange 2003 is 10 MB.  Here is how to change that setting for both systems.
First, Exchange 2007.  Use the Exchange Management Shell to enter the following commands:
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Get-TransportConfig | ft MaxSendSize, MaxRecieveSize

  • Output will show current transport send receive attachment size limits.  This is the most restrictive setting and overrides all other less restrictive size limits set elsewhere (i.e. individual mailboxes / receive-connector)

Set-TransportConfig -MaxSendSize 100MB -MaxReceiveSize 100MB

  • Note: commands are not case sensitive and are capitalized for readability. This will set send and receive size limit to 100MB per email.

Get-ReceiveConnector | ft Name, MaxMessageSize

  • Make note of “Windows SBS Internet Receive SERVERNAME” and “Default SERVERNAME” for set-receiveconnector command

Set-ReceiveConnector “Windows SBS Internet Receive SERVERNAME” -MaxMessageSize 100MB
Set-ReceiveConnector “Default SERVERNAME” -MaxMessageSize 100MB

  • Note: If the TransportConfig size is more restrictive, it will override this setting.  Also, “Windows SBS Internet Receive SERVERNAME” may be case sensitive as it is in quotes.

Get-SendConnector | ft Name, MaxMessageSize

  • Pretty much the same command as ReceiveConnector but for sending outbound emails with attachments

Set-SendConnector “Windows SBS Internet Receive SERVERNAME” -MaxMessageSize 100MB
Set-SendConnector “Default SERVERNAME” -MaxMessageSize 100MB

  • Run all three get-transportconfig, get-receiveconnector, get-sendconnector commands again to be sure settings are in place correctly.

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Set Message Size Limits in Exchange 2003

Exchange 2003 is much more pedestrian to set outbound and inbound email attachment limits.  It is all done through the GUI
Open the Exchange System Manager console.
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Click Action > Properties.  Choose “Display Administrative Groups”.  Apply, OK.  (Note: Not neccessary for this exercise, but good practice none the less to view this way)
Expand Global Settings > right Click “Message Delivery” and choose Properties > click the Defaults tab.  Send, Receive, and Recipient limits can be set here and will effect the Global Exchange 2003 policy.
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Note:  Exchange 2003 works pretty much backwards of 2007 in that size restrictions placed on the individual user accounts can override the Global policy.  To set a larger size limit for individual users, Open up Active Directory Users and Computer
Start > Administrative Tools > Active Directory Users and Computers
Drill down to your Users container.  In a small business server, it is under MYDOMAIN.localMyBusinessUsersSBSUSers
Right click the user account and choose Properties.  Select the “Exchange General” Tab and click “Delivery Restrictions…” button
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From here you can set the individual limits on email attachment send and receive size.  Note that the limit is in KB and NOT MB!  1024KB = 1 MB