---
title: "Set Message Limit for a Single Contact"
slug: "define-contact-message-limitation"
updated: 2025-06-11T11:59:01Z
published: 2025-06-11T12:03:10Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mapp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set Message Limit for a Single Contact

## Goal

To define the maximum number of messages that Mapp Engage sends to a contact in a certain amount of time. The contact-specific message limit is defined for each contact separately. A message limit for a single contact is defined in the XML import file.

## Background Information​

You can place a limit on the number of messages that Mapp Engage sends to a contact in a certain time. You can create two kinds of message limitations: for a specific contact or system-wide. Once either of these limits has been reached, Mapp Engage stops sending messages to this contact. When the defined time period is over, the system automatically resumes sending messages. Message limitations apply to all Mapp Engage Messaging channels (email, SMS, and mobile push). Message limitations do not apply to system messages or single messages.

> System-wide and contact-specific message limitations apply only in groups where message limitations are enabled. For instructions, see [​Enable Message Limitation for Group​](/v1/docs/enable-message-limitation-for-group).

## Procedure

To define a contact-specific message limitation:

1. Create an XML import file.
2. Use the following format to define the limit. Example:

```xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<userdata xmlns="http://webservices.ecircle-ag.com/ecm">
  <user>
    <email>Jane.Miller@email.com</email>
    <maxmessages number="2" period="7"/>
  </user>
</userdata>
```

#### Attributes

`maxmessages`: Limits the number of messages that can be sent to one recipient.

- `number`: Maximum number of messages allowed during the defined time period (1–99).
- `period`: Time frame in days (1–31) during which the limit applies.

## Related

- [Create System-Wide Message Limit](/create-system-wide-message-limit.md)
- [XML Format for Contact Imports](/xml-format-for-contact-imports.md)