---
title: "Configure Message Limitation"
slug: "engage-configure-message-limitation"
description: "Set up message limitation in Mapp Engage: create a system-wide limit, enable it for groups, and set individual limits per contact via XML import."
status: "update"
updated: 2026-11-06T16:09:58Z
published: 2026-11-06T16:09:58Z
canonical: "docs.mapp.com/engage-configure-message-limitation"
---

> ## 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.

# Configure Message Limitation

## Goal

Configure message limitation so contacts are not sent too many messages within a defined time frame. Setup has three parts: create a system-wide limit, enable limitation for the groups it should apply to, and optionally set a limit for an individual contact. For the concept and how the rules interact, see [Message Limitation](/v1/docs/message-limitation).

---

## Create a System-Wide Limit

Define how many messages a contact can receive across all groups within a time frame.

1. Go to *Messages > Limitations*.
2. Click **Create new Limitation**.
3. From **Maximum Number of Messages**, choose the number of messages.
4. From **Time Range in Days**, choose the time range.
5. Click **Save & close**.

The new message limitation has been created. You can create multiple limitations, and the strictest limit always applies.

---

## Enable Limitation for a Group

System-wide and contact-specific limits apply only in groups where message limitation is enabled.

1. Go to *Audience > Group Management > Groups*.
2. Open the group you want to edit.
3. Click the **Sendout Options** tab.
4. In the **Message Limitation** area, select **Consider Message Limitations**.
5. Click **Save**.

---

## Set a Limit for a Single Contact

Define a limit for an individual contact with an XML contact import. Once the limit is reached, Mapp Engage stops sending to that contact and resumes automatically when the time period is over.

1. Create an XML import file. For each contact, add a `maxmessages` element. 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>
```
2. Import the file into a group. To change the limit of contacts who are already members, select an import mode that updates profile data, for example **Update Current Members** or **Add and Update All**. See [Importing Contacts](/v1/docs/import-contacts).

#### 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). Use `0` to block all messages temporarily.
- `period`: Time frame in days (1–31) during which the limit applies.

For the complete file format, see [XML Format for Contact Imports](/v1/docs/xml-format-for-contact-imports).