# What is an alert?

Source: [https://docs.virtosoftware.com/docs/alerts-and-reminders-by-virto/basic-options-for-common-users/what-is-an-alert/](https://docs.virtosoftware.com/docs/alerts-and-reminders-by-virto/basic-options-for-common-users/what-is-an-alert/)
Product: Virto Alerts & Reminders App
Updated: 2026-08-12


[Open the interactive demo](https://app.storylane.io/demo/a8rrp0ir2sms)

**Interactive demo walkthrough**
1. Streamline Your SharePoint Workflow with Virto Alerts — Discover how to create powerful, customized alerts that keep your team informed of critical SharePoint changes.
2. Create a new alert
3. Choose which SharePoint list you want to link your alert to
4. Specify which changes in the list should trigger notifications
5. Enter a descriptive name for your alert
6. Manage who receives your alert about changes in the list
7. Add searchable tags to categorize this alert
8. Add users via names or emails
9. Customize the way your alert looks here
10. Add the subject for clearer understanding
11. Set high priority for urgent notifications
12. Add your branded header
13. Access additional advanced reminder configuration options - tag value and field value
14. Define which content types trigger alerts
15. Add your branded footer
16. Include file attachments from list items in your alert
17. Customize alert settings to meet your team's needs
18. You can define the scope of your alert - select which document metadata to include
19. For example, this combination will send alerts only when a specified user creates new tasks in your list
20. Choose notification timing preferences
21. It can be an immediate alert whenever changes in the list are added
22. You can customize daily alerts about changes in your SharePoint list
23. Weekly summaries are also possible - configure the desired day and time to get your alerts
24. Having configured everything, make sure you're happy with your alert in Preview
25. Confirm your alert configuration settings
26. Save your customized alert configuration
27. Get email alert about the new task added to your SharePoint list in your Microsoft Outlook
28. Thanks for exploring! — Ready to see how this can work for you?


An alert is a message that informs people of something. In SharePoint, we also need alerts to notify users of changes. Such changes are always related to a list or document library. To receive notifications about them, use the **Virto Alerts & Reminder App to create an automatic email alert**.

**Example**

You have a SharePoint list of team members’ personal information (age, education, marital status, address, etc.). Users can edit their data directly in the list. You set up an alert to notify the HR manager when changes are made to the list. For instance, Rachel Evans got married and changed her name. The HR manager will receive an alert about that fact.

To summarize, an alert is an email notification about changes in a SharePoint list or document library.