How long does it take for data to appear in Microsoft SNDS Live after IP is added?
Michael Ko
Co-founder & CEO, Suped
Published 19 May 2025
Updated 16 Aug 2025
6 min read
Getting access to your data in Microsoft Smart Network Data Services (SNDS) is crucial for monitoring your sender reputation and diagnosing deliverability issues. Once you have successfully added and verified your IP address (or range) in SNDS Live, the next logical question is, how soon can you expect to see actual data populating your dashboards? This timeframe isn't always immediate, and several factors influence how quickly the insights become available.
Understanding the timeline for data appearance in SNDS is important for effective IP warming and ongoing email program management. While you might hope for instant updates, there's a processing period involved before the information is reflected in the portal. It's a common area of confusion for email senders.
In this article, we'll explore the typical waiting periods, the conditions that must be met for data to appear, and what to do if you experience unexpected delays. We'll also touch on some insights from the email community regarding these timelines.
Initial data appearance in SNDS
Once your IP address is approved and added to Microsoft SNDS, you generally need to wait for data to accumulate. Microsoft's systems require a certain volume of traffic before they can generate meaningful reports. The consensus is that data typically starts appearing the day after the IP has been approved and has sent sufficient traffic to Microsoft properties, such as Outlook.com and Hotmail. This initial reporting might not be immediately at midnight, but rather a few hours into the new day.
A key condition for data to appear is that your IP must send a minimum volume of emails to Microsoft recipients. According to Microsoft's own FAQ, you need to send at least 100 messages through the IP to a Microsoft domain for data to be populated. Without meeting this threshold, SNDS will not display any information for that particular IP address.
It's also worth noting that SNDS typically does not backfill historical data for IPs once they are added. This means you will only see data from the point your IP was approved and started sending sufficient volume forward. If you're looking for insights into past sending behavior, that data won't be available through SNDS.
Key data visibility factors
Approval time: Data starts collecting once your IP is approved in the SNDS portal. This can take some hours.
Volume threshold: You must send over 100 messages to Microsoft recipients per day for data to be recorded for that day.
Daily updates: Data is processed and updated daily, often becoming visible the next calendar day after the traffic occurred. There's no backfilling.
Factors affecting data display
While the general expectation is that data will appear the next day, real-world experience can sometimes vary. Factors like the sheer volume of data Microsoft handles globally, system maintenance, or even time zone differences in data processing can introduce slight lags. It's not uncommon for data to appear a few hours after midnight (GMT time, not necessarily your local time) before it is fully reflected in your account.
During IP warming, you might be checking SNDS frequently for reputation updates. These short delays can sometimes be mistaken for an issue with your setup, leading to unnecessary concern. It’s important to remember that mail systems, especially those of major mailbox providers, operate on vast scales, and data processing is a complex operation.
Therefore, if you don't see data immediately, allow for some processing time. Checking back later in the day, or the following day, will often reveal the data you're expecting. Patience is a virtue in email deliverability, especially when dealing with data reporting tools like SNDS.
Expected timeline
After approval: Data for a given day is expected to appear the next day, usually within a few hours after midnight (GMT).
Daily updates: New data for the previous day's traffic should be available by early morning the following day.
Actual experience
Initial delays: Some users report it may take up to 24 hours for the very first data points to appear after approval.
Occasional lags: Periodic delays in data processing can occur, causing some daily reports to be later than expected. This is normal.
Troubleshooting common SNDS data issues
If you've waited the expected time and still see no data in SNDS, there are a few things to check. First, confirm that your IP address is indeed sending at least 100 messages daily to Microsoft recipients. Low volume is the most frequent reason for a lack of data.
Secondly, verify that the IP address is correctly registered and approved in your SNDS account. Sometimes, a simple typo or an incomplete verification step can prevent data from appearing. You can refer to guides on troubleshooting common SNDS data issues for more detailed steps.
Also, ensure that your mail servers are configured correctly and that your emails are not being rejected or silently dropped before they can be processed by Microsoft's systems. Checking your mail logs for rejection messages related to Microsoft domains can provide valuable clues. You can use a simple ping command to check basic connectivity, though this won't confirm email flow:
Ping outlook.comBASH
ping outlook.com
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Ensure you meet the minimum sending volume threshold to Microsoft to trigger data collection.
Verify your IP address is correctly added and approved in your SNDS account.
Always check your local mail logs for rejections or delivery issues to Microsoft domains.
Common pitfalls
Expecting data immediately after IP approval; it usually takes until the next day.
Confusing Google Postmaster Tools (GPT) update times with Microsoft SNDS update times.
Not sending enough volume to Microsoft IPs, leading to no data appearing.
Expert tips
Initial data is often visible the next day after traffic, around midnight GMT. Be patient.
SNDS does not backfill data; only traffic from the approval date forward is recorded.
Occasional lags in data reporting are normal due to the vast scale of Microsoft's systems.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says if access is approved and the volume criteria are met, data should start appearing the next day, and there is no backfilling of past data.
July 6, 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says that sometimes, in the deliverability world, it feels like data updates in tools like Google Postmaster Tools (GPT) have their own timezone, where nothing progresses until the graphs finally refresh.
July 6, 2021 - Email Geeks
Maintaining a healthy sender reputation
Beyond simply getting data to appear, maintaining a healthy sender reputation and good deliverability requires ongoing effort. SNDS is a valuable tool, but it's one piece of a larger puzzle. You should also ensure proper email authentication like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are correctly configured.
Regularly monitoring your SNDS data, including complaint rates and filtering outcomes, helps you quickly identify and address potential issues. This proactive approach can prevent your IP address from landing on a major email blocklist (or blacklist), which can significantly impact your email campaigns.
Remember, the goal is to build and maintain a strong sender reputation. This involves consistent good sending practices, careful list management, and prompt resolution of any deliverability problems. For more insights into the metrics and requirements across different tools, you can explore information about Microsoft SNDS and Google Postmaster Tools.
Summary of SNDS data visibility
In summary, while there isn't an instant update, MicrosoftSNDS data typically appears the next day after your IP is approved and has sent a sufficient volume of emails. Be mindful of the 100-message threshold and allow for minor processing delays. Consistent monitoring and adherence to best practices will help you interpret SNDS data effectively for optimal deliverability.
Microsoft Smart Network Data Services (SNDS) is crucial for monitoring your sender reputation and diagnosing deliverability issues. Once you have successfully added and verified your IP address (or range) in SNDS Live, the next logical question is, how soon can you expect to see actual data populating your dashboards? This timeframe isn't always immediate, and several factors influence how quickly the insights become available.
