Manually Add Users to a Microsoft 365 Group (Listserv mass email replacement)

Issue/Question

How do I add users to a MS365 group using Outlook

How do I bulk add users to a MS365 group using PowerShell

Environment

• Microsoft (MS) 365
• Microsoft Outlook (new)

Cause

Users do not receive emails sent to a mass email group or list

Resolution

Entra ID Group User Add

1. Navigate to the Entra ID portal
2. In the left hand menu expand Groups and click All groups
3. In the search bar search for the name of your group
4. Click the group name
5. Click Members
6. Click +Add members
7. Search for the user you want to add
8. Check the box next to the name
   Note: you can perform steps 7 and 8 repeatedly to add more than one user at a time
9. Click Select

Note: here are the Entra ID bulk member add instructions

Outlook Group User Add

1. Open Outlook
   Note: this requires new Outlook and Member/Owner status in the group
2. Click the Groups  icon in the left hand column
3. Click Discover Groups
4. Search for  the name of the group (formerly list name)
   Note: you have to be a group member to see the group
5. Click GroupName (do not click request to join)
   Note: if this list name does not exist or you don't know the name contact the Service Desk
6. Click Members
7. Click Add members
8. Type the email address of the member
   Note: this can be a USD email address or external user
9. Click Add
10. Click Close and  out of the remaining screens
    Note: the users will receive a notification and it can take up to 2 hours for the user to appear in the group

Bulk Adding to a group as an owner

1. Launch PowerShell (PS)
   Note: if you have not installed the Exchange Online PS Module run: Install-Module -Name ExchangeOnlineManagement
2. Connect to Exchange Online
   1. $365Logon = Get-Credential
      Note: use your group owner account
   2. Connect-ExchangeOnline -Credential $365Logon
3. Prepare a CSV file
   1. Create a CSV file named members.csv with a column header member that includes the email addresses of the users you want to add
      Note: attached to the article is a members.csv example file
4. Download the addMembers.ps1 PowerShell Script attached to this article
   Note: Modify the script to point to the members.csv file location and replace MS365Group with the actual name of your Microsoft 365 group
5. In PS navigate to the folder where the script (e.g. C:\Scripts\)
6. Run: ./addMembers.ps1