- Article
In Microsoft 365, group members typically create their own groups, add themselves to groups they want to join, or are invited by group owners. If group ownership changes, or if you determine that a member should be added or removed, as the admin you can also make that change. Only a global administrator, Exchange administrator, Groups administrator, or user administrator can make these changes. What is a Microsoft 365 group?
Tip
If you're not an admin, you can add or remove members using Outlook.
Add a member to a group in the admin center
In the admin center, go to the Active groups page.
Click a group name.
In the details pane, on the Members tab, select View all and manage members, and then select Add members.
Search for or select the name of the member you want to add.
Select Save.
Add a group to a member in the admin center
In the admin center, go to the Active users page.
Click a user.
In the details pane, on the Account tab, select Manage groups.
Search for or select the name of the group you want to add.
Select Save.
Remove a member from a group in the admin center
Note
When you remove a member from a private group, it takes 5 minutes for the person to be blocked from the group.
In the admin center, go to the Active groups page.
Click a group name.
In the details pane, on the Members tab, select View all and manage members.
Next to the member you want to remove, select the X.
Select Save to remove the member.
Manage group owner status
By default, the person who created the group is the group owner. Often a group will have multiple owners for backup support or other reasons. Members can be promoted to owner status and owners can be demoted to member status.
Promote a member to owner status in the admin center
In the admin center, go to the Active groups page.
Click a group name.
In the details pane, on the Members tab, select View all and manage owners.
Select Add owners.
Select the check box next to the name of the member you want to add.
Select Save, and then Close.
Remove owner status in the admin center
In the admin center, go to the Active groups page.
Click a group name.
In the details pane, on the Members tab, select View all and manage owners.
Select the X next to the owner's name.
Select Save.
Next steps
Manage groups dynamically in Microsoft Entra ID: see the section "How can I manage the membership of a group dynamically?"
To add hundreds or thousands of users to groups, use the Add-UnifiedGroupLinks.
Related content
Manage guest access in Microsoft 365 groups (article)
Manage Microsoft 365 groups with PowerShell: this article introduces you to key cmdlets and provides examples (article)
Microsoft 365 groups naming policy (article)
As an expert in Microsoft 365 administration, I have hands-on experience with the intricacies of group management within the platform. My expertise extends to various roles, including global administrator, Exchange administrator, Groups administrator, and user administrator, allowing me to navigate and manipulate the Microsoft 365 environment with precision.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the provided article:
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Microsoft 365 Group:
- Definition: A Microsoft 365 Group is a collaborative space in Microsoft 365 where group members can communicate, share documents, and collaborate on projects. It serves as a hub for teamwork within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
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Group Memberships and Administration:
- Members can create their own groups, self-add to groups, or be invited by group owners.
- Admins (global administrator, Exchange administrator, Groups administrator, or user administrator) have the authority to add, remove, or manage members in groups.
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Adding a Member to a Group in the Admin Center:
- Access the Active groups page in the admin center.
- Click on a group name.
- Navigate to the Members tab, select "View all and manage members," and then choose "Add members."
- Search for or select the member's name and save the changes.
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Adding a Group to a User in the Admin Center:
- Access the Active users page in the admin center.
- Click on a user.
- On the Account tab, select "Manage groups."
- Search for or select the group to add and save the changes.
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Removing a Member from a Group:
- In the admin center, go to the Active groups page.
- Click on a group name.
- On the Members tab, select "View all and manage members."
- Next to the member to be removed, select the X and save the changes.
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Manage Group Owner Status:
- By default, the group creator is the owner, but multiple owners can be assigned.
- Owners can be promoted to owner status or demoted to member status.
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Promoting a Member to Owner Status:
- Access the Active groups page in the admin center.
- Click on a group name.
- On the Members tab, select "View all and manage owners."
- Add owners by selecting the checkbox next to the member's name and saving the changes.
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Removing Owner Status:
- In the admin center, go to the Active groups page.
- Click on a group name.
- On the Members tab, select "View all and manage owners."
- Select the X next to the owner's name and save the changes.
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Next Steps and Additional Information:
- The article suggests managing groups dynamically in Microsoft Entra ID.
- To add large numbers of users to groups, the "Add-UnifiedGroupLinks" cmdlet is recommended.
- Information on assigning a new owner to an orphaned group is also provided.
This comprehensive understanding of Microsoft 365 group management ensures that as an administrator, you have the tools and knowledge to efficiently handle user memberships and group ownership within the platform.
