Forum Discussion
Grace Yin
Aug 25, 2017Iron Contributor
Is there a way to convert Office 365 group to Distribution group?
Hi,
We have an Office 365 group and I granted a user "owner" permission, but she got permission error in her Outlook like below when she tried to edit the group.
However she is able to edit the Distribution Group in her Outllok if she is an owner.
My questions are:
1. Is there a way that I can convert Office 365 to Distribution group?
2. Is there a way to grant a user permission to manager the Office 365 group memebrs?
Thanks,
Only Outlook 2016 properly recognizes Groups and allows you to manage their members. And you need to use the relevant Group controls, not the address book dialog. Check the documentation here: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Add-and-remove-group-members-in-Outlook-3b650f4a-5c9b-4f94-a1bb-0cca4b1091de
- Asikes88Copper Contributor
Grace Yin After reading all the responses it looks like all powershell does is create a new list for you, so if I only have two I could just delete my M365 group and create a new one. Does this sound right? Also if I delete the group to create the distribution list I wouldn't lose any emails sent to that group correct?
- Lewis-HIron ContributorYes, you can convert an Office 365 Group to a distribution group. You'll have to do it with PowerShell, but the code is easy.
- Clint OliveiraCopper Contributor
You can use this script to convert your Unified Groups back to Distros.
Convert Unified Groups to Distribution Lists [Data Loss Warning!]: https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/office/Convert-Unified-Groups-to-808ecc71- JohnadetolaCopper ContributorPlease cab you give the link again, as it is showing from my end. Need to covert a Microsoft 365 group to distribution list
- KingKneeCopper Contributor
Yes, you can convert an Office 365 Group to a distribution group. You'll have to do it with PowerShell, but the code is easy.
Capture the properties of the existing Office 365 group with Get-UnifiedGroup
Create the new DL with New-DistributionGroup
Update the properties with Set-DistributionGroup
Read the details of the group members with Get-UnifiedGroupLinks
Add the owners to the distribution group with Set-DistributionGroup
Update the DL members with Add-DistributionGroupMember
- Robert GlideCopper Contributor
This does not look like a conversion it looks like you are recreating it as a DL but you get an error when you are using the same name from a group when creating a DL. It does not appear you can convert but delete and recreate as a DL.....
- Nabil FahmyCopper Contributorcan you please mention the power-shell commands in more details ?!
i just need to know the exact steps- C_YatesCopper Contributor
This just gets all the members in the m365 group, creates and then adds them app to a new distribution group, it doesn't do anything destructive. I just found it easier to do this, then set the options on the distribution group afterwards.
I signed up just to post because I thought the other guy was being a bit mean.
What I've written isn't great, but it'll work.#First open powershell as administrator (Start > run > type:ise > rclick powershell > run as administrator)
#Install Exchange Online Management Shell
Install-Module -Name ExchangeOnlineManagement#Connect to Exchange Online, log in with your admin account
Connect-ExchangeOnline#Source M365 Group (e.g. email address removed for privacy reasons)
$M365GroupName = 'source_m365group_name'#Target Distribution Group (e.g. email address removed for privacy reasons)
$DistGroupName = 'testdist'#Creates the new distribution group with the above name
New-DistributionGroup -Name $DistGroupName#Get the Members from the M365 Group
$M365GroupMembers = Get-UnifiedGroup -Identity $M365GroupName | Get-UnifiedGroupLinks -LinkType Member | Select -expandproperty PrimarySmtpAddress
Foreach ($member in $M365GroupMembers){
"Adding $member..."
Add-DistributionGroupMember -Identity $DistGroupName -Member $member
}
- Why do you need to convert the Group into a Distribution Group? FYI, you can easily modify any Office 365 Group in your tenant to add additional members and owners
- David StokesCopper ContributorMainly because Office365 groups allow team members to leave the group thereby making administrative control of groups in an organization completely useless.
Dynamic Office 365 Groups are a solution when you want to control membership. Admins need to update AAD before someone can leave a dynamic group.
- Grace YinIron Contributor
Hi Juan,
It doen't work. I added a user as owner but the user couldn't manage the group. See the error message in my previous post.
Plase advise!
Thanks,
Only Outlook 2016 properly recognizes Groups and allows you to manage their members. And you need to use the relevant Group controls, not the address book dialog. Check the documentation here: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Add-and-remove-group-members-in-Outlook-3b650f4a-5c9b-4f94-a1bb-0cca4b1091de