Forum Discussion
Recreate a mailbox for an existing user?
OK, maybe a little fiddly and messy, but how about enabling the Online Archive for the mailboxes in this situation and then create a new Exchange Retention Policy In the Exchange Admin Center to move content to the archive which is older than 14 days (along the lines of the below). Assign this new retention policy only to the users who's mailboxes you want to clear out.
Once the move to archive has completed, disable the Online Archive for that user (making sure that you don't re-enable it for at least 30 days or the content will return). Then, make sure you assign the default retention policy back to that user.
You'd have to be very diligent about assigning this temporary policy. It could just as easily get you into trouble if assigned incorrectly. If you plan to give it a try, test it to the hilt first I would say.
1). Move the user in AD to an OU which is not synced.
2). Wait for/or force ad sync. The O365 user will be moved to deleted users folder.
3). Run the PowerShell to purge Deleted users
4). Move the AD user back to synced OU, run sync, and the user is recreated for you.
5). Assign licence. Good to go.
Maybe still not exactly what you want, but I think it is as good as you are going to get.
