Permission & Access Issues

How to Extract Microsoft 365 Group Member Names

Ayan Masood Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to find a straightforward method to export or extract the list of member names from a Microsoft 365 group that is linked to SharePoint Online.

How to Extract Microsoft 365 Group Member Names

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing Microsoft 365 group permissions and generating reports of active members for a SharePoint Online site.
Observed behavior: Requires specific administrative steps to retrieve and download the group's membership list.

Before you start

Ensure you have Microsoft 365 Global Admin or Groups Admin permissions, as standard users cannot export membership lists from the admin center.

Solution 1Recommended

Export Members via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Use the built-in export functionality in the Microsoft 365 admin center to easily download a CSV file containing all group members.

Log in to the Admin Center

Navigate to the Microsoft 365 admin center website and log in using your administrator credentials.

Navigate to Active Groups

On the left navigation pane, click on 'Teams & groups' to expand the menu, then select 'Active teams and groups'.

Select the Target Group

Use the search bar or scroll to find the specific Microsoft 365 group associated with your SharePoint Online site, then click on its name to open the properties panel.

Export the Member List

Switch to the 'Members' tab in the panel, click on 'View all and manage members', and select the 'Export members' option to download the list to your computer.

Export Members via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Export Format: The member list will be downloaded as a CSV file, which can be easily opened and analyzed in any spreadsheet application.

Solution 2

Retrieve Group Members Using PowerShell

For advanced administrative tasks, you can use PowerShell cmdlets to query and extract group members programmatically.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

View and Manage Your Exported Member Data with WPS Office

Once you have exported your Microsoft 365 group members into a CSV file, you need a reliable spreadsheet tool to open, filter, and analyze the data. WPS Office is a lightweight, feature-rich alternative to Microsoft Office that handles data sets effortlessly.

1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your computer.
2. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheet from the main workspace interface.
3. Import the Exported File: Go to Menu > Open, and select the CSV file containing your Microsoft 365 group members to start reviewing the data.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel file formats, including CSV and XLSX.Free and lightweight, ensuring rapid loading of large administrative data exports.Familiar spreadsheet interface for zero learning curve.Built-in, easy-to-use tools for data filtering, sorting, and formatting.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What file format is the exported member list from the Microsoft 365 Admin Center?

The member list is downloaded as a CSV (Comma Separated Values) file. This format is universally supported and can be opened directly in spreadsheet software like WPS Spreadsheet or Microsoft Excel.

Why don't I see the 'Export members' button in my admin center?

The 'Export members' feature requires specific administrative privileges. If you do not see the option, verify that your account has been assigned Global Admin, Exchange Admin, or Groups Admin roles by your IT department.

Can I export site members directly from SharePoint Online instead of the Microsoft 365 Admin Center?

SharePoint Online does not have a native, one-click export button for direct site permissions in its graphical interface. Utilizing the Microsoft 365 Admin Center is the simplest built-in method for groups, while PowerShell is typically required to export direct SharePoint site members.

Document & File Issues