Microsoft 365 Migration

How to Retrieve Temporary Passwords After Microsoft 365 CSV User Import

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

An administrator needs to recover the temporary passwords and the downloadable results CSV file after bulk importing new Microsoft 365 users, without resorting to recreating accounts or executing a mass password reset.

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Bulk importing new user accounts using a CSV file via the Microsoft 365 admin center.
Observed behavior: The CSV import process completes successfully for the new users, but neither the initial temporary passwords nor the results CSV file are generated or provided to the administrator.

Before you start

Before proceeding, check your administrator email inbox and spam folder, as the Microsoft 365 admin center sometimes emails the bulk import results and temporary passwords directly to the admin who initiated the process.

Solution 1Recommended

Contact Microsoft 365 Support for Log Collection

Since the temporary passwords are generated backend and not displayed, opening a service request with Microsoft Support is the most reliable way to recover this data without altering the newly created accounts.

When the results CSV fails to download, the system backend still holds the initial provisioning logs. Only Microsoft Support has the necessary access to pull these specific logs and retrieve the missing initial passwords.

Log into the Admin Center

Go to the Microsoft 365 admin center and log in using your global administrator credentials.

Access the Support Portal

Navigate to the left-hand menu and click on the 'Support' section, then select 'Help & support'.

Create a Service Request

Type a brief description of the issue (e.g., 'Missing CSV import results and temporary passwords') and follow the prompts to open a new support ticket.

Request Backend Log Collection

Specifically ask the support agent to engage the backend team to collect logs from your recent bulk import to recover the unencrypted initial password data.

Solution 2

Investigate User Status via Microsoft Graph PowerShell

You can use PowerShell to connect to your tenant and verify the exact status of the newly imported accounts, which helps determine if the passwords were fully provisioned.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Equip Your Newly Imported Users with WPS Office

Once your bulk user import is sorted out, you may need a reliable office suite for your team. WPS Office is a highly versatile, lightweight alternative to Microsoft 365 apps, providing excellent performance and high compatibility without the heavy subscription costs.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free standard installer for your operating system.
2. Deploy to Your Users: Run the lightweight installer on your newly imported users' machines. The installation takes only moments.
3. Open Microsoft Formats: Launch WPS Office and open any existing Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files to experience instant compatibility.

Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Office formats (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX) for smooth external collaborationFree and lightweight suite, perfect for large-scale user deployments in growing organizationsFamiliar tabbed user interface requiring zero learning curve for newly onboarded employeesBuilt-in PDF editing, conversion, and signing capabilities at no extra enterprise cost

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why wasn't the results CSV generated after my bulk user import?

A missing results file usually occurs due to a browser timeout during the import process, a brief interruption in your network connection, or a backend synchronization delay within the Microsoft 365 admin center.

Can I force a bulk password reset instead of contacting support?

Yes. As an administrator, you can go to the Active Users list, select all the newly imported users, and choose 'Reset password'. This will generate new temporary passwords for the selected users, though it requires distributing the new credentials manually.

Will deleting and recreating the accounts generate a new results file?

Yes, running a fresh CSV import will generate a new results file. However, you must first completely delete the existing accounts from both the active and deleted users lists in Microsoft 365, which can be time-consuming for large batches.

Migration & Recovery