How to Update TargetAddress During a Staged Microsoft 365 Exchange Migration
Question details
Administrators need to know how to clear the TargetAddress attribute during a staged Exchange migration so that mail delivery is restored to the on-premises mailbox.
- Product
- Microsoft Exchange Server / Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- An administrator is performing a staged Exchange migration and needs to roll back a user to on-premises mailbox delivery.
- Observed behavior
- New mail is currently routed to the Microsoft 365 mailbox because the TargetAddress attribute still contains the remote routing address.
Before making changes, confirm you have Exchange administrator or Active Directory permissions and record the current remote routing address so the rollback can be reversed if needed.
Clear the TargetAddress attribute to restore on-premises mailbox delivery
Use this solution when a migrated user must be rolled back so that new mail is delivered to the on-premises mailbox instead of Microsoft 365.
During a staged Exchange migration, the TargetAddress attribute routes new mail to the migrated Microsoft 365 mailbox. Removing the Microsoft 365 remote-routing address and leaving TargetAddress empty restores delivery to the on-premises mailbox. Mail is not normally delivered to both mailboxes at the same time.
On a domain controller or management workstation, open Active Directory Users and Computers, then enable Advanced Features from the View menu.
Locate the migrated user object, right-click it, select Properties, and open the Attribute Editor tab.
Find the targetAddress attribute, remove the Microsoft 365 remote-routing address so the value is empty, and click OK.
If Azure AD Connect is in use, wait for the next sync cycle or manually run Start-ADSyncSyncCycle -PolicyType Delta to apply the change.
Use WPS Office as a Free Microsoft Office Alternative After Exchange Mail Migration
For the Exchange task of updating TargetAddress, use Microsoft 365 or Exchange admin center. For everyday productivity after the migration, WPS Office is a free and lightweight Microsoft Office alternative with familiar UI, format compatibility, and seamless document migration.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office download page and click Download WPS Office Free to install the suite.
- 2. Open Microsoft Office files: Launch WPS Office and open a DOCX, XLSX, or PPTX file from the file picker or by double-clicking the file.
- 3. Choose WPS as your default: In WPS Office settings, select file associations for Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats to make WPS your default editor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TargetAddress in a staged Exchange migration?
TargetAddress is the remote-routing address that directs new mail to the Microsoft 365 mailbox after a user is migrated. Clearing it restores mail delivery to the on-premises mailbox.
Does mail deliver to both the on-premises mailbox and Microsoft 365 mailbox if TargetAddress is set?
No. Mail is normally delivered to one location. When TargetAddress is populated, new mail routes to Microsoft 365. When it is empty, new mail routes to the on-premises mailbox.
How can I confirm TargetAddress is empty after making the change?
In Active Directory Users and Computers, open the user properties with Advanced Features enabled and check the Attribute Editor tab for an empty targetAddress value. You can also verify the attribute with your Exchange management tools.
Do Exchange 2003 or 2007 environments need extra mail flow connectors?
They may need additional connectors for staged migration mail flow. Check the Exchange admin center or your on-premises Exchange server routing configuration to ensure mail can flow after the rollback.
What should I do after clearing TargetAddress?
Run a directory synchronization cycle if Azure AD Connect is in use, then send a test message and confirm it arrives in the on-premises mailbox.
