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How to Bulk Delete Microsoft 365 Users From a CSV File

Muhammad TalhaMuhammad Talha Oct 14, 2026 870 views

Question details

An administrator needs to remove multiple user accounts simultaneously from Microsoft 365 using a CSV file containing usernames, rather than manually deleting each account one by one.

How to Bulk Delete Microsoft 365 Users Using a CSV File
Product
Microsoft 365 / Microsoft Entra ID
Device & OS
not provided
Scenario
Managing user lifecycle and decommissioning multiple employee accounts at once to save administrative time.
Observed behavior
The administrator is looking for an automated or bulk-processing approach via CSV instead of utilizing the single-user manual deletion interface.
Before you start

Ensure you are signed in with Global Administrator or User Administrator privileges, and confirm that all critical user data (such as mailboxes or OneDrive files) has been properly backed up or reassigned before proceeding.

Solution 1Recommended

Bulk Delete Users via Microsoft Entra ID Admin Center

Use the built-in bulk operations feature in the Microsoft Entra admin center for a secure, graphical interface approach.

Microsoft Entra ID provides a dedicated bulk deletion tool that relies on a downloadable CSV template. This method requires no scripting and is ideal for cloud-only deployments.

1
Access the Admin Center

Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center with your administrator account credentials.

2
Navigate to Bulk Operations

Go to 'Identity' > 'Users' > 'All users'. From the top command bar, click on 'Bulk operations' and select 'Bulk delete'.

3
Download and Edit the CSV Template

Click 'Download' on the bulk delete panel to get the CSV template. Open the template, enter the User Principal Names (UPNs) of the accounts you want to remove, and save the file without changing the column headers.

4
Upload and Submit

In step 3 of the bulk delete panel, upload your updated CSV file. Click 'Submit' to process the deletion.

Bulk Delete Users via Microsoft Entra ID Admin Center
Monitor Progress: You can monitor the progress and check for any errors in the 'Bulk operation results' page within the admin center.
Free Microsoft Office alternative

Easily Manage Your Administrative CSV Files with WPS Office

Handling bulk user operations often involves preparing and editing CSV templates. WPS Office is a lightweight, free alternative that makes managing datasets simple. It offers high compatibility with Microsoft formats, ensuring your Entra ID templates remain perfectly formatted for upload.

  1. 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your workstation.
  2. 2. Open the Template: Use WPS Spreadsheets to open the Microsoft Entra bulk-delete CSV template.
  3. 3. Populate and Save: Add your list of usernames to the designated column and safely save it as a CSV without worrying about formatting corruption.
Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel CSV and XLSX formats, retaining strict data structures.Lightweight performance ensures fast loading and saving of large administrative datasets.Familiar spreadsheet interface that requires zero learning curve for IT professionals.Completely free to use for viewing, editing, and saving your bulk-operation files.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover Microsoft 365 users after a bulk deletion?

Yes, unless permanently deleted by a secondary process, deleted Microsoft 365 user accounts are moved to the 'Deleted users' bin in the admin center. You have a 30-day grace period to restore them before they are permanently purged.

What is the correct format for the Microsoft Entra bulk delete CSV file?

The CSV file must match the exact template provided in the Microsoft Entra admin center. The most critical column is 'User name', which should contain the full User Principal Name (e.g., admin@domain.com) of the accounts to be removed.

Does bulk deleting a user also delete their OneDrive data and mailbox?

During the 30-day retention period, the data is held in a soft-deleted state. Once the user is permanently deleted, their associated OneDrive and mailbox data are also permanently purged, unless a specific retention policy or legal hold is in place.