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Fix eDiscovery Export Fails with Object Reference Error in Microsoft Purview
Question details
Users encounter an 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object' error when trying to download export results from the classic Microsoft Purview eDiscovery portal.
- Product
- Microsoft Purview eDiscovery
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Downloading compliance results from the Export tab in the Microsoft Purview eDiscovery portal.
- Observed behavior
- The export process fails completely, displaying the specific backend message 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object'.
Ensure you are logged in with the necessary eDiscovery Manager or Administrator permissions and have a stable internet connection before attempting to troubleshoot the portal.
Test the Export in an InPrivate or Incognito Window
Use a private browsing window to rule out stale cache, invalid session tokens, or conflicting browser extensions as the cause of the export failure.
Browser-related caching issues often cause web portals to throw object reference exceptions if session data becomes corrupted or out of sync.
Launch your web browser. Press Ctrl+Shift+N (for Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge) or Ctrl+Shift+P (for Mozilla Firefox) to open a new private or incognito window.
Navigate to the classic Microsoft Purview compliance portal and log in using your administrator or eDiscovery manager credentials.
Go to the Export tab, locate your eDiscovery results, and click to download again to verify if the 'Object reference' error has cleared.
Open a Support Ticket in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center
If the problem persists across different browsers and private windows, the issue is likely tenant-specific and requires Microsoft Support intervention.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object' mean?
This is a generic backend programming exception. In the Microsoft Purview eDiscovery portal, it usually means the web application tried to access export data or a session variable that is missing, corrupted, or has expired.
Why do I need to collect HAR logs for Microsoft Support?
HAR (HTTP Archive) logs record the detailed interactions between your browser and the Microsoft servers. They allow support engineers to see exactly where the web request failed and what error codes the server returned, significantly speeding up the troubleshooting process.
Can a standard user resolve this eDiscovery export error?
If clearing the browser cache or using Incognito mode does not bypass the error, standard users cannot fix it. A Microsoft 365 Administrator must open a formal support ticket on the tenant's behalf.
