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Bulk operations let you manage many users at once in Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), reducing repetitive tasks and human error. This guide covers the core portal-based bulk operations: bulk create, bulk invite (B2B), bulk delete, and downloading user data. It includes CSV templates, step-by-step upload flow, and best practices to run safe, auditable jobs.
To perform bulk operations you must have an appropriate Entra ID administrative role (for example, User administrator or Global administrator). Always test bulk changes in a non-production tenant or with a small sample first.

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Quick overview

  • Bulk create — Add many new user accounts by uploading a CSV file (useful for onboarding teams).
  • Bulk invite — Send B2B invitation emails to external collaborators via a CSV of email addresses.
  • Bulk delete — Remove multiple accounts by uploading a CSV of user principal names.
  • Download users — Export user data for reporting or archival purposes.
Suggested upload flow (follow this in the portal — Users > Bulk operations):
  1. Prepare the CSV using the appropriate template and include version:1.0 as the first line.
  2. Save as UTF-8 CSV (comma separated).
  3. In the Azure portal, go to Users > Bulk operations and choose the operation.
  4. Upload the CSV, validate, submit, and monitor the job results in Bulk operation results.

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Operations at a glance

For more details about roles and permissions, see Microsoft’s documentation: Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) roles.

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Bulk create (add many users)

The bulk create template includes required and optional columns. Required fields typically are:
  • Name [displayName]
  • User name [userPrincipalName]
  • Initial password [passwordProfile]
  • Block sign in (Yes/No) [accountEnabled]
Optional columns: First name [givenName], Last name [surname], Job title, Department, Usage location, etc. Example CSV (include version:1.0 on the first line):
Steps to run bulk create:
  1. Fill the template and save it as a UTF-8 CSV.
  2. In the Azure portal: Users > Bulk operations > Bulk create.
  3. Upload the CSV; the portal validates the file and displays any row-level errors.
  4. Submit the job and monitor progress in Bulk operation results.
A screenshot of an Excel spreadsheet (UserCreateTemplate) listing user account fields like display name, username, initial password, and block sign-in. The sheet contains three sample entries — ironman, capamerica, and loki — with passwords and "No" for block sign-in.
After submission, open the job details in Bulk operation results to confirm which rows succeeded or failed. In this example all three users were created successfully.
Screenshot of the Microsoft Azure portal showing a "Bulk user create: UserCreateTemplate.csv" results table with three successful user entries (ironman, capamerica, loki), each marked accountEnabled=True and hasThumbnail=False.
You can then verify the new accounts in the portal under All users.

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Bulk invite (B2B collaboration)

Bulk invite sends invitations to external users. The minimal required field is the email address, but you can also include an invite redirect URL, whether to send the email, and a customized message. Example invite CSV:
Key points:
  • If Send invite (TRUE/FALSE) is TRUE, Entra ID sends the invitation email to the address provided.
  • If an invited user doesn’t receive the email or cannot access it, you can copy the invitation link from the bulk job details and share it manually.
  • Invited users sign in with their work or Microsoft account; they may create one during the acceptance flow if required.
A screenshot of an Excel spreadsheet named "UserInviteTemplate" showing columns for inviting users (email address, redirection URL, send-invite true/false, customized message). The top row includes example values like "lstokes@fabrikam.com", "https://myapplications.microsoft.com", "TRUE" and "Welcome to the Contoso organization!".

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Bulk delete (remove multiple users)

Bulk delete requires only the user principal name for each account you want to remove. Example delete CSV:
Upload this CSV to Users > Bulk operations > Bulk delete. Confirm the deletion prompt and submit the job. Monitor the job details for success or any errors.
Bulk delete is destructive. Deleted users are moved to Deleted users and can only be restored during the tenant’s retention window. Double-check your CSV and test on a small sample before deleting production accounts.
When the job completes, check Bulk operation results for status and the Deleted users blade if you need to restore any accounts.
A screenshot of the Microsoft Azure portal showing the "Users | Bulk operation results" page. It lists two CSV jobs (UserCreateTemplate.csv and UserDelete.csv) with completion times and statuses showing successful completions.

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Tips and best practices

  • Always include version:1.0 as the very first line of your CSV file.
  • Save CSVs as UTF-8 (comma-delimited) to avoid encoding issues.
  • Validate the file in the portal before submitting — the portal provides row-level error details you can download.
  • Start with a small sample batch in a test tenant or with a small group to confirm behavior.
  • Keep copies of uploaded CSVs for auditing, tracking, and rollback planning.
  • Use Bulk operation results to download logs for failed rows; the portal supplies specific error messages per row.
  • For large-scale operations, consider scripting via Microsoft Graph API or automation pipelines after you master the portal flow.
Further reading: That covers the essential bulk operations in Microsoft Entra ID. Try these steps in a test environment to build confidence before running production-scale jobs.

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