How to Delete a User in Microsoft Entra ID

Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) allows administrators to manage user identities efficiently, including the ability to delete users when necessary. Whether you need to remove a user temporarily or permanently, it’s crucial to understand the options available to ensure proper access control and compliance. In this guide, we will walk through the process of deleting a user and permanently removing them from Microsoft Entra ID.

Prerequisites

Before deleting a user, ensure that you have the necessary permissions:

• Global Administrator or User Administrator role in Microsoft Entra ID.
• Access to the Microsoft Entra admin center.

Steps to Delete a User

1. Sign in to Microsoft Entra Admin Center

1. Go to Microsoft Entra admin center.
2. Sign in using an account with administrative privileges.

2. Navigate to Users

1. In the left-hand menu, select Identity > Users.
2. Locate the user you want to delete.

3. Delete the User

1. Click on the user’s name to open their profile.
2. Click Delete user at the top of the page.
3. Confirm the deletion.

4. Understanding Soft-Delete vs Permanent Deletion

• When a user is deleted, they are placed in the Deleted users section and can be restored within 30 days.
• If no action is taken, the user is automatically and permanently deleted after 30 days.

How to Permanently Delete a User

To remove a user permanently before the 30-day retention period ends:

1. Go to Deleted Users

1. In the Users section, click Deleted users.
2. Locate the user you want to remove permanently.

2. Permanently Delete the User

1. Select the user.
2. Click Permanently delete.
3. Confirm the action.

Post-Deletion Considerations

• Data Retention: Ensure you have backed up important data before deleting a user permanently.
• Reassign Licenses & Resources: Remove or transfer licenses and assigned resources.
• Security & Compliance: Verify that access permissions are updated accordingly.

Conclusion

Deleting users in Microsoft Entra ID is a straightforward but critical task in identity management. By understanding both soft-delete and permanent deletion options, administrators can manage user access effectively while maintaining security and compliance.