Unable to Change Existing User’s Username/Primary Email Address in MS365

Alan Adkins 0 Reputation points
2024-07-25T20:51:04.4733333+00:00

Unable to Change Existing User’s Username/Primary Email Address in MS365

When logged into the MS365 admin portal as a Global Admin, trying to change an existing user’s username and primary email address, the change fails, and the dialog box shows this error:

An exception of type Microsoft.Online.BOX.Util.Exceptions.InternalException (EXOBadRequest) was thrown

We were able to do this process without issue over the last couple months.

And for clarity, all hosted by Bill Gates. no local AD sync:

MS365 -E3
Exchange
Azure AD - Entra ID

Screenshot 2024-07-25 at 2.26.23 PM

Exchange Online
Exchange Online

A cloud-based service included in Microsoft 365, delivering scalable messaging and collaboration features with simplified management and automatic updates.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For business | Windows
Microsoft Security | Microsoft Entra | Microsoft Entra ID

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2 answers

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  1. Iqbal Hamid 0 Reputation points
    2026-09-16T10:41:07.61+00:00

    Solution:  I had this issue because I was trying to modify the user email with an alternative domain which I had not completed setting up on Exchange.  In my case, I had not entered the new DNS entries with my domain registrar for the email domain I was trying to use.  Once I had done that, the error went away.

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  2. Vasil Michev 127.9K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2024-07-26T07:08:56.9566667+00:00

    Is the user created in the cloud or synced from AD? If the latter, any changes must be made on-premises.

    Other than that, try doing the change via the EAC or PowerShell. If you are getting an error there too (and the user is cloud-created), best open a support case.

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