how to delete SharePoint Group connected sites using PowerShell?

Question

Hi members, In SharePoint, I need to delete a SharePoint Group connected sites through PowerShell, but i was facing an error

"This site belongs to a Microsoft 365 group. To delete the site, you must delete the group"

Anyone please suggest me how to delete SharePoint Group connected sites using PowerShell?

Answer 1

When you delete a Microsoft 365 group, all group resources, including SharePoint site, mailbox conversations, Teams, notebook, and Planner tasks also get deleted. So, to delete a SharePoint group connected site, you must need to delete the Microsoft 365 group first.

Here are four methods to delete a Microsoft 365 group.

1.Go to Microsoft 365 admin center -> Active teams &groups -> Delete the Microsoft 365 group.

2.Use PNP PowerShell.

$AdminSiteURL = "https://tenant-admin.sharepoint.com"
$GroupEmail = "******@tenant.onmicrosoft.com"
 
Connect-PnPOnline -Url $AdminSiteURL -Interactive
 
$Group = Get-PnPMicrosoft365Group | Where Mail -eq $GroupEmail
 
Remove-PnPMicrosoft365Group -Identity $Group.id
Write-host "Group Deleted Successfully!" -f Green

3.Use Exchange PowerShell.

Connect-ExchangeOnline -ShowBanner:$False
 
Remove-UnifiedGroup -Identity "******@tenant.onmicrosoft.com"
 
Disconnect-ExchangeOnline -Confirm:$False

4.Use Azure AD PowerShell.

#Parameters
$GroupEmail = "******@tenant.onmicrosoft.com"
 
#Connect to AzureAD
Connect-AzureAD -Credential (Get-Credential) | Out-Null
 
#Get the Azure AD Group
$Group  = Get-AzureADGroup -Filter "Mail eq '$GroupEmail'"
 
If($Group)
{
    $Prompt = Read-Host "Are you sure want to delete the Group (Y/N)?"
    If($Prompt -eq "Y")
    {
        #Delete the Office 365 Group
        Remove-AzureADGroup -ObjectId $Group.ObjectId
        Write-Host "Group Deleted Successfully!" -f Green
    }
}

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Answer 2

You can use PnP PowerShell or CLI for Microsoft 365 to easily delete Microsoft 365 group and SharePoint site associated with it.

Example:

Using PnP PowerShell:

Remove

Using CLI for Microsoft 365:

m365 entra m365group 

References:

1. Remove-PnPMicrosoft365Group
2. m365 entra m365group remove
3. Delete all Microsoft 365 groups and SharePoint sites using PnP PowerShell
4. Delete all Microsoft 365 groups and SharePoint sites using PnP PowerShell

Important Note: Link #3 and #4 given above deletes all M365 groups and SharePoint sites associated with. DO NOT run those scripts as is in your environment. I have provided those links just for reference to see how to use those commands. You will have to run the specific commands for only one site/M365 group.

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Answer 3

Henrietta,

I have been working on this for about week and a half. Your question was perfect timing. I'm working on cleaning up our inactive SharePoint sites that have had no activity for over 2 years and beyond. What I have utilized is the OOTB SharePoint Admin Center Active sites export and then also running a PowerShell that gets the GroupId's for the sites.

With some help from MSFT, forums, chatgpt, from this post, and lots of trial and error, for not a developer and Powershell I'm very new to, got a working solution. It does its job but does kick some errors, but seem to be false for the group and sites get deleted. Does take a bit for it to show up in the Deleted sites in SharePoint Admin center but does work. Did a test run of 10 sites and all ended up in Deleted Sites recycle bin.

Here is what I have and hope it helps. Sharing is Caring!

Also adding the disclaimer that this goes without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.

#Insert your org name between the quotes below

$orgname="orgnameinsert"

Connect-pnponline https://$orgname-admin.sharepoint.com -interactive

#Import Excel sheet table

$excelFilePath = "C:\x\x\filename.xlsx"

$table = Import-Excel -Path $excelFilePath

Format table with URL and GroupID these are my headers in the Excel table

$formattedTable = $table | Select-Object URL, GroupID

Remove Group if SharePoint site is tied to group, then delete site, if not tied to Group then delete site

$formattedTable | ForEach-Object {

$url = $_.URL

$groupId = $_.GroupID

# Verify if the site URL is tied to a Group

$site = Get-PnPTenantSite -url $url

if ($site.Template -eq "Group#0") {

    # If the site is tied to a group remove group and send to recycle bin

    Remove-PnPMicrosoft365Group -Identity $groupId

    # Wait 60 to 120 seconds to allow group to be deleted

    Start-Sleep -Seconds 120

    # Remove the SharePont site

    Remove-PnPTenantSite -Url $url -Force

} else {

    #Remove the SharePoint site not tied to a group

    Remove-PnPTenantSite -Url $url -Force

}

}