How do I create new mailbox for existing user

Question

Hi

We had an on premise exchange server and when we moved to office 365 we have an exchange hybrid server. We have an existing user that was migrated successfully from on premise to office 365. This user was on long term sick and we had to remove their 365 premium license. On returning the users mailbox was no longer available.

They are showing in AD and have an email address. They are showing in Users in office 365 and I have reallocated the premium license.

However in Office 365 Exchange Admin console > Mailboxes there is no mailbox showing for the user.

When opening Outlook they get the mailbox not found message.

Can someone tell me how to create a new mailbox for the existing user

Thanks

John

Answer 1

When an Exchange Online license is removed from a user, Exchange Online data associated with that account is held for 30 days. After the 30-day grace period, the data is deleted and can't be recovered. If you add the license back to the user during the grace period, this will restore access, and the mailbox will become fully active. And if you add the license after the grace period, it will create a new mailbox for the user.

Delete or restore user mailboxes in Exchange Online | Microsoft Learn