Viva Engage: “Import from CSV” option showing, but users not getting added to any Community

Question

Hello Team,

I am facing an issue in Microsoft Viva Engage related to adding members through CSV.

When I open any Community in Viva Engage, I can see an option:

Members → Import from CSV

However, when I try to upload a CSV file (for example to add a user like <PII removed> ), the import always fails, and a file named  FailedMemberList.csv  is generated.

This happens in every type of community, even in a newly created custom community.

Steps I followed:

1.Created a new community (e.g., “System Admin”)

2.Clicked Members → Import from CSV

3.Uploaded a simple CSV containing the UPN

4. Import fails every time

Expected behavior:

If the Import CSV option is visible, it should allow adding users from a CSV file.

Actual behavior:

CSV upload does not add any user.

Every attempt generates a FailedMemberList.csv file.

Questions:

1. Is CSV-based member import completely retired from Viva Engage?
2. If yes, why is the “Import from CSV” button still visible in the UI?
3. What is the officially supported method for bulk member addition in modern Viva Engage communities?
4. Is Microsoft 365 Group / Azure AD Group sync the only supported method now?

Answer 1

Hi Abhiram Bajpai
Thank you for reaching out on the Q&A forum.
Please understand that our forum is a public platform, and we will modify your question to cover your organization's domain name in the description. Please note that you should hide this personal or organizational information the next time you post a bug or some information to protect personal data.

While testing this scenario, I found a workaround that might help: you can add users in bulk through the Microsoft Entra admin center (if you have the required admin privileges in Entra). I tested this approach on a tenant that was having the same problem as yours and it worked as expected, so I recommend you give it a try.

Step by step:

• Go to the Microsoft Entra admin center: https://entra.microsoft.com
• Go to Groups
• Find the Microsoft 365 Group linked to your Viva Engage community (usually with the same name)
• Go to Members
• Select Bulk Operations > Import Members and use the portal CSV template
• Download the template, keep the 1st line exactly as it is, and from the 2nd line, use the user's Object ID
• Upload the file and select Upload
• To track the result, go to Bulk Transaction Results

In case you have questions about how to get the user's Object ID:

• In the Entra admin center, select All users
• Go to Bulk Operations > Download Users
• A panel will appear on the right side of the screen — select Start Download to generate the bulk file
• After successful completion, click Download
• In the downloaded file, the Object ID will be in the Id column

This is referenced from the previous post, you could also check on the additional response from the Independent Advisor (The language in the thread is not in English, please use translator to convert it into English).

https://learn.microsoft.com/pt-br/answers/questions/5694606/viva-engage-erro-ao-importar-csv

I hope this helps. Please let me know how you stayed on your side — your update may also help others in the community who are experiencing the same issue.

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Answer 2

1. The CSV-based member import feature is not explicitly stated as retired in the provided context, but issues with importing members could arise from various factors, including eligibility criteria or permissions.
2. The presence of the "Import from CSV" button in the UI suggests that the feature is still intended for use, but it may not function correctly under certain conditions.
3. The officially supported method for bulk member addition in modern Viva Engage communities is not detailed in the provided context. However, it is implied that managing members through Microsoft 365 Groups or Azure AD Groups may be a viable approach.
4. Yes, it appears that syncing with Microsoft 365 Groups or Azure AD Groups may be the primary supported method for managing community members in Viva Engage, as the context mentions group-based licensing and community management through Microsoft 365 Groups.

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References:

• Work with Microsoft Entra B2B guests in Viva Engage communities
• Tasks for the Viva Engage admin