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Profile Picture Syncing Issue in Exchange Online

Md. Rubiat Haque 156 Reputation points
2021-12-29T10:02:40.533+00:00

Hi, I am Rubiat.

Recently I have faced a problem in my hybrid environment. When we change user profile picture in AD it reflects the update for on prem exchange users outlook but its not reflected on online exchange users outlooks. It holds the old picture. Azure active directory is properly synced but no update result reflects. Can you please give me any suggestion how to resolve it?

Thank You

Exchange | Exchange Server | Management
Exchange | Exchange Server | Management

The administration and maintenance of Microsoft Exchange Server to ensure secure, reliable, and efficient email and collaboration services across an organization.

Exchange | Hybrid management
Exchange | Hybrid management

The administration of a hybrid deployment that connects on-premises Exchange Server with Exchange Online, enabling seamless integration and centralized control.

Microsoft Security | Microsoft Entra | Microsoft Entra ID
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Answer accepted by question author

JamesTran-MSFT 37,256 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator
2021-12-29T17:58:14.607+00:00

@Md. Rubiat Haque
Thank you for your detailed post!

Based off our Azure AD Connect sync: Attributes synchronized to Azure Active Directory documentation, the thumbnailphoto attribute is "synced only once from Azure AD to Exchange Online after which Exchange Online becomes source of authority for this attribute and any later changes can't be synced from on-premise". This also applies to SharePoint Online, Teams, and Skype for Business.

161216-image.png

Solution:
Use the Set-UserPhoto cmdlet or Outlook on the web to change the user's photo. These methods enable you to upload a photo that's as large as 500 KB.

Use the Set-UserPhoto cmdlet (for admins):
1.Connect to Exchange Online by using remote PowerShell. For more info - Connect to Exchange Online PowerShell.

$Session = New-PSSession -ConfigurationName Microsoft.Exchange  
-ConnectionUri https://outlook.office365.com/powershell-liveid/?proxyMethod=RPS  
-Credential (Get-Credential) -Authentication Basic -AllowRedirection  

Import-PSSession $Session -AllowClobber -WarningAction SilentlyContinue  
-ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

Note - To use the Set-UserPhoto cmdlet to its full size capabilities, you have to change the connection URI by appending ?proxyMethod=RPS to the ConnectionUri parameter.
For more info on the remediation steps - User photos aren't synced from the on-premises environment to Exchange Online in a hybrid deployment.

Related threads with alternate workarounds:
Azure AD Profile Pictures not updating in an Exchange Hybrid deployment
Azure AD user picture is not synced / updated from Office 365

If you have any other questions, please let me know.
Thank you for your time and patience throughout this issue.

Please remember to "Accept Answer" if any answer/reply helped, so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution.

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