How to Use New-MgGroupMember to Add Microsoft 365 Group Members?

Adding users to Microsoft 365 groups is a common administrative task—especially when managing large teams, projects, or distribution lists. Thankfully, Microsoft Graph PowerShell provides an efficient cmdlet to automate this: New-MgGroupMember.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to use the New-MgGroupMember cmdlet, walk through real-world examples, and highlight when and why this cmdlet comes in handy.

What is New-MgGroupMember?

New-MgGroupMember is a Microsoft Graph PowerShell cmdlet used to add a member to a Microsoft 365 group. The member must be represented as a directory object (typically a user), and the target group is identified by its unique Group ID.

This cmdlet allows you to add:

• Users to security groups
• Members to Microsoft 365 groups
• Members to distribution lists (if backed by Microsoft 365)

Why Use New-MgGroupMember?

• Automate user onboarding – Add new employees to required groups with a script.
• Handle bulk assignments – Add multiple users to a group quickly.
• Simplify administration – Especially useful when paired with CSV input for batch processing.
• Ensure consistency – Avoid manual errors by using code-based group assignments.

Cmdlet Syntax

New-MgGroupMember -GroupId <String> -DirectoryObjectId <String>

Parameters:

• -GroupId: The unique identifier (GUID) of the Microsoft 365 group.
• -DirectoryObjectId: The object ID of the user (or other directory object) to add as a member.

Usage Examples

Example 1: Add a user to a group

$groupId = "d9f6b5c5-67e5-41d1-9af0-8c85b6f15d0c"
$userId = "5c5d5f65-1d6b-4141-a5e5-b8c85d0c6e8f"
                                                                            
try {
    New-MgGroupMember -GroupId $groupId -DirectoryObjectId $userId
    Write-Host "User with ID $userId has been successfully added to the group with ID $groupId." -ForegroundColor Green
} catch {
    Write-Host "Failed to add user to the group. Error: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
}

Example 2: Add multiple users to a group

$groupId = "d9f6b5c5-67e5-41d1-9af0-8c85b6f15d0c"
$userIds = @("5c5d5f65-1d6b-4141-a5e5-b8c85d0c6e8f", "6d7e8f70-6e7b-41d2-a6f7-9c85d7f16e9d")
foreach ($userId in $userIds) {
    try {
        New-MgGroupMember -GroupId $groupId -DirectoryObjectId $userId
        Write-Host "User with ID $userId successfully added to the group with ID $groupId." -ForegroundColor Green
    } catch {
        Write-Host "Failed to add user with ID $userId to the group. Error: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
    }
}

Example 3: Add members from a CSV file

$csvPath = "C:\path\to\your\members.csv"
$members = Import-Csv -Path $csvPath
                                            
foreach ($member in $members) {
    $user = Get-MgUser -UserPrincipalName $member.UserPrincipalName
    New-MgGroupMember -GroupId $member.GroupId -DirectoryObjectId $user.Id
}

CSV file format

Make sure your CSV file is structured like this:

UserPrincipalName,GroupId
user1@domain.com,d9f6b5c5-67e5-41d1-9af0-8c85b6f15d0c
user2@domain.com,d9f6b5c5-67e5-41d1-9af0-8c85b6f15d0c

Use Cases

• New Hire Onboarding: Automatically add new employees to department-specific Microsoft 365 groups.
• Group Membership Updates: sync group membership with an external HR system using scheduled scripts.
• Project-Based Assignments: Quickly add users to ad-hoc project groups without manual steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is New-MgGroupMember?
  New-MgGroupMember is a Microsoft Graph PowerShell cmdlet that allows administrators to add users or service principals to a group in Microsoft 365. This cmdlet supports adding members to security groups and Microsoft Teams groups.
  
• Can I use New-MgGroupMember to add guest users to a group?
  Yes, you can use New-MgGroupMember to add guest users to a group. However, ensure the guest user is already added to the tenant, and you have their Object ID or UserPrincipalName for the operation.
• Can I use email addresses instead of object IDs to add members?
  No. The -DirectoryObjectId parameter strictly requires the Azure AD object ID of the user. You’ll need to resolve the user’s ID using a separate Get-MgUser call like:
  

  (Get-MgUser -UserId "user@domain.com").Id

• Does this cmdlet work for Microsoft 365 Groups and Security Groups?
  Yes. New-MgGroupMember can be used to add members to both Microsoft 365 Groups and Azure AD Security Groups. However, for Microsoft Teams, make sure the group is team-enabled, or use Add-MgTeamMember for role-specific membership (like owner/member).
• How to verify group membership after adding users to the group?
  Run Get-MgGroupMember -GroupId $groupId command. This should list the User Id of the user(s) you just added to the group.

https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/directoryObjects/{ObjectId}

Conclusion

The New-MgGroupMember cmdlet is a must-have for every Microsoft 365 admin's toolbox. Whether you're managing one group or a hundred, automating group memberships can save hours of manual work and ensure your organization runs smoothly.

Pro Tip: Always double-check the GroupId and DirectoryObjectId before adding members to avoid errors or duplication.

Have you tried using New-MgGroupMember in your admin routine? Let us know how it helped simplify your tasks!