Mail-enabled security groups and distribution groups aren't displayed in the Office 365 portal

Article ID: 2296357 - View products that this article applies to.
Not sure what release of Office 365 you're using? Go to the following Microsoft website:
Am I using Office 365 after the service upgrade?
(http://office.microsoft.com/redir/HA103982331.aspx)
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PROBLEM

You notice that the following aren't displayed in the Microsoft Office 365 portal:
  • Mail-enabled security groups that are synchronized from the on-premises environment
  • Distribution groups that were created in Microsoft Exchange Online
You can see only non-mail-enabled security groups in the administrative view of the Office 365 portal. This behavior occurs because the Office 365 portal doesn't display mail-enabled security groups or distribution groups.
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SOLUTION

Distribution groups and security-enabled distribution groups (also known as mail-enabled security groups) can be viewed and managed only in Exchange Online. To do this, use Exchange Admin Center (if you have Office 365), Exchange Control Panel (if you have Office 365 pre-upgrade), or Exchange Online PowerShell.

Notes
  • Existing security groups can't be converted into distribution groups.
  • Existing distribution groups can't be converted into security groups.
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MORE INFORMATION

To determine the kind of group, follow these steps:
  1. Connect to Windows Azure Active Directory (Windows Azure AD) by using the Windows Azure Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell. For more info about how to do this, go to the following Microsoft website:
    Connect to Windows Azure AD Using Windows PowerShell
    (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj151815.aspx#BKMK_connect)
  2. Run the following Windows PowerShell command:
    Get-MsolGroup | Select DisplayName, GroupType
    Here's an example of the output that's generated after you run the command:
    PS C:\Windows\system32> Connect-MsolService
PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-MsolGroup | Select DisplayName, GroupType
 
DisplayName                                             GroupType
-----------                                             ---------
A Mail Enabled Security Group           MailEnabledSecurity
A Security Group                                    Security
A Distribution List                                  DistributionList
    Collapse this imageExpand this image
The following table shows the visibility and management of different groups:
Collapse this tableExpand this table
SecurityMailEnabledSecurityDistributionList
Visible in the Office 365 portal
X
-
-
Visible in Exchange Control Panel or Exchange Admin Center
-
X
X
Visible in Windows PowerShell (Windows Azure Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell)
X
X
X
Visible in Windows PowerShell (Exchange Online PowerShell)
-
X
X
Manage in the Office 365 portal
X
-
-
Manage in Exchange Control Panel or Exchange Admin Center
-
X
X
Manage in Windows PowerShell (Windows Azure Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell)
X
-
-
Manage in Windows PowerShell (Exchange Online PowerShell)
-
X
X
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REFERENCES

Still need help? Go to the Office 365 Community
(http://community.office365.com/)
website.
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Properties

Article ID: 2296357 - Last Review: May 16, 2013 - Revision: 27.0
Applies to
  • Microsoft Office 365 for enterprises (pre-upgrade)
  • Microsoft Office 365 for education  (pre-upgrade)
  • Microsoft Office 365 for small businesses  (pre-upgrade)
  • Microsoft Exchange Online
  • Windows Azure Active Directory
Keywords: 
o365 o365a pre-upgrade o365062011 o365e o365022013 o365p kbgraphxlink o365m after upgrade KB2296357
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