5 Useful Scripts with Remove-MgUser in PowerShell

Removing inactive or unnecessary user accounts from Microsoft 365 is just as important as creating them. With Microsoft Graph PowerShell, the Remove-MgUser cmdlet allows administrators to delete user accounts securely and efficiently — whether individually, with confirmation, or in bulk.

In this article, you’ll explore five simple PowerShell scripts that use Remove-MgUser to manage user deletions safely. Each script is practical, easy to follow, and designed for beginners who want to automate user cleanup tasks.

Prerequisites

Before running these scripts, make sure you’ve installed and connected to Microsoft Graph PowerShell:

Install-Module Microsoft.Graph -Scope CurrentUser
Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "User.ReadWrite.All"

Once connected, you can use the following scripts to remove users from your tenant.

1. Remove a User by UPN

This method uses the UserPrincipalName (UPN) of the user you want to delete.

Remove-MgUser -UserId "john.doe@contoso.com"

Explanation:

This script deletes the user account with the specified UPN — in this case, john.doe@contoso.com. It’s one of the simplest and most direct ways to remove a user. Make sure you use the correct UPN to avoid accidentally deleting the wrong account.

2. Remove a User by User ID

Sometimes you may only have the User ID (GUID) instead of the UPN. You can still remove the user easily.

Remove-MgUser -UserId "12345abc-6789-def0-1234-56789abcdef0"

Explanation:

Here, the user is deleted using their unique object ID. This is useful when working with scripts or APIs that return GUIDs instead of email addresses.

3. Remove a User with Confirmation

It’s always good to confirm before performing irreversible actions. The -Confirm parameter prompts you before deletion.

Remove-MgUser -UserId "jane.doe@contoso.com" -Confirm



Explanation:

When you run this command, PowerShell asks for confirmation before proceeding with the deletion. This prevents accidental removal of user accounts, making it a safer option for manual administration.

4. Preview User Removal

If you want to see what would happen without actually deleting the user, use the -WhatIf parameter.

Remove-MgUser -UserId "jane.doe@contoso.com" -WhatIf



Explanation:

This script performs a “dry run” of the deletion process, showing what would occur if you executed the command for real. It’s an excellent way to validate scripts before applying them to production environments.

5. Bulk Remove Users from a CSV File

If you need to delete multiple users at once, you can automate the process with a CSV file.

$users = Import-Csv "C:\Path\To\Users.csv"
foreach ($user in $users) {
    Remove-MgUser -UserId $user.UserPrincipalName 
}

CSV File Structure

Your CSV file should contain the following column header:

UserPrincipalName
john.doe@contoso.com
jane.doe@contoso.com
mark.johnson@contoso.com

Explanation:

This script imports all user UPNs from the CSV file and deletes them one by one. It’s a great way to clean up multiple accounts efficiently, such as when employees leave or temporary accounts are no longer needed.

Common Errors & Solutions

Error	Cause	Solution
Insufficient privileges to complete the operation	Missing admin permission	Reconnect using Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "User.ReadWrite.All"
User not found	Incorrect UPN or ID	Verify that the UserPrincipalName or ID exists
Access denied	Account lacks sufficient privileges	Run PowerShell as administrator or use a global admin account

Use Case Ideas

• Remove disabled or inactive users periodically
• Clean up test or demo accounts
• Automate offboarding for employees who leave the organization
• Verify deletions safely with -WhatIf before bulk operations

Conclusion

The Remove-MgUser cmdlet is an essential tool for Microsoft 365 administrators who want to maintain a clean and secure environment. Whether you’re deleting a single user, confirming actions interactively, or removing multiple accounts from a CSV file, these scripts give you the flexibility and safety you need.

Start by testing with -WhatIf mode to confirm your results — then confidently automate user cleanup in your Microsoft 365 tenant!