SharePoint User Information List Not Updating [Addressed]
SharePoint user information list is a crucial feature. It ensures accurate user information is stored across site collections. It stores all the basic details of the user including usernames, email addresses, and ID’s. For every action in the site collection of the user, a new entry is created in this list. This user information list helps to sync data between sites and the user profile service application. This synchronization ensures that reflects any changes in a user’s profile across all relevant sites. But sometimes, the SharePoint user information list not updating which leads to outdated information and causes operational inefficiencies.
Table of Content
In this guide we will guide you through practical steps to fix it, ensuring your SharePoint environment runs smoothly. So, let’s get started.
Common Causes of the User Information List Not Updating
The SharePoint user information list not updating issue can occur for several reasons. Let’s discuss each one in detail.
- Failure of Timer Job – SharePoint’s synchronization of user profile service data with the user information list depends upon the timer jobs. If there is an issue with the job configuration, then UIL will not update as per requirement.
- Obsolete or Outdated Synchronization Records – Another reason for the list not updating can be the synchronization records. Sometimes the synchronization stored records become stale or corrupt. Due to this, SharePoint may fail to process updates from the USPA to UIL.
- Incorrect Configuration of User Profile Service Application (UPSA) – The UPSA manages and syncs user profiles with other SharePoint components. Intentionally or unintentionally misconfigured in AD mapping can disrupt the whole connection or synchronization.
- Permission or Access Issues – For performing proper synchronization between UIL and USPA, permissions play a crucial role. If the account’s synchronization process lacks access to essential services, updates to the UIL can fail.
- Active Directory Changes – After knowing how to migrate AD objects from one domain to another, users perform changes in Active Directory which creates inconsistencies. If the changes are not performed properly, synchronization issues may arise.
Steps to Resolve SharePoint User Information List Not Updating
Follow these steps to ensure a successful resolution of the list not updating issues.
1. Verify Timer Job Working
Timer jobs are one of the key aspects of the synchronization between UIL and USPA. So, let’s see how to fix it.
- Move to the Central Administration the Monitoring.
- Open the Review job definitions.
- Search for the User Profile to SharePoint Full Synchronization job.
- If it is not found scheduled and running correctly then choose the job.
- Press the Run Now option to initiate manual synchronization.
2. Reset and Set Synchronization
Sometimes, obsolete or corrupted synchronization records block the proper functioning of synchronization. So, open the SharePoint Management Shell as an administrator reset the older synchronization records, and prepare it for new ones.
stsadm -o sync -listolddatabases 0 stsadm -o sync -deleteolddatabases 0
After that using User Profile to SharePoint Full Synchronization job click on Run Now.
3. Update User Information List with PowerShell
Using PowerShell it is easy to manually update user profiles. Open your SharePoint Online Management Shell as an administrator.
To update a specific user, you can execute the below command.
$web = Get-SPWeb “site collection URL” Set-SPUser -Identity "domain\username" -SyncFromAD -Web $web
Execute the following commands for updating all users across all site collections:
Get-SPSite -Limit All | ForEach-Object {
$site = $_
$site.AllWebs | ForEach-Object {
$web = $_
$web.SiteUsers | ForEach-Object {
Set-SPUser -Identity $_ -SyncFromAD -Web $web
}
$web.Dispose()
}
$site.Dispose()
}
4. Verify UPSA Configuration
A misconfigured User Profile Service Application can affect the synchronization process.
- After opening the Central Administration.
- Go to Application Management and choose the Manage service applications.
- Choose the User Profile Service Application.
- Ensure connection or mapping settings for Active Directory are configured properly.
Expert’s Suggestion
Although, SharePoint is a robust application. But sometimes it affects the workflow because of some synchronization issues. So, for a non-disruptive or smooth workflow, you should perform SharePoint migration. By shifting all of your data to another account you can continue your workflow even with the synchronization issues in the current account.
Final Words
The SharePoint user information list plays a vital role in managing data across site collections. However, synchronization issues disrupt the data accuracy or integrity. But after knowing the right troubleshooting steps, you can resolve the issue of the SharePoint user information list not updating flawlessly.