Start-ADSyncSyncCycle is not recognized as a cmdlet (Fix)

When working with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) and its sync services, admins often use the Start-ADSyncSyncCycle PowerShell command to kick off sync cycles by hand. This command is super important for using Azure AD Connect, which usually lives on a Windows Server. This tool keeps your local Active Directory stuff in sync with Azure AD. But sometimes, you might see an error that says “The term Start-ADSyncSyncCycle is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program“.

This can be a big problem when you’re trying to keep your on-premises AD and Azure AD in line. We’re going to talk about why this happens and how to fix it.

Understanding why Start-ADSyncSyncCycle is not recognized

The Start-ADSyncSyncCycle command is from the ADSync module in PowerShell, which you get from installing Microsoft Azure AD Connect. Azure AD Connect helps sync your local Active Directory with Azure Active Directory.

If PowerShell can’t find the “Start-ADSyncSyncCycle” command, it’s usually because of these reasons:

1. The machine might not have Azure AD Connect installed.
2. The ADSync module might not be loaded into your current session.
3. There could be issues with not running PowerShell as an admin or using an outdated session.
4. It’s a good idea to double-check the command for any typos.

Related resource: Install Active Directory Users and Computers via PowerShell

Verifying the presence of ADSync module

First, make sure the ADSync module is actually installed on your system.

Step 1: Open PowerShell as an admin.

Step 2: To see all modules currently available, run:

get-Module

This will show you if the ADSync module is there. If it’s missing, the module might not be installed or might be in a spot PowerShell doesn’t see.

ModuleType Version  Name                                 ExportedCommands
---------- -------  ----                                 -----------------
Manifest   3.1.0.0  Microsoft.PowerShell.Management       {Add-Computer, Add-Content, Checkpoint-Computer, Clear-Content...}
Manifest   3.1.0.0  Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility          {Add-Member, Add-Type, Clear-Variable, Compare-Object...}
Script     2.0.0    PSReadline                            {Get-PSReadLineKeyHandler, Get-PSReadLineOption, Remove-PSReadLineKeyHandler, Set-PSReadLineKeyHandler...}
Binary     1.0.0.1  PackageManagement                     {Find-Package, Find-PackageProvider, Get-Package, Get-PackageSource...}
Script     1.0.0.1  PowerShellGet                         {Find-Command, Find-DSCResource, Find-Module, Find-RoleCapability...}

Step 3: Check if the ADSync module is in the usual spot:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Azure AD Sync\Bin\ADSync

If you find it there but it’s not in PowerShell, there’s probably a path or import problem.

Or, look for Microsoft Azure AD Connect in your installed programs through Control Panel > Programs and Features. If it’s not there, you’ll need to grab it from Microsoft’s site.

Importing the ADSync module into PowerShell

If ADSync is on your computer but not in PowerShell, you can add it yourself. Here’s how:

Step 1: Change PowerShell’s settings to let scripts run with this command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

Note: Changing the execution policy lets you run local scripts without a digital signature but be careful with scripts from the internet.

Step 2: Add the ADSync module to your session with:

Import-Module -Name "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Azure AD Sync\Bin\ADSync" -Verbose

The -Verbose switch tells you more about what’s happening, which can help if there are problems.

Step 3: Check the modules again to see if ADSync shows up:

get-Module

Now, “ADSync” should be there, and you can use the “Start-ADSyncSyncCycle” command.

ModuleType Version  Name                                 ExportedCommands
---------- -------  ----                                 -----------------
Manifest   3.1.0.0  Microsoft.PowerShell.Management       {Add-Computer, Add-Content, Checkpoint-Computer, Clear-Content...}
Manifest   3.1.0.0  Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility          {Add-Member, Add-Type, Clear-Variable, Compare-Object...}
Script     2.0.0    PSReadline                            {Get-PSReadLineKeyHandler, Get-PSReadLineOption, Remove-PSReadLineKeyHandler, Set-PSReadLineKeyHandler...}
Binary     1.0.0.1  PackageManagement                     {Find-Package, Find-PackageProvider, Get-Package, Get-PackageSource...}
Script     1.0.0.1  PowerShellGet                         {Find-Command, Find-DSCResource, Find-Module, Find-RoleCapability...}
Binary     1.0.0.0  ADSync                                {Start-ADSyncSyncCycle, Stop-ADSyncSyncCycle, Get-ADSyncScheduler...}

Running the Start-ADSyncSyncCycle cmdlet

With ADSync ready, you can start syncing without that annoying error.

Step 1: In PowerShell, just run:

Start-ADSyncSyncCycle -PolicyType Initial

This starts a full sync of everything.

Step 2: To keep an eye on the sync, check the sync scheduler’s status with:

Get-ADSyncScheduler

This tells you when the last sync happened, when the next one is, and if sync is ongoing. “SyncCycleEnabled” should be “True,” showing that sync is working.

The Start-ADSyncSyncCycle command doesn’t say “Success” or “Failure” on its own. To see if the sync worked, you’ll usually use the Get-ADSyncScheduler command or the Azure AD Connect Synchronization Service Manager.

Closing thoughts

Most times, the “Start-ADSyncSyncCycle is not recognized” error comes from a few common places: the ADSync module wasn’t added to your PowerShell, Azure AD Connect isn’t on your computer, or the module’s path is wrong. Checking these things first can help you fix the problem fast, letting you get back to syncing without trouble.