When working with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) and its synchronization services, administrators often rely on the Start-ADSyncSyncCycle PowerShell cmdlet to initiate synchronization cycles manually. This cmdlet becomes especially crucial when using Azure AD Connect, which is commonly installed on a Windows Server. The tool ensures that on-premises Active Directory objects align with their Azure AD counterparts. However, on occasion, users may encounter an error stating that “The term Start-ADSyncSyncCycle is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program“.
This issue can arise due to various reasons and can become a significant roadblock when managing identity synchronization between on-premises AD and Azure AD. In this article, we’ll look into the root causes of this problem and provide comprehensive solutions to resolve the issue.
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Understanding why Start-ADSyncSyncCycle is not recognized
The Start-ADSyncSyncCycle cmdlet is part of the ADSync module in PowerShell, which is made available upon the installation of Microsoft Azure AD Connect. Azure AD Connect is the tool that facilitates synchronization between your on-premises Active Directory and Azure Active Directory.
If PowerShell cannot find or recognize the “Start-ADSyncSyncCycle” cmdlet, it usually indicates one of the following:
- Microsoft Azure AD Connect might not be installed: The machine where you’re trying to execute the command might not have Azure AD Connect installed.
- The ADSync module isn’t loaded: Even if Azure AD Connect is installed, the corresponding PowerShell module, ADSync, may not be loaded into the current session.
- PowerShell session issues: Occasionally, not running PowerShell as an administrator or having an outdated session can result in the cmdlet not being recognized.
- Typographical errors: It’s also worth verifying the command’s syntax to ensure no typos are causing the error.
Related resource: Install Active Directory Users and Computers via PowerShell
Verifying the presence of ADSync module
The first step towards resolving the issue is to confirm whether the ADSync module is indeed installed on your system.
Step 1: Launch an Administrator instance of PowerShell.
Step 2: To list all available modules in your current session, run the following command:
get-Module
This command will display all the modules that are currently accessible to PowerShell. If the ADSync module is installed, you should be able to spot it in the list. If it’s missing, then the module either isn’t installed or is located in a directory not recognized by PowerShell.
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: To verify the installation directory of the ADSync module, navigate to the default installation path:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Azure AD Sync\Bin\ADSync
If the module is present in this directory but not listed in PowerShell, the issue likely stems from a path recognition problem or a failure to import the module.
Alternatively, you can also check the presence of the ADSync module by examining the installed programs on your machine. Navigate to Control Panel > Programs and Features and look for Microsoft Azure AD Connect in the list of installed programs. If it’s absent, you’ll need to download and install it from the official Microsoft website.
Importing the ADSync module into PowerShell
If the ADSync module is present on your system but not recognized by PowerShell, you can manually import it. Here’s a step-by-step guide to doing so:
Step 1: Begin by setting the execution policy of PowerShell to ensure scripts can run. You can do this with the following command:
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
Note: It’s important to understand the implications of changing the execution policy. The “RemoteSigned” policy allows locally-written scripts to run without a digital signature, but requires a signature from any script downloaded from the internet.
Step 2: Import the ADSync module to your PowerShell session. Use the following command, adjusting the path if necessary:
Import-Module -Name "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Azure AD Sync\Bin\ADSync" -Verbose
The -Verbose switch provides detailed output, which can help confirm the module’s successful import or give insight into any issues.
Step 3: Verify the import by checking the available modules again:
get-Module
You should now see “ADSync” listed among the modules.
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...}
Once the ADSync module is imported, the “Start-ADSyncSyncCycle” cmdlet should be recognized and operable in PowerShell.
Running the Start-ADSyncSyncCycle cmdlet
With the ADSync module now imported into your PowerShell session, you should be ready to initiate the synchronization cycle without encountering the previous error.
Step 1: In your PowerShell session, simply run the following command:
Start-ADSyncSyncCycle -PolicyType Initial
This command will start the initial synchronization cycle. The -PolicyType Initial parameter indicates that this is a full synchronization, encompassing all objects.
Step 2: Monitor the progress of the synchronization. To do this, you can use the following PowerShell command to view the current status of the Azure AD Connect sync scheduler:
Get-ADSyncScheduler
This will provide you with information such as the last and next synchronization run times, the current sync cycle status, and more. The “SyncCycleEnabled” field should be set to “True,” indicating that synchronization is active.
The Start-ADSyncSyncCycle cmdlet will not output a “Success” or “Failure” message automatically in the PowerShell session where you initiated the sync. For monitoring the success or failure of the synchronization, you will generally rely on the Get-ADSyncScheduler cmdlet or the Azure AD Connect Synchronization Service Manager.
Concluding thoughts
In most situations, the root cause of the “Start-ADSyncSyncCycle is not recognized” error lies in one of a few common scenarios. The ADSync module may not have been properly imported into your PowerShell session, Microsoft Azure AD Connect might not be installed, or there could be an incorrect path pointing to the module. These aspects are fundamental to the functioning of the cmdlet and are the first places you should investigate when troubleshooting.
By meticulously double-checking these factors, you increase your chances of resolving the issue swiftly. Once addressed, PowerShell should once again recognize the Start-ADSyncSyncCycle cmdlet, allowing you to carry on with your synchronization tasks without hindrance.
