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Need to remove On-Prem Server (stop synchronizing with Azure Connect) and go full cloud (Azure)

Diego Espinosa 0 Reputation points
2026-02-04T16:49:37.35+00:00

Greetings.

We currently have an On-Prem Server that is synchronizing with Azure, using Azure AD Connect. We are looking to retire the server and go full cloud. I can't find any recent documentation on this process. When I run commands from forums that explain how to do it, they fail. I have installed and followed all instructions. I understand that first I need to stop the server from sync with Azure. Do I uninstall AD Connect first? Basically, I need all the users in Microsoft 365 admin center to show with the cloud icon instead of the directory one. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | For business | Other
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  1. Q&A Assist
    2026-02-04T16:49:48.6766667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    To retire your on-premises server and go fully cloud with Azure AD, you will need to follow a series of steps to ensure that synchronization is stopped and that your users are fully migrated to the cloud. Here’s a general outline of the process:

    1. Stop Synchronization: Before uninstalling Azure AD Connect, you should stop the synchronization process. This can be done by disabling the synchronization in the Azure AD Connect tool.
    2. Uninstall Azure AD Connect: Once synchronization is stopped, you can proceed to uninstall Azure AD Connect from your on-premises server. This can typically be done through the Control Panel under "Programs and Features".
    3. Verify User Status: After uninstalling Azure AD Connect, check the Microsoft 365 admin center to ensure that all users are showing with the cloud icon instead of the directory icon. This indicates that they are now fully cloud-based.
    4. Monitor and Validate: It’s important to monitor the environment to ensure that there are no issues with user authentication and that all services are functioning as expected.
    5. Consider Cloud Sync: If you are looking for a lightweight provisioning solution in the future, you might want to consider using cloud sync instead of Azure AD Connect, which can simplify the management of identities in a cloud-first environment.

    For detailed steps and considerations, you may refer to the official Microsoft documentation on decommissioning Azure AD Connect and migrating to a cloud-only environment.

    References:

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