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Start profile synchronization manually in SharePoint Server

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This article describes how to start profile synchronization for SharePoint Server manually. You can start a full synchronization or an incremental synchronization of profile information. You might want to consider starting profile synchronization manually if you have made considerable changes to user profiles, and you don't want to wait for the next scheduled synchronization.

Note that this procedure is only for SharePoint Server farms that are using SharePoint Active Directory Import. If you are using an external identity manager, see the documentation for your identity manager.

You can also configure profile synchronization to run automatically according to a schedule.

Start profile synchronization manually

You can manually start a full synchronization or an incremental synchronization of profile information. You need to be a farm administrator or an administrator of the User Profile service application to perform this procedure.

Usually, an incremental synchronization is fine, but you should use a full synchronization if any of the following are true.

  • A mapped property has changed. For example, you mapped a new property, or added or changed a mapping associated with a property.

  • You changed the containers that a connection uses to synchronize with AD DS.

  • You added or deleted a synchronization connection.

Keep in mind that a full synchronization can take a long time, depending on the size of your directory.

To start profile synchronization manually

  1. On the SharePoint Central Administration website, in the Application Management section, click Manage service applications.

  2. On the Manage Service Applications page, click the link for the User Profile service application.

  3. On the Manage Profile Service page, in the Synchronization section, click Start Profile Synchronization.

  4. On the Start Profile Synchronization page, select Start Incremental Synchronization to synchronize only profiles that have changed since the last synchronization, or select Start Full Synchronization to synchronize all profiles.

  5. Click OK.

    Note

    Refresh the Manage Profile Service page to view the profile synchronization status.

See also

Concepts

Overview of profile synchronization in SharePoint Server 2013

Synchronize user and group profiles in SharePoint Server 2013