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ManagementObjectNotFoundException when updating Exchange recipient via PowerShell

Eric Logsdon 96 Reputation points
2026-04-30T19:12:21.59+00:00

We are running Exchange in full hybrid mode. We only start up the on-prem Exchange Management (Exchange 2019 CU14) server when we need to do recipient maintenance. We have been running this way for about six years with no issues. The last time I needed to use the management server was in October of last year. I am trying to update a recipient now using the Exchange Management Shell on the Exchange server. When run the command "Set-Mailbox -Identity "Doe, John" -EmailAddresses @{remove="******@Company.com"}" I get the error:

The operation couldn't be performed because object 'Doe, John' couldn't be found on <Removed>.Company.com'.

  • CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [Set-Mailbox], ManagementObjectNotFoundException
  • FullyQualifiedErrorId : [Server=<Removed>,RequestId=<Removed>,TimeStamp=4/30/2026 6:30:5 9 PM] [FailureCategory=Cmdlet-ManagementObjectNotFoundException] <Removed>,Microsoft.Exchange.Management.RecipientT asks.SetMailbox
  • PSComputerName : <Removed>.Company.com

John Doe is in active directory and has a functioning mailbox.

I can ping the <Removed>, so I know I have network connectivity.

The clocks on both servers are in sync.

I can run Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_OperatingSystem –ComputerName <Removed> and get a response (the reverse works as well).

I don't see anything obvious in the event logs in either server at the times the set-mailbox command is executed.

Any pointers on where to look next?

Thanks.

Exchange | Exchange Server | Management
Exchange | Exchange Server | Management

The administration and maintenance of Microsoft Exchange Server to ensure secure, reliable, and efficient email and collaboration services across an organization.

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  1. Eric Logsdon 96 Reputation points
    2026-05-01T17:18:54.8666667+00:00

    Yes, John Doe and the domains are sanitized. :-)

    I ran the Get-Mailbox with JDoe, "Doe, John" and "******@company.com" and got the same error (Object not found) for each of them.

    I did the Get-Recipient and each format of the identity worked.

    ** Further note: I should have been using "Set-RemoteMailBox" instead of "Set-MailBox" since the mailbox in question is in ExchangeOnline. Lost a week for a typo.

    Thanks for your help.

  2. Dora-T 13,060 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-05-01T00:26:43.3633333+00:00

    Hi Eric Logsdon

    Based on the checks you’ve already performed (connectivity, time sync, WMI, and confirmation that the object exists and the mailbox is functional), this does not appear to be an infrastructure or communication issue. 

    To help narrow this down, could you try resolving the mailbox using different identity formats to see how Exchange is interpreting the object? For example:

    Get-Mailbox "Sample User"
Get-Mailbox ******@domain.com

    This can help determine how the identity is being resolved in the current session. If the display name does not return any results while the SMTP address does, it may indicate that the object is not being resolved consistently in the current context.

    Also, since the Exchange server is only started occasionally, the current session may be limited in scope. You can expand it to include the entire forest with: 

    Set-ADServerSettings -ViewEntireForest $true 

    After that, run Get-Mailbox again to confirm whether the object is visible. 

    If the issue still persists, it would be helpful to check whether Exchange can see the object through Get-Recipient, and optionally test against a specific domain controller to rule out any directory replication inconsistencies. 

    Please let us know how it goes once you’ve had a chance to try this.

    We assume that “Doe, John” is a placeholder name and does not reflect the actual user.

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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