Start-ADSyncSyncCycle

Use Start-ADSyncSyncCycle to request a Microsoft Entra Connect Sync cycle after checking scheduler state and the intended server.

Command 1 min read Windows PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell 7

Documentation: Microsoft Learn — PowerShell module reference

Written and tested by Dhrub Bharali · Updated 02 October 2026

Syntax

1PS> Start-ADSyncSyncCycle [-PolicyType <SynchronizationPolicyType>]

See the command anatomy

Read the command and its supplied arguments. This example requires real PowerShell or its module; this diagram does not execute it.

Start-ADSyncSyncCycle [-PolicyType <SynchronizationPolicyType>]

Stage 1Start-ADSyncSyncCycle-PolicyType

Try it

Windows PowerShell

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Execution scope: The full example below requires PowerShell outside this browser. You can edit this runner to use the supported practice commands; unsupported syntax returns an explanation.

Command

Interactive simulation · fictional data

Examples

Select SyncCycleEnabled, StagingModeEnabled, SyncCycleInProgress

1PS> Get-ADSyncScheduler | Select-Object SyncCycleEnabled, StagingModeEnabled, SyncCycleInProgress

Show reference output

Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

SyncCycleEnabled  StagingModeEnabled  SyncCycleInProgress
----------------  ------------------  -------------------
True              False               False

Parameters

Parameter definitions:

-PolicyType

PowerShell module reference on Microsoft Learn

Practical use and troubleshooting

Practical scenario: Use Start-ADSyncSyncCycle when you need to request a Microsoft Entra Connect Sync cycle after checking scheduler state and the intended server. Start with one identified target and inspect the returned values before extending the operation to a list. Keep the identity in your report so you can trace each result back to the object or path that produced it.

Common error and fix: Command not recognised can mean it is being run off the Connect Sync server. Import ADSync on the intended server, inspect scheduler and staging state, and do not overlap an in-progress cycle. In an unattended script, capture this failure with its original error record and record which target failed. An empty result and an unsuccessful query must remain distinguishable in the final report.

See also: Get-ADUser. Start-ADSyncSyncCycle requests an Entra Connect Sync cycle; Get-ADUser reads on-premises users. Reading or changing an AD object does not prove its cloud synchronisation has completed. Read the linked command before substituting it; similar names do not imply identical inputs or output.

Start-ADSyncSyncCycle reference on Microsoft Learn

Recap

Start-ADSyncSyncCycle Use Start-ADSyncSyncCycle to request a Microsoft Entra Connect Sync cycle after checking scheduler state and the intended server.

Next: Start-Job