Exchange: “You don’t have sufficient permissions” when modifying or removing a DL

You are getting the following error when you try modifying or deleting an DL in Exchange Admin Center or in PowerShell.

You don’t have sufficient permissions. This operation can only be performed by a manager of the group.

Funny thing is sometimes you can’t even add yourself as a manager of the group (ManagedBy attribute).

But it says clearly DLs needs an owner/manager so you can modify or delete the DL.

Solution 1: Add yourself as owner of the DL.

• Connect to Exchange Management Shell or connect to Exchange Online in PowerShell
• Type this command to add yourself as a owner:
  • Set-DistributionGroup <DL Name> -ManagedBy @{Add=”UserPrincipalName of yours”} -BypassSecurityGroupManagerCheck
• Now make the changes you want to do in this DL

Solution 2: If you want to remove the DL, then

• Connect to Exchange in PowerShell
• Type this command to delete the DL
  • Remove-DistributionGroup <Group Name> -BypassSecurityGroupManagerCheck

By now you figured out BypassSecurityGroupManagerCheck option did the trick. 🙂