How to Manage People Data in Microsoft 365 Admin Center

The People settings section in the Microsoft 365 admin center is where Microsoft 365 admins manage all people data and experiences related settings. To access the People settings section, sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center. The account should have the necessary admin role. Under Settings, select Org settings –>Services tab. Now select People settings from the list of services.

To assign the People Administrator role to a user, visit the Microsoft 365 admin center > Roles > Role assignments. Search for People Administrator in the list of roles. Now select it. In the role details pane, choose Assigned admins. Then Add and select the users.

Key Takeaways:

  • People settings section is where IT admins manage all people data and experiences related settings.
  • Only a Global Administrator or People Administrator role in Microsoft 365 can view or modify People settings.
  • You can assign up to 20 users at a time to the People Administrator role. Select Add for adding a user.

    • How To Access the People Settings Section?

    Here are steps on how to access the People Settings section:

    Step 1: Tap on Settings in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center

    Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center with an account having the necessary admin role. In the left navigation pane, go to Settings.

    Step 2: Tap on Org Settings in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center
    Now from Settings, navigate to Org Settings in the admin center.

    Step 3: Tap on Services Tab
    On the Org settings page, find and click on the Services tab.

    Step 4: Click on People Settings Tab
    Select on “People settings” tab which is a unified location to manage all people data and experiences related settings in their organization.

    Step 5: Customize Info and Experiences on People Settings Tab
    To view or modify “People Settings”, you must be a Global Administrator or have the People Administrator role in Microsoft 365.

    How To Assign the People Administrator Role to Users?

    Steps to assign the People Administrator role to users:

    Step 1: Tap on Role Assignments in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center
    In the Microsoft 365 admin center, go to Roles > Role assignments.

    Step 2: Search for People Administrator
    Look for People Administrator in the list of roles. Now select and click on it.

    Step 3: Click on People Administrator
    Now on ticking the check box, you can now see various roles present under it.
    Step 4: Add Users Under Assigned Admins
    Adding Users Under Assigned AdminsChoose Assigned admins. Then, add and select the user you want to assign.

    Step 5: Assign the People Administrator Role to User
    Now you can assign up to 20 users at a time to the People Administrator role. Select Add for adding a user. You can come back to assign more users.

    Once the role is assigned, that user can navigate to Settings > Org settings > People settings and have full access to configure those settings (like a Global Admin would).

    What Are the Settings in People Settings Section?

    “People Settings” section contains important settings:

  • Profile card enrichment and customization
  • Turn pronouns on or off for your organization
  • Username pronunciation in Teams

    • Final Thoughts

    Users can get a clear overview of managing people data in Microsoft 365 admin center from this blog post. Follow our blog page to stay updated on technical insights.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    1. What is the People settings section in Microsoft 365 admin center?

    The People settings section allows IT admins manage all people data and experience-related settings in their organization, including profile cards, pronouns, and name pronunciations.

    2. How do I access People settings in the Microsoft 365 admin center?

    Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center. Now go to Settings → Org settings. Open the Services tab and select People settings from the list.

    3. What admin role is required to manage People settings?

    You need to be a Global Administrator or have the People Administrator role. The People Administrator role allows managing people-centric features without granting full global admin permissions. Global Readers can view these settings in read-only mode. 

    4. What is the People Administrator role and what can it do?

    The People Administrator is a specialized admin role that allows managing people-centric features like updating profile card settings, pronouns, and name pronunciations without requiring full Global Admin permissions. 

    5. How do I assign the People Administrator role to a user?

    In the Microsoft 365 admin center, go to Roles → Role assignments, search for People Administrator, select it, choose Assigned admins → Add, select the user(s), and save your changes.