Error: Cannot invoke method or retrieve property from null object. Object AssociatedMemberGroup

Title

URL Name

Error-Cannot-invoke-method-or-retrieve-property-from-null-object-Object-AssociatedMemberGroup

Question

A request to update a Site has been made using ProvisionPoint actions (Update details) but an error is being displayed:

Cannot invoke method or retrieve property from null object. Object AssociatedMemberGroup

What is the cause and how can it be fixed this so it can be updated?

Answer

Cause

If you have removed the default Owner, member or Visitor Group on your SharePoint Site, this can cause issues when trying to update the Site membership.

If you are using the Add/Remove Owners or Member actions or using Update Details because the membership is controlled by custom columns, you will see the error above.

Resolution:

To resolve you would need to ensure there is an owner and members SharePoint Group.

Browse to <siteurl>/_layouts/15/permsetup.aspx

This will show if there is an existing Group associated and allow you to create a new group or link to an existing SP Group you already have.

Once the Groups are set correctly, replay the failed job to update the permissions.