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SharePoint 2013 Troubleshooting: People Picker error "Sorry, we’re having trouble reaching the server".

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Problem

A domain name used in SharePoint has been changed like from mydomain.com to mydomain.net. This caused the People Picker control throw an error as below.

Sorry, we’re having trouble reaching the server.

Solution

To add a domain to work with the people picker, run the following PowerShell command as an administrator:  

1.$webApp = Get-SPWebApplication https://<web adderss>
2.$newdomain = new-object Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPPeoplePickerSearchActiveDirectoryDomain
3.$newdomain.DomainName ='<Domain Name like domain.com>'; 
4.$newdomain.ShortDomainName ='<net bios name (optional)>';
5.$newdomain.LoginName ='domain\Farm Account'
6.$newdomain.IsForest='false'
7.$webapp.PeoplePickerSettings.SearchActiveDirectoryDomains.Add($newdomain)
8.$webapp.update()

 

To verify if the domain has been added, run the command below  

1.$webapp.PeoplePickerSettings.SearchActiveDirectoryDomains

Wait for a couple of minutes and users will start to show in the people picker which weren't initially showing up.