Skip to content

How to Connect to Azure AD with PowerShell

We like to connect to Azure AD with PowerShell because we want to retrieve Microsoft 365 MFA user status. Before doing that, we must install a PowerShell module. But which particular PowerShell module do we need? In this article, you will learn how to connect to Azure AD with PowerShell.

Which PowerShell module to connect to Azure AD?

It can be overwhelming with all the PowerShell modules that Microsoft releases which let you connect to Azure AD. So, to make it easier, you only need the Microsoft Graph PowerShell module.

Don’t immediately remove the old modules from your system because there might still be commands and scripts that use these modules, and you want to convert them first to Microsoft Graph PowerShell.

Important: Azure AD PowerShell is planned for deprecation. You must use Microsoft Graph PowerShell to interact with Azure AD as you would in Azure AD PowerShell. In addition, Microsoft Graph PowerShell allows you access to all Microsoft Graph APIs and is available on PowerShell 7.

We will show how to install, connect, disconnect, and update the old modules. Once Microsoft blocks you from connecting to them, uninstall them from your system.

PowerShell module prerequisites

Before you start to install the modules, you need to go through the prerequisites below.

1. Start one of the below applications as administrator (high privileges):

2. Set Windows PowerShell Execution Policy

By default, we can’t install scripts. To require all PowerShell scripts that you download from the internet are signed by a trusted publisher, run PowerShell as administrator, and run the cmdlet.

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Force

Important: Close and re-open the elevated Windows PowerShell window to have the changes apply.

3. Install PowerShellGet module

Run PowerShell as administrator. Run the command Install-Module PowershellGet -Force. When asked to install NuGet provider, press Y and follow with Enter.

Install-Module PowershellGet -Force

If you get an error that it’s unable to install, read the article Unable to install NuGet provider for PowerShell.

Now that the prerequisites are set up on the system, let’s look at the PowerShell modules that let you connect to Azure Active Directory.

1. Microsoft Graph PowerShell module

Microsoft provides the Microsoft Graph PowerShell module to interact with Azure AD. It’s the only module that you need to install and connect to:

2. MSOnline module

Let’s look at how to install, connect, disconnect, update, and uninstall the MSOnline module.

Install MSOnline module

Install the MSOnline module.

Install-Module MSOnline -Force

Connect MSOnline

Run the Connect-MsolService cmdlet to initiate a connection with Azure Active Directory.

Connect-MsolService

After running the above cmdlet, the sign-in window appears.

Connect to Azure AD with PowerShell

After connecting with Azure AD, you can run your PowerShell commands.

Disconnect MSOnline

There is no Disconnect-MsolService cmdlet. What you can do is close the Windows PowerShell window or run the below command.

[Microsoft.Online.Administration.Automation.ConnectMsolService]::ClearUserSessionState()

Get MSOnline module version

Get-Module -ListAvailable MSOnline*

You can keep track of the MSOnline module changelog and its release dates.

Get MSOnline module latest available version

Find-Module MSOnline | ft -AutoSize

Update MSOnline module

Update-Module MSOnline -Force

Uninstall MSOnline module

Close all Windows PowerShell sessions and start a new Windows PowerShell window as administrator before you run the below command to uninstall the MSOnline module.

Get-Module -ListAvailable MSOnline* | Uninstall-Module -Force

3. AzureAD module

Let’s look at how to install, connect, disconnect, update, and uninstall the AzureAD module.

Install AzureAD module

Install-Module AzureAD -Force

Connect AzureAD

Run the Connect-AzureAD cmdlet to initiate a connection with Azure Active Directory.

Connect-AzureAD

After running the above cmdlet, the sign-in window appears.

Connect to Azure AD with PowerShell

Disconnect AzureAD

Disconnect from the specified Azure AD tenant. This is useful if you want to switch to a different Azure AD tenant or if you want to disconnect and clear the current authentication session.

Disconnect-AzureAD

Get AzureAD module version

Get-Module -ListAvailable Az*

You can keep track of the AzureAD module changelog and its release dates.

Get AzureAD module latest available version

Find-Module AzureAD | ft -AutoSize

Update AzureAD module

Update-Module AzureAD -Force

Uninstall AzureAD module

Close all Windows PowerShell sessions and start a new Windows PowerShell window as administrator before you run the below command to uninstall the AzureAD module.

Get-Module -ListAvailable Az* | Uninstall-Module

4. AzureADPreview module

Let’s look at how to install, connect, disconnect, update, and uninstall the AzureADPreview module.

Install AzureADPreview module

Install-Module AzureADPreview -Force

Connect AzureADPreview

Run the Connect-AzureAD cmdlet to initiate a connection with Azure Active Directory.

Connect-AzureAD

After running the above cmdlet, the sign-in window appears.

Connect to Azure AD with PowerShell

Disconnect AzureADPreview

Disconnect from the specified Azure AD tenant. This is useful if you want to switch to a different Azure AD tenant or if you want to disconnect and clear the current authentication session.

Disconnect-AzureAD

Get AzureADPreview module version

Get-Module -ListAvailable Az*

You can keep track of the AzureADPreview module changelog and its release dates.

Get AzureADPreview module latest available version

Find-Module AzureADPreview | ft -AutoSize

Update AzureADPreview module

Update-Module AzureADPreview -Force

Uninstall AzureADPreview module

Close all Windows PowerShell sessions and start a new Windows PowerShell window as administrator before you run the below command to uninstall the AzureADPreview module.

Get-Module -ListAvailable Az* | Uninstall-Module

That’s it!

Read more: Install Exchange Online PowerShell module »

Conclusion

You learned how to connect to Azure AD with PowerShell. There are 4 different modules that you can use. It depends on your scripts and what you want to achieve. That said, Microsoft will deprecate the modules, and only the Microsoft Graph PowerShell will be available. So, it’s important that you upgrade all your scripts to Microsoft Graph PowerShell.

Did you enjoy this article? You may also like Install and configure Azure AD Connect. Don’t forget to follow us and share this article.

ALI TAJRAN

ALI TAJRAN

ALI TAJRAN is a passionate IT Architect, IT Consultant, and Microsoft Certified Trainer. He started Information Technology at a very young age, and his goal is to teach and inspire others. Read more »

This Post Has 0 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *