Why can I create users via Entra Overview but not via Manage → Users in Azure Portal?

Your screenshots show that the Overview shortcut opens the creation form, while the Users blade disables Create new user. Opening a form is not proof that your account can successfully create a directory user. Azure Contributor and User Access Administrator manage Azure resources and Azure role assignments; they do not grant Microsoft Entra user-management permissions, even at root scope. Microsoft documents User Administrator as the least-privileged built-in role for creating users. Ask your directory role administrator to assign that role at the appropriate scope, using PIM if your organization requires it, then sign in again and test through the Microsoft Entra admin center. Guest invitation has separate permissions and can be allowed by the tenant’s default collaboration settings, explaining why Invite remains available. These documents do not explain the exact difference between those portal controls; report it with both screenshots if it persists after permissions are corrected.