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Microsoft Entra Blog
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Important: Azure AD Graph Retirement and Powershell Module Deprecation

krbash's avatar
krbash
Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
Jun 15, 2023

In 2019, we announced deprecation of the Azure AD Graph service. One year ago we communicated that Azure AD Graph will be retired and stop functioning after June 30, 2023. We also previously communicated that three legacy PowerShell modules (Azure AD, Azure AD Preview, and MS Online) would be deprecated on June 30, 2023.  

 

We want to provide an update on timelines for these changes and offer further clarity on what to expect going forward. No new investment is going into Azure AD Graph and the three PowerShell modules, making it very important that all customers prioritize migration to Microsoft Graph APIs and Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK to ensure continued support and functionality.   

 

However, we understand that many customers are not yet complete with these migrations and we confirm our continued commitment to work with our customers during this migration period to minimize and avoid impact.  

 

Azure AD Graph Updates: 

 

  • No changes will be made to Azure AD Graph availability on June 30, 2023, and no applications using Azure AD Graph will be impacted on this date.  
  • June 30, 2023 marks the completion of a 3-year notice period for deprecation of Azure AD Graph. We will now enter the retirement cycle for Azure AD Graph APIs.  
  • We will make no further investment in Azure AD Graph, and Azure AD Graph APIs have no SLA or maintenance commitment beyond security-related fixes. 
  • We will retire Azure AD Graph in incremental steps, with the intention of allowing sufficient time for migration of applications to Microsoft Graph APIs. The first step will involve blocking newly created applications from using Azure AD Graph APIs. We will clarify the date for this first step in a future update, with three (3) months of advance notice.  
  • We will provide regular updates on the steps for this retirement cycle with further details on what to expect and required actions.  

 

PowerShell Module Updates: 

 

  • As previously communicated, the legacy licensing assignment PowerShell cmdlets (Set-AzureADUserLicense, Set-MsolUserLicense, -LicenseAssignment or -LicenseOptions parameters of New-MsolUser) and Azure AD Graph API (assignLicense) are retired. For customers who were provided an extension for these cmdlets and API, migrations to Microsoft Graph licensing APIs/PowerShell must be completed by September 30, 2023. 
  • We recognize that the legacy PowerShell modules are required for some scenarios not yet available in Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK. Therefore, we are postponing the deprecation date for MS Online, AzureAD, and AzureAD Preview PowerShell modules to March 30, 2024.  

 

What happens to applications using Azure AD Graph on June 30, 2023? 

 

There will be no impact to applications using Azure AD Graph at the June 30, 2023 milestone. Applications will continue to function, but Azure AD Graph APIs do not have SLA or maintenance commitments beyond security-related fixes. We will provide a near future update to clarify the timeline and details of our first step of retirement – blocking newly created applications from using Azure AD Graph.  

 

What happens to PowerShell scripts using Azure AD, Azure AD-Preview, or MS Online modules on June 30, 2023? 

 

There will be no impact to PowerShell scripts using these legacy modules on or after June 30, 2023. They will continue to function and be supported until deprecation announcement.  

 

What happens to PowerShell scripts using Azure AD, Azure AD-Preview, or MS Online modules after March 30, 2024? 

 

We plan to deprecate Azure AD, Azure AD-Preview, and MS Online PowerShell modules on March 30, 2024. After this date, the only support offered for these PowerShell modules will be support in migrating to Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK. Only security fixes will be offered for these PowerShell modules after deprecation is announced. Once these modules are deprecated, they will continue to work for a minimum of six (6) months before being retired.  

 

We are committed to working with our customers to enable smooth migration to the Microsoft Graph platform. We will provide further communication, updates on tools to help these migrations, and clarifying information regularly throughout this process.  

 

Current support for Azure AD Graph and legacy PowerShell modules:

 

  • Azure AD Graph is currently deprecated and will be supported with only security-related fixes. 
  • Azure AD, Azure AD Preview, and MS Online PowerShell modules are not yet deprecated. These modules are supported, but no new feature capabilities are being added to them.  

 

Required Actions 

 

1. Identify and migrate applications that are using Azure AD Graph to use equivalent Microsoft Graph APIs. Microsoft Graph is a feature rich API platform that provides a unified API surface for many Microsoft services, including Microsoft Entra, Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, and the full Microsoft 365 portfolio.  
Reference: Migrate from Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Graph to Microsoft Graph 


2. Identify and update PowerShell scripts that use the legacy modules to use the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK.  
Reference: Migrate from Azure AD PowerShell to Microsoft Graph PowerShell.  

 

Available tools:

 

 

Learn more about Microsoft Entra: 

Updated Jun 20, 2023
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  • magichappenz's avatar
    magichappenz
    Brass Contributor
    Jun 16, 2023

    I see many notes about deprecated and unsupported modules but no initiative to update existing docs. Could you please shed some light on that? Knowing the modules are deprecated but finding them recommended every here and then in another doc is quite annoying. Finding the right Graph call or SDK command is frustrating as well. Update your docs or at least publish a reference document where we can lookup the equivalent commands of the outdated modules. 

    If you need an example, I just read here this morning: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-US/microsoft-365/commerce/subscriptions/manage-self-service-purchases-admins?view=o365-worldwide.

  • MelmixDK's avatar
    MelmixDK
    Brass Contributor
    Jun 18, 2023

    Please don't disable using the old modules before you've moved more basic functionality out of beta. We can't use beta for production.

  • Dmitry Kirushev's avatar
    Dmitry Kirushev
    Brass Contributor
    Jun 21, 2023

    Can you fire engineers who don’t know anything except the Rest API and bring back the normal ones who will work for people and not for the fashionable unfinished tools? 

  • Samarth99's avatar
    Samarth99
    Copper Contributor
    Jun 27, 2023

    There seems to be no Microsoft Graph powershell mapping for Privileged Role Management cmdlets ( Eg: Get-AzureADMSPrivilegedRoleDefinition from AzureADPreview module. It will be a big impact for those of us who have leverged AzureADPreview module to automate PIM tasks. 

     

    Can you please let us know how to migrate ?

  • JamesC95's avatar
    JamesC95
    Brass Contributor
    Jul 21, 2023

    While I feel like I've done my job and migrated scripts and workflows to MS graph, its disappointing when using current MS tools that they haven't done the same

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/howto-mfa-nps-extension
    This still using MSOnline to configure its-self

    I followed the guidance to check app registrations API requirements to find Azure App proxy is still using Azure AD graph. Removing these permissions, breaks the application

    Its not good enough that even MS hasn't got their house in order here. I expect next year there will be another extension since the progress has been so glacial

  • SteveMutungi's avatar
    SteveMutungi
    Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
    Mar 13, 2024

    Samarth99 : AzureAD modules and Azure AD Graph service will continue to function without interruption after the March 30 PowerShell module deprecation. An official blog post will be released shortly, providing a comprehensive update on the impact and the estimated timeline for retirement.

     

    Let's wait for the official blog post guidance.

     

    Note:

    Deprecation: Describes the transitional phase during which a software component is marked as discouraged for future use but is still functional.
    Retirement: Describes the permanent removal of a software component from active use and support.

    Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/lifecycle/definitions

     

     

  • belaie's avatar
    belaie
    Brass Contributor
    Jun 19, 2023

    Please let us migrate first our apps with internal developers,  before you "turn it off".  I think it would be  sensible to  provide customers with AzureAD recommendation on tenants to provide which apps are still using AzureAD Graph API so we can internally coordinate change and create a  migration plan please do not turn it off anytime after 30.06.2023.   We need this change with end of date (turn off) date to be decided by customers and  clear message with date time.

  • NS1066's avatar
    NS1066
    Copper Contributor
    Jun 30, 2023

    While I'm sure it brings some degree of relief to many, there has to be a concern regarding the notice of this significant deadline shift, which was provided only two weeks prior to the original date!

     

    This can lead to frustrations and cost implications, particularly for large organizations that may have already engaged contractors or undergone substantial project reorganizations in order to meet the initial deadline. In my opinion, receiving news of the extension at such a late stage can be regarded as a bit of a "communication challenge" (to put it politely). It evokes a metaphorical resemblance to the "Cry Wolf" fable.  Unfortunately, I feel this is not an uncommon theme with recent Microsoft announcements.