PnP PowerShell is a powerful tool that simplifies SharePoint and Microsoft 365 management tasks. One of its key features is the ability to interact with Azure AD applications to automate authentication securely. In this article, we will focus on using the Register-PnPEntraIDAppForInteractiveLogin cmdlet to register an Azure AD application interactively

How to Register and Use PnP PowerShell with Azure AD Applications

PnP PowerShell is a powerful tool that simplifies SharePoint and Microsoft 365 management tasks. One of its key features is the ability to interact with Azure AD applications to automate authentication securely. In this article, we will focus on using the Register-PnPEntraIDAppForInteractiveLogin cmdlet to register an Azure AD application interactively.

What is PnP PowerShell?

PnP PowerShell is an open-source module developed by the Patterns and Practices (PnP) team. It provides a set of cmdlets designed to simplify tasks across Microsoft 365 services, including SharePoint Online, Microsoft Teams, and Azure Active Directory.

Why Use PnP PowerShell?

• Automate routine tasks.
• Manage SharePoint Online sites, lists, and permissions efficiently.
• Integrate seamlessly with Microsoft 365 APIs.
• Script complex processes with ease.

Installing PnP PowerShell

To start using PnP PowerShell, install the module by running the following command in PowerShell:

Install-Module -Name PnP.PowerShell -Force -AllowClobber

If you’re using PowerShell Core or on a Mac/Linux system, PnP PowerShell works seamlessly in these environments too.

What is Register-PnPEntraIDAppForInteractiveLogin?

The Register-PnPEntraIDAppForInteractiveLogin cmdlet registers an Azure AD application interactively. This simplifies the process of authenticating your scripts and ensures they run securely using Azure AD credentials.

Key Features

• Automatically configures the required permissions for your application.
• Supports interactive login for better user control.
• Enables you to authenticate without exposing sensitive credentials in your scripts.

How to Use Register-PnPEntraIDAppForInteractiveLogin

Step 1: Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure:

1. You have admin permissions in your Azure AD tenant.
2. PnP PowerShell is installed on your system.
3. You know your tenant’s domain (e.g., yourtenant.onmicrosoft.com).

Step 2: Register the Azure AD App

Run the following command to register the application interactively:

Register-PnPEntraIDAppForInteractiveLogin -ApplicationName "PnP Rocks" -Tenant "yourtenant.onmicrosoft.com" -Interactive

Parameters:

• -ApplicationName: The name of your Azure AD application (e.g., “PnP Rocks”).
• -Tenant: Your Azure AD tenant domain.
• -Interactive: Enables interactive login, allowing you to authenticate securely.

Output:

This command outputs the application ID, tenant ID, and details of the Azure AD app registration. Save this information for future use.

Step 3: Authenticate Using the Registered App

Once the app is registered, you can authenticate with it:

Connect-PnPOnline -Tenant "yourtenant.onmicrosoft.com" -ClientId "[AppID]" -Interactive

Advanced Configuration

If you need to customize the Azure AD app further, such as adding specific API permissions, you can edit the app in the Azure portal.

1. Go to Azure Portal.
2. Navigate to Azure Active Directory > App Registrations.
3. Select your app (e.g., “PnP Rocks”).
4. Configure permissions, branding, or certificates as needed.

Example: Automating SharePoint Tasks

Once authenticated, you can automate tasks like listing all site collections:

$sites = Get-PnPTenantSite
$sites | ForEach-Object {
    Write-Host "Site: $($_.Url)"
}

Or, manage permissions on a specific site:

Set-PnPSite -Url "https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/ExampleSite" -Owner "user@yourtenant.com"

Benefits of Using Register-PnPEntraIDAppForInteractiveLogin

1. Secure Authentication: Leverages Azure AD for secure and token-based authentication.
2. Ease of Use: Interactive login reduces complexity during development.
3. Customizable: Provides flexibility to configure the app for advanced scenarios.

Conclusion

PnP PowerShell simplifies Microsoft 365 management, and the Register-PnPEntraIDAppForInteractiveLogin cmdlet makes Azure AD app registration seamless and secure. By leveraging this tool, IT administrators and developers can automate their tasks efficiently while adhering to best practices.

Learn More

• PnP PowerShell Documentation
• Azure Active Directory Overview