How to Use Find-MgGraphPermission to Explore Graph PowerShell Cmdlets

When working with Microsoft Graph PowerShell, understanding which permissions are required for specific operations can be tricky. That’s where the Find-MgGraphPermission cmdlet comes in handy. It helps you quickly search for and identify permissions associated with Microsoft Graph resources, making your automation and scripting tasks much smoother.

Let’s break down what this cmdlet does and how you can use it effectively.

What is Find-MgGraphPermission?

The Find-MgGraphPermission cmdlet allows you to search for Microsoft Graph API permissions that are required to perform various operations through Graph PowerShell.

Every Graph cmdlet (like Get-MgUser, New-MgGroup, or Send-MgUserMail) requires certain delegated or application permissions. Instead of browsing lengthy Microsoft documentation, you can use Find-MgGraphPermission to quickly find which permissions apply to a specific Graph resource.

In short, it’s your built-in permissions lookup tool for Microsoft Graph PowerShell.

Why Use Find-MgGraphPermission

Here’s why this cmdlet is incredibly useful, especially if you’re starting out with Graph PowerShell:

• Discover required permissions easily: No need to hunt through documentation — find permissions directly from your PowerShell session.
• Differentiate between Delegated and Application permissions: Helps identify the exact type of permission you need for user or app-based access.
• Save time and avoid errors: Knowing the correct permissions prevents frustrating “Access Denied” or “Insufficient privileges” errors.
• Ideal for script development: Perfect for developers building secure automation scripts or custom Graph API integrations.

How to Use Find-MgGraphPermission

The basic syntax of the cmdlet is:

Find-MgGraphPermission -SearchString <String>

Parameter Explanation:

• -SearchString → The keyword or resource name (e.g., user, mail, calendar) you want to search permissions for.
• -PermissionType (optional) → Filters results by Delegated or Application permissions.
• -ExactMatch (optional) → Returns only exact matches for a permission name.

This makes it simple to find permissions related to any Microsoft 365 resource.

Find-MgGraphPermission Usage Examples

Let’s go through some practical, beginner-friendly examples that show how versatile this cmdlet can be.

• Find Permissions Related to User Resource

This command lists all permissions related to user resources in Microsoft Graph:

Find-MgGraphPermission -SearchString 'user'

Example Output:

Displays permissions like User.Read, User.Read.All, User.ReadWrite.All, etc.
This is perfect when working on user-related tasks like fetching user profiles or updating user details.

• Find Delegated Permissions Related to Calendar Resource

If you’re working with a signed-in user’s calendar and want to see delegated permissions, use:

Find-MgGraphPermission -SearchString 'calendar' -PermissionType 'Delegated'

Example Output:

You’ll see permissions such as:

Calendars.Read

Calendars.ReadWrite

Calendars.Read.Shared

These permissions are typically granted to user-based applications that need calendar access on behalf of a user.

• Find Application Permissions Related to Mail Resource

To list permissions for application-based access to mail data, use:

Find-MgGraphPermission -SearchString 'mail' -PermissionType 'Application'

Example Output:

You’ll see entries like:

Mail.Read

Mail.ReadWrite

Mail.Send

These permissions apply when an application (not a user) accesses mailbox data in Microsoft 365.

• Find Exact Match for a Specific Permission

If you want to check the details of a specific permission — for example, Group.Read.All — you can run:

Find-MgGraphPermission -SearchString 'group.read.all' -ExactMatch | format-list

Example Output:

This displays detailed information about the Group.Read.All permission, including its description, type, and the resource it applies to.

Conclusion

The Find-MgGraphPermission cmdlet is an essential tool for anyone working with Microsoft Graph PowerShell. It allows you to:

• ✅ Identify permissions for any Graph resource
• ✅ Differentiate between Delegated and Application permissions
• ✅ Prevent permission-related errors before executing scripts

In short, Find-MgGraphPermission simplifies your learning curve and helps you build more secure and efficient automation scripts.

So next time you’re wondering what permission your script needs — just ask Find-MgGraphPermission!