Ultimate Guide for Using Get-MgApplication Cmdlet

Microsoft 365 administrators often need to manage and monitor registered applications in their Azure Active Directory (Microsoft Entra ID). These applications can be enterprise apps, service principals, or custom apps registered by developers for integration with Microsoft 365 services.

The Get-MgApplication cmdlet, part of the Microsoft Graph PowerShell module, allows administrators to retrieve information about registered applications programmatically. This guide explores everything you need to know about using Get-MgApplication, from setup to practical use cases.

Who Are Microsoft 365 Applications?

Microsoft 365 applications are registered applications in Azure Active Directory (Entra ID) that enable authentication and integration with Microsoft services. These applications can be:

• Enterprise Applications – Pre-integrated apps like Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook.
• Custom Applications – Apps registered by organizations for internal or third-party integrations.
• Service Principals – Representations of apps that need permissions to access resources.

Managing these applications effectively is critical for security, compliance, and automation.

Why Use Get-MgApplication?

The Get-MgApplication cmdlet allows administrators to:

• Retrieve a list of all registered applications in the tenant.
• Get details of a specific application using its ID or name.
• Filter applications based on specific properties like creation date or owner.
• Audit and manage application permissions, credentials, and configurations.

Instead of manually navigating the Azure AD portal, this cmdlet provides a quick and automated way to access application details.

Setting Up Microsoft Graph PowerShell

Before using Get-MgApplication, install and configure Graph PowerShell.

1. Install the Module

   • Install-Module Microsoft.Graph -Scope CurrentUser

2. Connect to Microsoft Graph

   • Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "Application.Read.All"

   You will be prompted to authenticate using admin credentials.

3. Disconnect After Use

   • Disconnect-MgGraph

Exploring the Get-MgApplication Cmdlet

The Get-MgApplication cmdlet retrieves information about registered applications.

Cmdlet Syntax

Get-MgApplication [-Filter <String>] [-Search <String>] [-All] [-Property <String[]>]

• -All – Retrieves all applications in the directory.
• -Filter – Fetches applications based on a condition.
• -Property – Returns only specified properties for optimization.

Practical Examples of Get-MgApplication

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1. Get All Applications

   Retrieve all registered applications in your tenant:

   • Get-MgApplication -All

   This command lists all applications, including their display names, IDs, and other key attributes.

2. Get a Single Application

   Retrieve details of a specific application using its Object ID:

   • Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "Application.Read.All"

   Or retrieve an app using its Display Name:

   • Get-MgApplication | Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -eq "MyApp" }

3. Get Applications Using Filter Parameter

   Retrieve only applications that have a specific publisher:

   • Get-MgApplication -Filter "publisherDomain eq 'contoso.com'"

4. Get Applications Created in the Last 5 Months

Filter applications based on their creation date:

$fiveMonthsAgo = (Get-Date).AddMonths(-5).ToString("yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssZ")

Get-MgApplication -Filter "createdDateTime ge $fiveMonthsAgo"

This command retrieves all applications created within the last five months.

Best Practices for Using Get-MgApplication

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1. Limit Data Retrieval

Instead of retrieving all properties, fetch only the required ones for performance efficiency:

Get-MgApplication -All -Property "Id", "DisplayName", "AppId", "CreatedDateTime"

2. Log and Audit Application Data

Regularly log application details to track unauthorized changes:

Get-MgApplication -All | Export-Csv -Path "C:\AppLogs\Applications.csv" -NoTypeInformation

Conclusion

The Get-MgApplication cmdlet is a powerful tool for administrators who need to manage, audit, and monitor applications in Microsoft 365. Whether retrieving all applications, filtering by creation date, or optimizing data retrieval, this cmdlet simplifies application management.

By integrating Get-MgApplication into your administrative workflows, you can automate audits, maintain security, and ensure compliance effortlessly. Start using Get-MgApplication today for better application visibility and control!