Get-MgApplicationByAppId – Retrieve Application Using AppId (Client ID)

When working with Microsoft Entra applications (Azure AD apps), you’ll often encounter two identifiers:

• ObjectId → Internal directory identifier
• AppId (Client ID) → Public-facing identifier used in authentication

The Get-MgApplicationByAppId cmdlet is specifically designed to fetch an application using its AppId (Client ID) instead of the ObjectId.

Cmdlet Syntax

Get-MgApplicationByAppId -AppId <String>[-Property <String>[]>]

Usage Examples

Example 1: Passing -AppId when prompted by PowerShell console

Get-MgApplicationByAppId

What happens:

• PowerShell will prompt you to enter the AppId (Client ID).
• Once provided, the cmdlet returns the corresponding application details.

Example 2: Passing -AppId parameter directly

Get-MgApplicationByAppId -AppId 9534bccc-fe16-4b06-80b1-c5c5d2fda483

What this does:

• Directly retrieves the application with the AppId you provide.
• Useful for automation and scripting scenarios.

Cmdlet Tips

1. AppId ≠ ObjectId

⚠️ Important Note:
Get-MgApplicationByAppId operates using the AppId (Client ID) — not the ObjectId.

• AppId → Used here
• ObjectId → Used with Get-MgApplication
2. Ideal for OAuth / App Registration Workflows
• Use this cmdlet when you already have the Client ID from:
• App registrations
• API integrations
• Authentication flows
3. Combine with Selective Properties

To reduce output clutter:

Get-MgApplicationByAppId -AppId <AppId> | Select-Object DisplayName, AppId

4. Useful in Automation Scripts
• Perfect for:
• Validating app existence
• Fetching app metadata before updates
• Integration validation scripts

Real-World Admin Use Cases

1. Validate Application During OAuth / API Integration

When integrating third-party apps or internal tools, admins are usually given a Client ID (AppId).

Instead of searching manually in the Entra portal, you can quickly validate:

Get-MgApplicationByAppId -AppId <ClientId>

Why this matters:

• Confirms the app exists in your tenant
• Helps verify correct configuration before granting permissions
2. Troubleshooting Authentication Failures

If an application fails during login or token acquisition, one of the first checks is:

• Does the app exist?
• Is the Client ID correct?

Using this cmdlet:

• Quickly confirms if the AppId is valid
• Avoids confusion between AppId vs ObjectId
3. Auditing Known Applications by Client ID

Security or audit teams often receive Client IDs in reports/logs.

Instead of manually mapping:

Get-MgApplicationByAppId -AppId <AppId> | Select DisplayName, PublisherDomain

Use case:

• Identify application owner/source
• Validate if the app is trusted
4. Pre-Validation in Automation Scripts

Before performing operations like:

• Assigning permissions
• Updating app settings
• Adding secrets/certificates

You can validate the app:

$app = Get-MgApplicationByAppId -AppId <AppId>
if ($app) {
    Write-Host "Application exists. Proceeding..."
}
                                

Benefit:

• Prevents script failures
• Adds reliability to automation workflows
5. Cross-Team Collaboration (Dev ↔ Admin)

Developers typically share

• Client ID (AppId)
• NOT ObjectId

Admins can directly use this cmdlet without needing conversions.

Result:

• Faster collaboration
• No unnecessary back-and-forth
6. Incident Response & Security Investigations

During a security incident:

• Logs often contain AppId (Client ID)

Admins can quickly retrieve app details:

Get-MgApplicationByAppId -AppId <SuspiciousAppId>

Helps answer:

• What app is this?
• Who owns it?
• Is it legitimate?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Get-MgApplicationByAppId used for?

Get-MgApplicationByAppId is used to retrieve an Entra (Azure AD) application using its AppId (Client ID) instead of the ObjectId.

2. What is the difference between AppId and ObjectId?
• AppId (Client ID): Used in authentication and integrations
• ObjectId: Internal identifier used within Entra ID

This cmdlet specifically works with the AppId.

3. Can I use ObjectId with Get-MgApplicationByAppId?

No. This cmdlet only accepts AppId (Client ID).
To use ObjectId, use:

Get-MgApplication -ApplicationId <ObjectId>

4. What permissions are required to run this cmdlet?

You need: Application.Read.All

Connect using:

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

Possible Errors & Solutions

Error	Cause	Solution
Resource Not Found	Invalid or incorrect AppId Application does not exist in the tenant	Verify the AppId using: Get-MgApplication | Select DisplayName, AppId
Insufficient Privileges	Missing required permissions	Connect with proper scopes: Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "Application.Read.All"
Cannot convert value to type 'Edm.Guid'	AppId is not in valid GUID format	Ensure you are indeed passing the AppId and nothing else.

Conclusion

The Get-MgApplicationByAppId cmdlet is a simple yet powerful tool for retrieving application details using the AppId (Client ID) — especially useful in authentication and integration scenarios where the Client ID is readily available.

Unlike traditional queries based on ObjectId, this cmdlet aligns perfectly with real-world workflows where AppId is the primary reference.

👉 Whether you're validating app configurations, building automation scripts, or troubleshooting integrations — this cmdlet fits right into your toolkit.