Revoke-MgUserSignInSession: A Comprehensive Guide

Managing user sessions in Microsoft 365 is crucial for ensuring security and control over your organization's data. The Revoke-MgUserSignInSession cmdlet allows administrators to revoke active user sign-in sessions in Microsoft 365, forcing reauthentication. This guide explores the syntax, examples, tips, use cases, possible errors, and solutions to help you effectively use this cmdlet.

Cmdlet Syntax

Revoke-MgUserSignInSession -UserId <String>

Parameters:

-UserId: Specifies the unique identifier or User Principal Name (UPN) of the user whose sessions are to be revoked. This parameter is required.

Usage Examples

Example 1: Prompting Admin for User Input

You'll be prompted to enter or pass the UserId or UPN if you use the cmdlet directly. The user session is revoked when you pass the UserID or UPN.

Revoke-MgUserSignInSession

Example 2: Directly Passing the User ID

This example shows how to revoke a user’s session by directly passing their ID or UPN to the cmdlet.

# Revoke sessions for a specific user
Revoke-MgUserSignInSession -UserId "user@example.com"

Cmdlet Tips

Use Secure Input: If you’re dealing with sensitive environments, use Read-Host -AsSecureString to avoid displaying input in plaintext.
Monitor Sign-In Activity: Combine this cmdlet with Get-MgUserSignInActivity to identify users with suspicious login activity before revoking sessions.
Admin Consent: Ensure you have appropriate permissions, such as the User.ReadWrite.All permission, to execute this cmdlet.
Immediate Effect: Revoking sessions forces users to reauthenticate immediately, so communicate with affected users beforehand if possible.

Use Cases

Responding to Security Incidents: Revoke sessions for a user whose account is suspected of being compromised.
Enforcing MFA: Ensure users reauthenticate after enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) for their accounts.
Terminating User Access: Revoke access for users who are leaving the organization to ensure no further access to company resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Revoke-MgUserSignInSession immediately sign the user out from all devices?

No, it only invalidates the user's refresh tokens. Existing access tokens remain valid until they expire, so the user may not be signed out immediately.

How can I verify if a sign-in session was revoked successfully?

The cmdlet does not return output. To verify, check Azure AD audit logs or track changes in sign-in behavior using Get-MgAuditLogSignIn.

Will this cmdlet revoke sessions for service principals or app registrations?

No, Revoke-MgUserSignInSession is intended for user accounts only, not for applications or service principals.

Does revoking a user’s session also reset their password?

No. Revoking sign-in sessions only invalidates refresh tokens and forces reauthentication. The user’s existing password remains valid unless explicitly reset using Update-MgUser or other password reset methods.

Can revoked sessions still allow offline access to cached data?

Yes, in some cases. If applications cache data locally (for example, Outlook OST files or Teams offline files), users may still see previously synced content. Revoking sessions only blocks future authentication and access to cloud resources.

Possible Errors & Solutions

Error	Cause	Solution
Insufficient privileges to complete the operation	The admin account lacks the required permissions	Assign the `User.ReadWrite.All` permission to your account or role.
Invalid user ID or UPN provided	The `-UserId` parameter value is incorrect or does not exist in your tenant.	Verify the user ID or UPN using the `Get-MgUser` cmdlet: `Get-MgUser -Filter "UserPrincipalName eq 'user@example.com'"`
Resource not found	The user specified by the `-UserId` does not exist	Double-check the ID or UPN for typos and ensure the user exists in the tenant.

Revoking Tokens Doesn’t Immediately Log Out the User

🔒 Callout: Even after calling Revoke-MgUserSignInSession, users may still retain access for a short time until the current tokens expire. This cmdlet invalidates refresh tokens, but existing access tokens remain valid until their expiry.

No Output Is Expected After Successful Execution

ℹ️ Callout: The Revoke-MgUserSignInSession cmdlet does not return any output upon success. To confirm revocation, check audit logs or monitor recent user sign-ins using Get-MgAuditLogSignIn.

🔄 Revoke Sessions Across Devices

Revoke-MgUserSignInSession terminates all active refresh tokens for the user — across browsers, mobile apps, and desktop clients. This ensures sign-ins are invalidated everywhere, forcing the user to reauthenticate before accessing Microsoft 365 resources again.

Conclusion

The Revoke-MgUserSignInSession cmdlet is a powerful tool for managing Microsoft 365 user sessions. Whether you’re responding to a security incident or enforcing new policies, this cmdlet provides administrators with a straightforward way to revoke access and enhance security. By understanding its syntax, usage, and potential pitfalls, you can effectively utilize this cmdlet to protect your organization’s resources.