get-mguser: The Complete Guide to Microsoft Graph PowerShell User Management

In today’s Microsoft 365 and Azure environments, efficient user management is critical. PowerShell scripts have long been an essential tool for IT administrators, and with the shift from older modules like MSOnline and AzureAD to the more robust Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK, get-mguser has become the go-to cmdlet for managing and retrieving user data across Microsoft services.

The get-mguser cmdlet allows administrators to pull detailed user data from Azure Active Directory (AAD) using Microsoft Graph. Whether you are conducting license audits, generating user reports, filtering accounts, or integrating with automation scripts, get-mguser is an essential part of a modern IT toolkit.

This article will take a deep dive into the use of get-mguser, providing insights into syntax, authentication, filtering options, automation, and best practices. Lets dive in!

The Role of get-mguser in Microsoft Graph PowerShell

get-mguser is a cmdlet included in the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK, designed to replace legacy tools like Get-AzureADUser and Get-MsolUser. It provides access to user profiles stored in Azure AD using Microsoft Graph APIs.

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The Microsoft Graph is the unified API endpoint for all Microsoft 365 services. This means get-mguser can not only retrieve user data but also be integrated into broader scenarios involving Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, and more.

Why It’s Important

• Modern and secure – Aligned with Microsoft’s latest API strategy.
• Granular control – Retrieve only the fields and users you need.
• Scriptable – Works seamlessly with automation and reporting tools.

Understanding the Syntax and Usage of get-mguser

Using get-mguser starts with understanding its syntax. Below is the basic format:

powershellCopyEditGet-MgUser

This will return a default set of user properties for the first 100 users in Azure AD.

To expand functionality, you can use several parameters. Here are some common examples:

Common Parameters and Examples

Here are practical uses with some widely-used parameters:

1. Get a Specific User

powershellCopyEditGet-MgUser -UserId "johndoe@domain.com"

2. Filter Users by Department

powershellCopyEditGet-MgUser -Filter "department eq 'Sales'" -ConsistencyLevel eventual

3. Retrieve Only Selected Properties

powershellCopyEditGet-MgUser -Property "id,displayName,mail"

4. Paging Through Large Results

For directories with more than 100 users, implement paging:

powershellCopyEditGet-MgUser -Top 999 | ForEach-Object { ... }

Authentication and Permissions

Before using get-mguser, proper authentication must be set up. This typically involves:

1. Installing the Graph SDK

powershellCopyEditInstall-Module Microsoft.Graph -Scope CurrentUser

2. Connecting to Microsoft Graph

powershellCopyEditConnect-MgGraph -Scopes "User.Read.All"

You must have the User.Read.All permission granted and consented to by an admin to retrieve directory-wide user data.

Filtering, Paging, and Performance Considerations

Microsoft Graph’s get-mguser supports the OData query language for filtering user data. This is particularly helpful when working with large directories or generating reports.

Filtering Examples

powershellCopyEditGet-MgUser -Filter "accountEnabled eq true"

Paging and Limits

Microsoft Graph limits responses to 100 users per call. Use paging with -Top or loop with $NextLink to retrieve complete data sets.

Count Example

powershellCopyEditGet-MgUser -ConsistencyLevel eventual -CountVariable UserCount

Real-World Use Cases in IT Operations

1. License Auditing

powershellCopyEditGet-MgUser -Filter "assignedLicenses/$count ne 0" -ConsistencyLevel eventual

2. Find All Disabled Accounts

powershellCopyEditGet-MgUser -Filter "accountEnabled eq false"

3. Export Users to CSV

powershellCopyEditGet-MgUser -All | Select DisplayName, UserPrincipalName | Export-Csv -Path ".\users.csv"

Automating Admin Tasks with get-mguser

One of the most powerful aspects of get-mguser is automation. Combine it with scheduled scripts to:

• Generate daily user login reports.
• Monitor inactive users.
• Sync user data with on-premises systems.
• Perform compliance checks on user attributes.

Example Script for Reporting

powershellCopyEdit$users = Get-MgUser -All
foreach ($user in $users) {
    # Custom logic for checking licenses, departments, etc.
}

Integration with Other Microsoft Services

get-mguser doesn’t work in isolation. You can use it with:

• Microsoft Teams: Automate user membership in teams.
• SharePoint Online: Assign user permissions to sites.
• Azure Automation: Run scheduled PowerShell jobs with get-mguser.
• Logic Apps / Power Automate: Combine Graph API endpoints with no-code tools.

Troubleshooting and Best Practices

Common Errors

Best Practices

• Always use -Property to limit data retrieval for performance.
• Combine with Select-Object for tailored reports.
• Cache frequent queries to reduce API load.
• Use service principals for unattended scripts.

Security and Compliance with get-mguser

When accessing directory data, especially at scale, security and governance are key. Best practices include:

• Use least privilege for service accounts.
• Log all script activity.
• Regularly audit access tokens and API usage.
• Apply conditional access policies where appropriate.

FAQs

What is get-mguser used for?

It retrieves Azure AD user data through Microsoft Graph, replacing older cmdlets like Get-AzureADUser.

How is it different from Get-AzureADUser or Get-MsolUser?

get-mguser is part of Microsoft Graph, the modern API stack. Older modules are deprecated and lack new features.

What permissions are required?

At minimum, User.Read.All. You may need additional permissions for advanced filters.

Can it be used for reports?

Yes. get-mguser is ideal for building license audits, user role reports, and compliance logs.

Can I automate it?

Absolutely. Use PowerShell scripts, Azure Automation, or GitHub Actions for automation.

Conclusion

The get-mguser cmdlet has become an essential tool for Microsoft 365 administrators. It offers powerful capabilities to retrieve, filter, and manage user data from Azure Active Directory. With the backing of the Microsoft Graph API, it provides a modern, secure, and scalable method for user management.

By leveraging get-mguser for reporting, automation, and integration across services, organizations can stay compliant, efficient, and ahead in their cloud management practices.

If you haven’t yet explored get-mguser, now is the perfect time to get started.