How to Authenticate to Azure Using PowerShell (User and Device Authentication)

Managing Azure resources through PowerShell offers an efficient and flexible way to handle day-to-day cloud operations. In this post, we’ll explore the steps to authenticate to Azure using the Azure PowerShell module. We’ll cover:

• Installing the Azure PowerShell module
• Common authentication methods
• Verifying authentication
• Managing multiple subscriptions
• Handling potential authentication issues

So, let’s dive in!

Step 1: Installing the Azure PowerShell Module

First, we need to install the Azure PowerShell module. Open PowerShell with administrator privileges and run the following command:

Install-Module -Name Az.Accounts

The Install-Module command pulls down the Azure Accounts module from the PowerShell Gallery. Azure offers different modules for various services, but for authentication, the Az.Accounts module is sufficient.

Alternatively, you could install the full Az module, which includes everything, but I prefer installing just what I need to keep things lightweight.

Step 2: Authenticating to Azure – Interactive Login

Once the module is installed, we can authenticate using the most common method: Interactive Login.

Connect-AzAccount

When you run Connect-AzAccount, a browser window will pop up where you can enter your Azure credentials. This method is ideal for users with a single Azure subscription, and it uses your Microsoft or Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) account.

Once authenticated, let’s confirm the session by checking the current context.

Get-AzContext

This command retrieves details about your Azure session, including the authenticated account and active subscription.

Trouble? Disable Web Authentication Manager

If you run into issues, particularly with errors that appear in the background or if you get no output from Get-AzContext, try disabling the Web Authentication Manager (WAM). WAM is a new login feature integrated with Windows, but it can cause problems in some environments.

Update-AzConfig -EnableLoginByWam $false

After disabling WAM, try logging in again with Connect-AzAccount, and things should work smoothly. Once authenticated, you should see your subscription details and the Entra ID tenant you’re associated with.

Step 3: Verifying the Authentication

To confirm successful authentication, run:

Get-AzContext

If you’re authenticated properly, this command will show your user account and the Azure subscription you’re logged into. PowerShell saves this context to disk, meaning you won’t have to authenticate every time you open a new session.

Step 4: Alternative Method – Device Login

In environments where browser access is restricted, you can use Device Login. This method allows you to authenticate using another device that can access the web.

Connect-AzAccount -UseDeviceAuthentication

When you run this command, PowerShell will provide a code and a URL. Go to the provided URL on a different device (like your phone), enter the code, and authenticate. The rest of the authentication process is the same as interactive login.

If you’re already authenticated, you can cancel this operation with Ctrl-C.

Step 5: Managing Multiple Subscriptions

If your account has access to multiple Azure subscriptions, you can list them all using:

Get-AzSubscription

If you need to switch between subscriptions, you can specify which one to use by setting the context to a particular subscription.

Set-AzContext -SubscriptionId "your-subscription-id"

This command is handy when you have multiple Azure subscriptions under your account and want to interact with resources in a specific subscription.

Conclusion

Now you’re authenticated and ready to manage your Azure resources using PowerShell! We covered how to install the necessary modules, authenticate using interactive and device login methods, and switch between subscriptions. Additionally, we touched on some common issues like Web Authentication Manager problems and how to handle them.

By mastering these authentication methods, you’ll be well on your way to securely and efficiently managing your Azure environment from PowerShell.

Happy automating!