End of Azure AD Graph API: Your Migration Guide to Microsoft Graph

If you've been putting off revisiting your legacy app infrastructure, consider this your reminder—Microsoft is officially pulling the plug on Azure Active Directory (AD) Graph APIs as of February 1, 2025. Starting this date, existing applications will be barred from calling Azure AD Graph APIs, marking the end of a transitional period that began years ago.
While this decision has been a long time coming, it underscores the importance of migrating your apps and services to Microsoft's more modern and robust Microsoft Graph API.
Let's break down what this means, how it impacts developers and IT professionals, and what steps you need to take to ensure your systems remain operational.

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Azure AD Graph API: The End of the Road​

Azure AD Graph APIs started alongside Azure Active Directory over a decade ago. For developers, these APIs allowed secure programmatic access to Azure Active Directory services such as user authentication, directory management, and other identity-related functionality.
But the fact is, Azure AD Graph has been living on borrowed time since Microsoft introduced the Microsoft Graph API in 2017. The newer API isn't just a replacement—it's an evolution. Here's why:

• Unified Endpoint: Unlike Azure AD Graph, Microsoft Graph serves as a single, consolidated API endpoint for accessing a wide range of Microsoft services, including Microsoft 365, Teams, OneDrive, and more.
• Enhanced Functionality: Microsoft Graph goes well beyond the capabilities of Azure AD Graph. It includes a host of additional features related to security, reporting, and dataset integration, making it the API of choice for modern, scalable applications.
• Improved Ecosystem: By integrating with Microsoft Graph, developers gain access to tools and services across the broader Microsoft ecosystem, delivering a more integrated and expansive development experience.

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What Happens After February 1, 2025?​

Starting February 1, Microsoft will block applications from accessing Azure AD Graph APIs. Although the block will roll out in phases across tenants, the company aims for full deployment by the end of February 2025. Here's what to expect:

• 403 Errors for API Calls: Applications making calls to Azure AD Graph after the cutoff date will encounter HTTP 403 errors, effectively breaking any dependent functionality.
• Temporary Workaround: For those who need more time to migrate:
• Microsoft offers a workaround to delay the impact. By modifying the application's authenticationBehaviors configuration and setting the blockAzureADGraphAccess attribute to false, apps can continue accessing Azure AD Graph until June 30, 2025.
• However, this workaround is temporary. Beyond June, no guarantees are made regarding its viability.
• End of Life for Workarounds: Once the intermediate phase ends in June 2025, Azure AD Graph API will cease to function entirely.

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Preparing for the Migration to Microsoft Graph​

If you're still running legacy systems dependent on Azure AD Graph, the best course of action is to migrate your apps to Microsoft Graph API immediately. Here's a step-by-step plan to help you tackle the transition:

1. Audit Your Dependencies​

• Use Microsoft's Graph Migration Analysis Tool to scan your applications and identify legacy dependencies on Azure AD Graph APIs.

2. Leverage Entra Recommendations​

• Through tools integrated into Microsoft Entra (formerly Azure AD), developers and IT pros can spot outdated Azure AD Graph API dependencies. This feature simplifies identifying and addressing areas requiring modernization.

3. Update Your Applications​

• Rebuild API calls to transition from Azure AD Graph endpoints to Microsoft Graph.
• Ensure your application logic aligns with the updated methods, security scopes, and permissions defined in Microsoft Graph.

4. Test Extensively​

• As with any migration, ensure you execute comprehensive testing in staging environments before rolling updates out to production. Confirm that all functionality remains intact post-transition.

5. Stay Informed​

• Microsoft frequently updates its documentation and provides migration guides. Utilize these resources to stay current.

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Why Microsoft Graph is the Future​

At first glance, the retirement of Azure AD Graph might feel like an operational hurdle, but the move represents an inevitable, and positive, evolution for Microsoft's ecosystem. Here's why:

• Enhanced Consistency and Scalability: Operating through a unified API endpoint (Microsoft Graph) reduces complexity and opens the door for developers to integrate solutions seamlessly across Microsoft's platforms.
• Future-Proof Applications: Microsoft continues to enhance Microsoft Graph with regular updates, making it an adaptable choice for applications that need to evolve alongside enterprise environments.
• Powerful Integration: Beyond Active Directory, Microsoft Graph provides a connected ecosystem encompassing Teams, Intune, SharePoint, and even machine learning insights for advanced use cases.

In other words, embracing Microsoft Graph is not just a compliance exercise—it's about unlocking a world of possibilities for enterprise app development.

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A Note to IT Professionals and Developers​

While Microsoft has provided years of notice regarding Azure AD Graph's retirement, the final countdown is officially on. If your organization relies on legacy tools or apps, this is your last call to prepare.
The phased rollout starting in February 2025 means the clock's ticking, and come June, workarounds will no longer save the day. By proactively migrating, you'll not only ensure continuity of operations but also position your organization to leverage the full suite of Microsoft modern services.
Ignoring it? Well, brace yourself for 403 errors and a frantic scramble to catch up.
Microsoft Graph is the future—and it's knocking on your door. Make the shift today, and step confidently into a more integrated, scalable world of app development.

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Key Dates to Bookmark​

• February 1, 2025: Azure AD Graph API block begins rolling out.
• June 30, 2025: Temporary workaround for continued Azure AD Graph usage ends.

Questions or thoughts? Jump into the comments on WindowsForum.com to share, discuss, and strategize your next steps!

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Source: Redmondmag.com Azure AD Graphs Will Finally Be Retired in February -- Redmondmag.com

 

[ChatGPT]

If you’ve been riding the Azure Active Directory (AD) Graph API train, it’s time to jump onboard something newer, shinier, and more powerful — the Microsoft Graph API. Why? Because come February 1, 2025, your trusty Azure AD Graph API will officially hit end-of-life. Microsoft made this retirement announcement earlier last year as part of its phased service deprecation plan. Let’s dive into what this means for users, developers, and admins alike, and more importantly, what you should be doing to prepare for the big switch.

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What Is the Azure AD Graph API Anyway?​

For the uninitiated, let's take a quick trip down memory lane. Azure AD Graph API is a RESTful interface that developers have been using for years to interact programmatically with Azure Active Directory. It enables organizations to manage users, groups, service principals, applications, and other directory resources with relative ease. Think of it as your translator for carrying out directory-based operations with JSON payloads over HTTP.
Sounds great, right? Well, here’s the rub: Azure AD Graph API is now a relic. Introduced at a time when Azure AD's ecosystem was smaller and less sophisticated, it hasn’t kept up with the pace of innovation. Enter Microsoft Graph API.

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Meet the Successor: Microsoft Graph API​

Microsoft Graph API stepped onto the stage in 2017, boasting a comprehensive, unified endpoint that goes far beyond just Azure AD. While Azure AD Graph API is limited to your directory’s resources, the Microsoft Graph API unlocks everything from Azure AD to Microsoft 365 to services like Teams, Intune, and SharePoint.
Here’s what makes it a serious upgrade:

• Unified Endpoint: Only one endpoint ([url]https://graph.microsoft.com%5B/ICODE[/url]) is needed to access loads of Microsoft services. [*][B]Enhanced Features[/B]: Offers richer functionality like querying data relationships, resources, and even the Microsoft Security Graph. [*][B]Improved Security[/B]: With support for modern OAuth standards and continuous security enhancements, it’s far more secure. [*][B]Future-Proofing[/B]: Any new Azure functionality will [I]only[/I] be made available through Microsoft Graph. This makes migrating a necessity to not miss out on new features. [/LIST] Essentially, Microsoft Graph API is [B]Azure AD Graph on steroids[/B], and Microsoft has been steadily nudging users to make the switch since announcing its deprecation plan back in 2021. [HR][/HR] [HEADING=1][B]What Happens After February 1, 2025?[/B][/HEADING] Let’s cut to the chase. After February 1, Azure AD Graph API won’t just kick up an error here and there — [B]it will entirely cease to process requests[/B]. Any app or service still relying on the legacy API will simply stop working. For businesses and developers who have overlooked this transition, expect headaches, downtime, and possibly system interruptions. But there is a silver lining: Microsoft has provided some stopgap measures for legacy applications that can’t migrate immediately. Applications will be allowed to use the Azure AD Graph API beyond [B]February 1[/B], provided their admins modify authentication settings by flipping the [B][ICODE]blockAzureADGraphAccess[/B] attribute to false. The catch? It will only work until June 30, 2025. Translation: use this temporary crutch wisely — and sparingly.
  

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  Why Migrate to Microsoft Graph API Now?​

  Still clinging to Azure AD Graph? Here’s why it’s time to let go:
  • Comprehensive Functionality: Microsoft Graph API supports everything Azure AD Graph does, plus a ton more.
  • Better Tooling: Microsoft Graph API offers robust tools to help identify and refactor all legacy dependencies. The Microsoft Graph Toolkit simplifies the migration process by providing reusable code snippets and UI components.
  • Performance & Reliability Improvements: Behind the scenes, Microsoft Graph is optimized for speed and geo-redundancy, ensuring smoother operations for your applications.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Enterprises operating in regulated industries gain stronger identity governance and access control options.

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  3 Steps to Prepare for Migration​

  If you’re staring in panic at the inevitable, don’t worry. Migration to Microsoft Graph API doesn’t have to feel like unraveling a Gordian knot. Here’s how you can future-proof your applications:
  

  1. Audit Your Applications​

  Start by identifying every application or service that currently relies on Azure AD Graph API. The Microsoft Entra recommendation tool (part of the Azure portal) can assist in flagging outdated dependencies lurking in your environment.
  

  2. Use Microsoft’s Migration Tooling​

  Microsoft provides a comprehensive Azure AD to Microsoft Graph migration guide to streamline the process. Carefully review endpoint mappings (as the two APIs are similar but not identical). For cases involving code changes, tools like dotnet libraries and Graph Toolkit can seriously cut down on grunt work.
  

  3. Test Early​

  Once migration is complete, conduct thorough regression testing in a sandbox. Validate edge cases for everything related to authentication, resource queries, and directory management.
  

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  Temporary Workarounds: The Safety Net for Legacy Applications​

  If you absolutely, positively cannot move an application off Azure AD Graph by February 2025’s cutoff, here’s what you need to do:
  • Modify your app’s authentication configurations to set blockAzureADGraphAccess to false. This will let legacy requests sneak through for an extended grace period.
  • Keep in mind that this workaround expires June 30, 2025, so you’d better act quickly.
  Keep in mind, these are duct-tape solutions at best. They’re not a substitute for a full migration!
  

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  Closing Thoughts​

  Microsoft’s push to retire Azure AD Graph API is part of a broader vision to streamline application programming within its ecosystem. The shift to Microsoft Graph API is consistent with modern IT trends — simpler endpoints, enhanced security, and tightly integrated services. While transitions can be disruptive, this one is undeniably worth the effort.
  As we approach the February 2025 cutoff, it’s crucial to get ahead of the curve. If your organization hasn't started yet, this is your nudge to fast-track migration plans. The clock is ticking!
  Are you already using the Microsoft Graph API? Or do you have questions about making the transition? Join the discussion in the WindowsForum.com community and share your experience or concerns. Let’s navigate this change together!
  

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  Source: Petri IT Knowledgebase Microsoft to Retire Azure AD Graph APIs Next Month