Changing the default subscription in Azure

Samaneh Mahdavifar 20

I currently have three subscriptions in Azure. Apparently, one of the subscriptions is the default one.
I was wondering how I would be able to change my default subscription to another one permanently.

I do not want to do it in each session I connect to Azure. In this case, the default session reverts back to the original.

Ibrahima Mbodji 5 MVP

Hello you can do that in Azure CLI (should be installed with Az modules) via your terminal or Azure Cloudshell

1 step : Get your subscription info

2nd step : Set the default one

# get the current default subscription using show
az account show --output table

# get the current default subscription using list
az account list --query "[?isDefault]"

# get a subscription that contains search words or phrases
az account list --query "[?contains(name,'search phrase')].{SubscriptionName:name, SubscriptionID:id, TenantID:tenantId}" --output table

# store the default subscription in a variable
subscriptionId="$(az account list --query "[?isDefault].id" --output tsv)"
echo $subscriptionId

# store a subscription of certain name in a variable
subscriptionId="$(az account list --query "[?name=='my case sensitive subscription full name'].id" --output tsv)"
echo $subscriptionId

# change the active subscription using the subscription name
az account set --subscription "My Demos"
# change the active subscription using the subscription ID
az account set --subscription "xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx"
# change the active subscription using a variable
subscriptionId="$(az account list --query "[?name=='my case sensitive subscription full name'].id" --output tsv)"
az account set --subscription $subscriptionId

You can also do that with Azure Powershell 
#get all subscriptions in the current tenant that are authorized for the current user
Get-AzSubscription -TenantId (Get-AzContext).Tenant 
#get the specified subscription, and then sets the current context to use it.
Get-AzSubscription -SubscriptionId "xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx" -TenantId "yyyy-yyyy-yyyy-yyyy" | Set-AzContext

Ref: Azure CLI : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/manage-azure-subscriptions-azure-cli?WT.mc_id=AZ-MVP-5004274 Powershell : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/azure/manage-subscriptions-azureps?view=azps-10.3.0&WT.mc_id=AZ-MVP-5004274

Accepted answer

Patchfox 3,926 Reputation points

2023-09-18T17:50:20.9033333+00:00

Hello, unfortunately, this is no longer possible with the new Powershell module as well as the Azure CLI.

The context can be changed with Set-AzContext https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/az.accounts/set-azcontext?view=azps-10.3.0

As soon as a logout is performed or the session is generally terminated, it is reset to the original default subscription.

If the reply was helpful, please don’t forget to upvote or accept it as an answer, thank you!
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Samaneh Mahdavifar 20 Reputation points

2023-09-18T18:01:20.1533333+00:00

Thank you!

Actually, I have changed the current active subscription using "az account set --subscription" through PowerShell; but as you have also mentioned, as soon as the session is terminated, it is reset to the original default subscription.

I was looking for a permanent solution.
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Patchfox 3,926 Reputation points

2023-09-18T18:02:17.42+00:00

Please read my answer above. It is no longer possible to do that.

Samaneh Mahdavifar 20 Reputation points

2023-09-18T18:03:57.7966667+00:00

I see. Thanks!
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Changing the default subscription in Azure

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