Azure Cloud Shell not starting, Portal shows I have subscription credits

Question

I'm 80% through the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals course in Microsoft Learn.

I've noticed that the Azure Shell did not start and not showing on the top of the page. I haven't run out of credits and only started a few sessions in the past 48 hours. The Azure Portal is sometimes showing my default subscription and sometimes shows the Sandbox. I have plenty of credits but as i switch subscriptions and want to create a storage VM I am told I don't have a subscription and it does completely disappear.

Microsoft states "The active sandbox button is typically found at the top of the page in the Microsoft Learn module that contains hands-on exercises. Look for a prompt indicating the sandbox status, and you can click the Activate Sandbox button to start the activation process for your sandbox environment."

I've cleared the browser cache numerous times and tried other browsers too and the same issue persists. Also tried using Incognito mode and still the same outcome.

When I click the on Entra ID i see this error which leads me to believe that that problem is that the Azure Shell hasn't started in Microsoft Learn which also means no CLI initialisation is taking place. Does anyone know what is the fix?

Entra ID error

{"sessionId":"57f71db12b59489a82a7e521ca5c0f78","subscriptionId":"","resourceGroup":"","errorCode":"401","resourceName":"","details":"Insufficient privileges to complete the operation."}

Answer 1

Hi Damien T,
We understand how challenging this can be, especially when you're making progress in your Azure Fundamentals course. Here are some steps you can take to resolve the issue:

1. Ensure Proper Subscription

Please verify that your Azure subscription is correctly set.

You can do this by checking the Azure portal. Click on your account name in the top right corner and select "Switch Directory" to ensure you are using the correct subscription.

2. Activate the Sandbox

Since you are using the Microsoft Learn sandbox, please ensure that it is activated properly.

Look for the “Activate Sandbox” button in the module. If it shows as expired, you will need to activate it again.

Remember that the sandbox is designed for specific exercises, and you may not be able to create or use resources beyond those exercises.

3. Check Permissions

The error message related to Entra ID indicates that there may be insufficient privileges with your account.

Please verify that your user account has the necessary permissions. If you are part of an organization, you may need to contact your administrator for assistance.

4. Additional Resources

• If you continue to face sign-in issues, I recommend checking the following resources for potential workarounds:
  • Sign-in Error Workaround
  • FAQ on Sandbox Issues
  • Common Issues Troubleshooting Points

I hope these suggestions help you resolve the issues you're facing. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please feel free to reach out.