App Registration - Find Account

Question

Hi,

One of our employees registered an app. We can't find the account that they registered it under. We are trying to add permission for Sharepoint. Can you help us find out which account this app was registered? What information do you need from us to do this?

Moved from Windows Insider

Answer 1

Hello? Any word on finding our application info?

thanks!

Answer 2

We have one application we created this week for testing.

There is no listing in either of the places you've identified for an app matching the ID I provided.

We've only had one application registered with MicroSlop, so, there shouldn't be any confusion on our ending in finding it using the available "portal" tools.

It's very likely the app was registered with an account that either no longer exists or is unused.

How can we find this app?

Answer 3

Hi @Dave Braford-Grimes,

Thank you for your response.

Based on the details you provided, here are the recommended steps to help you identify which account was used to register the application:

1. Check Microsoft Entra ID > App registrations > All applications

This section shows all applications registered in your tenant, regardless of who created them. According to Microsoft Entra documentation, all app registrations created by users or admins appear in this list.

1. Sign in to the Azure portal: https://portal.azure.com
2. Go to: Microsoft Entra ID > App registrations > All applications
3. Use the search bar to look for:
   • The application name (or part of it)
   • The Application (client) ID (if you have it)

If you have a long list of applications, try applying filters such as:

• Application type > "Accounts in this organizational directory only"
• Creation date > helpful if you know roughly when the former employee registered the app

You can select Owner to see which account created the app.

This is the most complete view for identifying user‑registered applications in your tenant. It can also help determine who initially created the registration.

 

2. Check Microsoft Entra ID > Enterprise applications

This section lists service principals, which represent how the app exists and operates within your tenant. Enterprise apps can also expose information such as who added or consented to them. Microsoft confirms that enterprise applications represent the app’s service principal identity and configuration in the tenant.

1. In the Azure portal, go to: Microsoft Entra ID > Enterprise apps
2. Search by:
   • Application name
   • Application ID
3. Open the app and review:
   • Properties > choose the app
   • Permissions > See whether Microsoft Graph or SharePoint permissions have already been configured
   • Assignment configuration > Determine whether the app is user‑assigned or admin‑consented.

This view helps confirm whether the application is active in your tenant, which permissions it has, and sometimes which user added or granted consent to it.

Both views are necessary because:

• App registrations show the original application object and often the owner or creator.
• Enterprise applications show how the app is being used inside the tenant, including permissions and configuration.

Depending on how the app was created (Azure Portal, SPFx, scripts, Power Automate, API, etc.), it may show different information in each section. Sometimes an app is visible in one view but not the other.

For more detail, you can refer to these documents:

• Security best practices for application properties in Microsoft Entra ID
• Application and service principal objects in Microsoft Entra ID

3. Submit a support ticket

Additionally, you can raise a support ticket through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center so Microsoft Support can conduct a deeper investigation.

I hope this information helps. Please try the steps and let me know whether they resolve the issue. If the problem persists, we can work together to find a solution.  

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Thank you for your kindness and for contributing to the forum.   

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Answer 4

1. yes, we have the ID - see below
2. No, the employee is no longer with us
3. unknown how the app was registered. It does not appear under my account, which is what I would have expected.
4. We do not use more than one Azure tennant
5. unknown - but it's likely the app was created via the Azure Portal
6. Required permisisons are as follow: Files.ReadWrite.All Mail.Send Sites.ReadWrite.All User.Read

I don't see an option for "private messages" on this page - how can we work thru that so I can provide the private ClientID?

Answer 5

Hi @Dave Braford-Grimes,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum.

I understand that your team is trying to identify which account was used to register an application so that you can assign the appropriate SharePoint permissions. I’ll be happy to help you gather the details needed to investigate this.

To better assist you in locating the correct account, please send me the following details via private message:

1. Do you have the Application (client) ID, Object ID, or the exact app name? (Any of these will help narrow down the registration account quickly.)
2. Is the employee who created the app still with your organization?
3. Was the app likely registered using a work account, guest account, or possibly a personal Microsoft account?
4. Does your organization use more than one Azure AD tenant?
5. Do you know whether the app was created through the Azure Portal, Power Automate, SharePoint Framework (SPFx), or a script/tool?
6. Which specific SharePoint API permissions are you trying to assign? (For example: Sites.Read.All, Sites.FullControl.All, etc.)

Once I have this information, I can guide you on the most efficient way to identify the app owner and proceed with assigning the necessary SharePoint permissions.

I look forward to your reply and will be happy to help you further.

Warm regards.