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New name for Azure Active Directory

Microsoft renamed Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) to Microsoft Entra ID to communicate the multicloud, multiplatform functionality of the products, alleviate confusion with Windows Server Active Directory, and unify the Microsoft Entra product family.

No interruptions to usage or service

If you're currently using Azure AD today or previously deployed Azure AD in your organizations, you can continue to use the service without interruption. All existing deployments, configurations, and integrations continue to function as they do today without any action from you.

You can continue to use familiar Azure AD capabilities that you can access through the Azure portal, Microsoft 365 admin center, and the Microsoft Entra admin center.

All features and capabilities are still available in the product. Licensing, terms, service-level agreements, product certifications, support and pricing remain the same.

To make the transition seamless, all existing login URLs, APIs, PowerShell cmdlets, and Microsoft Authentication Libraries (MSAL) stay the same, as do developer experiences and tooling.

Service plan display names changed on October 1, 2023. Microsoft Entra ID Free, Microsoft Entra ID P1, and Microsoft Entra ID P2 are the new names of standalone offers, and all capabilities included in the current Azure AD plans remain the same. Microsoft Entra ID – previously known as Azure AD – continues to be included in Microsoft 365 licensing plans, including Microsoft 365 E3 and Microsoft 365 E5. Details on pricing and what’s included are available on the pricing and free trials page.

Diagram showing the new name for Azure AD and Azure AD External Identities.

For self-service support, look for the topic path of Microsoft Entra or Azure Active Directory/Microsoft Entra ID.

The product name and icons are changing, and features are now branded as Microsoft Entra instead of Azure AD. If you're updating the name to Microsoft Entra ID in your own content or experiences, see How to: Rename Azure AD.

Naming changes and exceptions

Product name

Microsoft Entra ID is the new name for Azure AD. The names Azure Active Directory, Azure AD, and AAD are replaced with Microsoft Entra ID.

  • Microsoft Entra is the name for the product family of identity and network access solutions.
  • Microsoft Entra ID is one of the products within that family.
  • Acronym usage isn't encouraged, but if you must replace AAD with an acronym due to space limitations, use ME-ID.

Logo/icon

Azure AD product icons are replaced with the Microsoft Entra ID product icon.

Azure AD product icons Microsoft Entra ID product icon
Azure AD product icon Alternative Azure AD product icon Microsoft Entra ID product icon

You can download the Microsoft Entra ID icon here: Microsoft Entra architecture icons

Feature names

Capabilities or services formerly known as "Azure Active Directory <feature name>" or "Azure AD <feature name>" are branded as Microsoft Entra product family features. This change is done across our portfolio to avoid naming length and complexity, and because many features work across all the products. For example:

  • "Azure AD Conditional Access" is now "Microsoft Entra Conditional Access"
  • "Azure AD single sign-on" is now "Microsoft Entra single sign-on"

For a detailed list, see the Glossary of updated terminology.

What names aren't changing?

The following table lists terminology that's not impacted by the rename. Names aren't changing for Active Directory, developer tools, Azure AD B2C, nor deprecated or retired functionality, features, or services.

Correct terminology Details
Active Directory

• Windows Server Active Directory
• Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)
• Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
• Active Directory
• Any Active Directory feature(s)
Windows Server Active Directory, commonly known as Active Directory, and related features and services associated with Active Directory aren't branded with Microsoft Entra.
Authentication library

• Azure AD Authentication Library (ADAL)
• Microsoft Authentication Library (MSAL)
Azure Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL) is deprecated. While existing apps that use ADAL continue to work, Microsoft no longer releases security fixes on ADAL. Migrate applications to the Microsoft Authentication Library (MSAL) to avoid putting your app's security at risk.

Microsoft Authentication Library (MSAL) - Provides security tokens from the Microsoft identity platform to authenticate users and access secured web APIs to provide secure access to Microsoft Graph, other Microsoft APIs, third-party web APIs, or your own web API.
B2C

• Azure Active Directory B2C
• Azure AD B2C
Azure Active Directory B2C isn't being renamed. We're continuing to invest in security, availability, and reliability in Azure AD B2C and our next-generation solution for external identities, Microsoft Entra External ID.
Graph

• Azure Active Directory Graph
• Azure AD Graph
• Microsoft Graph
Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Graph is deprecated. There are no further investments in Azure AD Graph and Azure AD Graph APIs have no SLA or maintenance commitment beyond security-related fixes. Investments in new features and functionalities will only be made in Microsoft Graph.

Microsoft Graph - Grants programmatic access to organization, user, and application data stored in Microsoft Entra ID.
PowerShell

• Azure Active Directory PowerShell
• Azure AD PowerShell
• Microsoft Graph PowerShell
Azure AD PowerShell for Graph is planned for deprecation on March 30, 2024. For more info on the deprecation plans, see the deprecation update. We encourage you to migrate to Microsoft Graph PowerShell, which is the recommended module for interacting with Azure AD.

Microsoft Graph PowerShell - Acts as an API wrapper for the Microsoft Graph APIs and helps administer every Microsoft Entra ID feature that has an API in Microsoft Graph.
Accounts

• Microsoft account
• Work or school account
For end user sign-ins and account experiences, follow guidance for work and school accounts in Sign in with Microsoft branding guidelines.
Microsoft identity platform The Microsoft identity platform encompasses all our identity and access developer assets. It continues to provide the resources to help you build applications that your users and customers can sign in to using their Microsoft identities or social accounts.

• Azure AD Sync
• DirSync
DirSync and Azure AD Sync aren't supported and no longer work. If you're still using DirSync or Azure AD Sync, you must upgrade to Microsoft Entra Connect to resume your sync process. For more info, see Microsoft Entra Connect.

Frequently asked questions

When is the name change happening?

The name change across Microsoft experiences started on August 15, 2023. Display names for SKUs and service plans changed on October 1, 2023. Most naming text string changes in Microsoft experiences and partner experiences were completed at the end of 2023.

Why is the name being changed?

As part of our ongoing commitment to simplify secure access experiences for everyone, the renaming of Azure AD to Microsoft Entra ID is designed to make it easier to use and navigate the unified and expanded Microsoft Entra product family.

The Microsoft Entra ID name more accurately represents the multicloud and multiplatform functionality of the product, alleviates confusion with the on-premises identity solution (Active Directory), and creates a path to deliver a simpler way to protect every identity and secure every access point as we expand the Microsoft Entra identity and network access portfolio.

What is Microsoft Entra?

The Microsoft Entra product family helps you protect all identities and secure network access everywhere. The expanded product family includes:

Identity and access management New identity categories Network access
Microsoft Entra ID (previously known as Azure AD) Microsoft Entra Verified ID Microsoft Entra Internet Access
Microsoft Entra ID Governance Microsoft Entra Permissions Management Microsoft Entra Private Access
Microsoft Entra External ID Microsoft Entra Workload ID

Where can I manage Microsoft Entra ID?

You can manage Microsoft Entra ID and all other Microsoft Entra solutions in the Microsoft Entra admin center or the Azure portal.

What are the display names for service plans and SKUs?

Licensing, pricing, and functionality aren't changing. Display names were updated October 1, 2023 as follows.

Old display name for service plan New display name for service plan
Azure Active Directory Free Microsoft Entra ID Free
Azure Active Directory Premium P1 Microsoft Entra ID P1
Azure Active Directory Premium P2 Microsoft Entra ID P2
Azure Active Directory for education Microsoft Entra ID for education
Old display name for product SKU New display name for product SKU
Azure Active Directory Premium P1 Microsoft Entra ID P1
Azure Active Directory Premium P1 for students Microsoft Entra ID P1 for students
Azure Active Directory Premium P1 for faculty Microsoft Entra ID P1 for faculty
Azure Active Directory Premium P1 for government Microsoft Entra ID P1 for government
Azure Active Directory Premium P2 Microsoft Entra ID P2
Azure Active Directory Premium P2 for students Microsoft Entra ID P2 for students
Azure Active Directory Premium P2 for faculty Microsoft Entra ID P2 for faculty
Azure Active Directory Premium P2 for government Microsoft Entra ID P2 for government
Azure Active Directory F2 Microsoft Entra ID F2

Is Azure AD going away?

No, only the name Azure AD is going away. Capabilities remain the same.

Does Microsoft still support on-premises identity management?

We continue to support and enhance Windows Server Active Directory for on-premises identity and access management and the connection to Azure and other clouds, as many organizations continue to rely on this solution.

The name for Active Directory remains unchanged. Based on extensive feedback we received about Microsoft Entra ID as the new name for Azure Active Directory, for many customers the rename helps to better differentiate between the on-premises (Active Directory) and multicloud identity (Microsoft Entra ID) solutions.

All features and capabilities remain unchanged aside from the name. Customers can continue to use all features without any interruption.

The naming of features changes to Microsoft Entra. For example:

  • Azure AD tenant -> Microsoft Entra tenant
  • Azure AD account -> Microsoft Entra account

For more examples, see the glossary of updated terminology.

Are licenses changing? Are there any changes to pricing?

No. Prices, terms and service level agreements (SLAs) remain the same.

Is Microsoft Entra ID available as a free service with an Azure subscription?

Customers using Azure AD Free as part of their Azure, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Teams, or Intune subscription continue to have access to the same capabilities. This is now called Microsoft Entra ID Free. Get the free version at https://www.microsoft.com/security/business/microsoft-entra-pricing.

What's changing for Microsoft 365 or Azure AD for Office 365?

Microsoft Entra ID – previously known as Azure AD – continues to be available within Microsoft 365 enterprise and business premium offers. Office 365 was renamed Microsoft 365 in 2022. Unique capabilities in the Azure AD for Office 365 apps (such as company branding and self-service sign-in activity search) are now be available to all Microsoft customers in Microsoft Entra ID Free.

What's changing for Microsoft 365 E3?

There are no changes to the identity features and functionality available in Microsoft 365 E3. Microsoft 365 E3 includes Microsoft Entra ID P1, previously known as Azure AD Premium P1.

What's changing for Microsoft 365 E5?

In addition to the capabilities they already have, Microsoft 365 E5 customers also get access to new identity protection capabilities like token protection, Conditional Access based on GPS-based location and step-up authentication for the most sensitive actions. Microsoft 365 E5 includes Microsoft Entra ID P2, previously known as Azure AD Premium P2.

What's changing for identity developer and devops experiences?

Identity developer and devops experiences aren't being renamed. To make the transition seamless, all existing login URLs, APIs, PowerShell cmdlets, and Microsoft Authentication Libraries (MSAL) stay the same, as do developer experiences and tooling.

Many technical components either have low visibility to customers (for example, sign-in URLs), or usually aren't branded, like APIs.

Microsoft identity platform encompasses all our identity and access developer assets. It continues to provide the resources to help you build applications that your users and customers can sign in to using their Microsoft identities or social accounts.

For a detailed list of names that aren't changing, see What names aren't changing?.

Are PowerShell cmdlets being renamed?

No. Today, we offer two PowerShell modules for administering identity tasks: the Azure AD PowerShell module, which is planned for deprecation in March 2024, and the Microsoft Graph PowerShell module.

In the Azure AD PowerShell for Graph module, AzureAD is in the name of almost all the cmdlets. These won't change, and you can continue to use these same cmdlets now that the official product name is Microsoft Entra ID.

Microsoft Graph PowerShell cmdlets aren't branded with Azure AD. We encourage you to plan your migration from Azure AD PowerShell to Microsoft Graph PowerShell, which is the recommended module for interacting with Microsoft Entra ID in the future.

How and when are customers being notified?

The name changes were publicly announced on July 11, 2023.

Banners, alerts, and message center posts notified users of the name change. The change was also displayed on the tenant overview page in the portals including Azure, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft Entra admin center, and Microsoft Learn.

What if I use the Azure AD name in my content or app?

We'd like your help spreading the word about the name change and implementing it in your own experiences. If you're a content creator, author of internal documentation for IT or identity security admins, developer of Azure AD–enabled apps, independent software vendor, or Microsoft partner, you can use the naming guidance outlined in How to: Rename Azure AD to make the name change in your content and product experiences.

Glossary of updated terminology

Features of the identity and network access products are attributed to Microsoft Entra—the product family, not the individual product name.

You're not required to use the Microsoft Entra attribution with features. Only use if needed to clarify whether you're talking about a concept versus the feature in a specific product, or when comparing a Microsoft Entra feature with a competing feature.

Only official product names are capitalized, plus Conditional Access and My * apps.

Category Old terminology Correct name as of July 2023
Microsoft Entra product family Microsoft Azure Active Directory
Azure Active Directory
Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)
Azure AD
AAD
Microsoft Entra ID
(Second use: Microsoft Entra ID is preferred, Entra ID should be used sparingly and only when space is truly limited)

Acronym usage isn't encouraged, but if you must replace AAD with an acronym due to space limitations, use ME-ID.
Azure Active Directory External Identities
Azure AD External Identities
Microsoft Entra External ID
(Second use: External ID)
Azure Active Directory Identity Governance
Azure AD Identity Governance
Microsoft Entra Identity Governance
Microsoft Entra ID Governance
(Second use: ID Governance)
New Microsoft Entra Internet Access
(Second use: Internet Access)
Cloud Knox Microsoft Entra Permissions Management
(Second use: Permissions Management)
New Microsoft Entra Private Access
(Second use: Private Access)
Azure Active Directory Verifiable Credentials
Azure AD Verifiable Credentials
Microsoft Entra Verified ID
(Second use: Verified ID)
Azure Active Directory Workload Identities
Azure AD Workload Identities
Microsoft Entra Workload ID
(Second use: Workload ID)
Azure Active Directory Domain Services
Azure AD Domain Services
Microsoft Entra Domain Services
(Second use: Domain Services)
Microsoft Entra ID SKUs Azure Active Directory Premium P1 Microsoft Entra ID P1
Azure Active Directory Premium P1 for faculty Microsoft Entra ID P1 for faculty
Azure Active Directory Premium P1 for students Microsoft Entra ID P1 for students
Azure Active Directory Premium P1 for government Microsoft Entra ID P1 for government
Azure Active Directory Premium P2 Microsoft Entra ID P2
Azure Active Directory Premium P2 for faculty Microsoft Entra ID P2 for faculty
Azure Active Directory Premium P2 for students Microsoft Entra ID P2 for students
Azure Active Directory Premium P2 for government Microsoft Entra ID P2 for government
Azure Active Directory Premium F2 Microsoft Entra ID F2
Microsoft Entra ID service plans Azure Active Directory Free Microsoft Entra ID Free
Azure Active Directory Premium P1 Microsoft Entra ID P1
Azure Active Directory Premium P2 Microsoft Entra ID P2
Azure Active Directory for education Microsoft Entra ID for education
Features and functionality Azure AD access token authentication
Azure Active Directory access token authentication
Microsoft Entra access token authentication 
Azure AD account
Azure Active Directory account
Microsoft Entra account

This terminology is only used with IT admins and developers. End users authenticate with a work or school account.
Azure AD activity logs Microsoft Entra activity logs
Azure AD admin
Azure Active Directory admin
Microsoft Entra admin
Azure AD admin center
Azure Active Directory admin center
Replace with Microsoft Entra admin center and update link to entra.microsoft.com
Azure AD application proxy
Azure Active Directory application proxy
Microsoft Entra application proxy
Azure AD audit log Microsoft Entra audit log
Azure AD authentication
authenticate with an Azure AD identity
authenticate with Azure AD
authentication to Azure AD
Microsoft Entra authentication
authenticate with a Microsoft Entra identity
authenticate with Microsoft Entra
authentication to Microsoft Entra

This terminology is only used with administrators. End users authenticate with a work or school account.
Azure AD B2B
Azure Active Directory B2B
Microsoft Entra B2B
Azure AD built-in roles
Azure Active Directory built-in roles
Microsoft Entra built-in roles
Azure AD Conditional Access
Azure Active Directory Conditional Access
Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
(Second use: Conditional Access)
Azure AD cloud-only identities
Azure Active Directory cloud-only identities
Microsoft Entra cloud-only identities
Azure AD Connect
Azure Active Directory Connect
Microsoft Entra Connect
Azure AD Connect Sync
Azure Active Directory Connect Sync
Microsoft Entra Connect Sync
Azure AD connector
Azure Active Directory connector
Microsoft Entra connector
Azure AD domain
Azure Active Directory domain
Microsoft Entra domain
Azure AD Domain Services
Azure Active Directory Domain Services
Microsoft Entra Domain Services
Azure AD enterprise application
Azure Active Directory enterprise application
Microsoft Entra enterprise application
Azure AD federation services
Azure Active Directory federation services
Active Directory Federation Services
Azure AD groups
Azure Active Directory groups
Microsoft Entra groups
Azure AD hybrid identities
Azure Active Directory hybrid identities
Microsoft Entra hybrid identities
Azure AD identities
Azure Active Directory identities
Microsoft Entra identities
Azure AD identity protection
Azure Active Directory identity protection
Microsoft Entra ID Protection
Azure AD integrated authentication
Azure Active Directory integrated authentication
Microsoft Entra integrated authentication
Azure AD join
Azure AD joined
Azure Active Directory join
Azure Active Directory joined
Microsoft Entra join
Microsoft Entra joined
Azure AD license
Azure Active Directory license
Microsoft Entra ID license or license for Microsoft Entra ID
Azure AD login
Azure Active Directory login
Microsoft Entra login
Azure AD managed identities
Azure Active Directory managed identities
Managed identities for Azure resources
Azure AD multifactor authentication (MFA)
Azure Active Directory multifactor authentication (MFA)
Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication (MFA)
(Second use: MFA)
Azure AD OAuth and OpenID Connect
Azure Active Directory OAuth and OpenID Connect
Microsoft Entra ID OAuth and OpenID Connect
Azure AD object
Azure Active Directory object
Microsoft Entra object
Azure Active Directory-only authentication
Azure AD-only authentication
Microsoft Entra-only authentication
Azure AD pass-through authentication (PTA)
Azure Active Directory pass-through authentication (PTA)
Microsoft Entra pass-through authentication
Azure AD password authentication
Azure Active Directory password authentication
Microsoft Entra password authentication
Azure AD password hash synchronization (PHS)
Azure Active Directory password hash synchronization (PHS)
Microsoft Entra password hash synchronization
Azure AD password protection
Azure Active Directory password protection
Microsoft Entra password protection
Azure AD Premium
Azure Active Directory Premium
Microsoft Entra ID P1 or P2
Azure AD principal ID
Azure Active Directory principal ID
Microsoft Entra principal ID
Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Azure Active Directory Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Azure AD registered
Azure Active Directory registered
Microsoft Entra registered
Azure AD reporting and monitoring
Azure Active Directory reporting and monitoring
Microsoft Entra reporting and monitoring
Azure AD role
Azure Active Directory role
Microsoft Entra role
Azure AD schema
Azure Active Directory schema
Microsoft Entra schema
Azure AD Seamless single sign-on (SSO)
Azure Active Directory Seamless single sign-on (SSO)
Microsoft Entra seamless single sign-on (SSO)
(Second use: SSO)
Azure AD self-service password reset (SSPR)
Azure Active Directory self-service password reset (SSPR)
Microsoft Entra self-service password reset (SSPR)
Azure AD service principal
Azure Active Directory service principal
Microsoft Entra service principal
Azure AD tenant
Azure Active Directory tenant
Microsoft Entra tenant
Create a user in Azure AD
Create a user in Azure Active Directory
Create a user in Microsoft Entra
Federated with Azure AD
Federated with Azure Active Directory
Federated with Microsoft Entra
Hybrid Azure AD Join
Hybrid Azure AD Joined
Microsoft Entra hybrid join
Microsoft Entra hybrid joined
Managed identities in Azure AD for Azure SQL Managed identities in Microsoft Entra for Azure SQL
Acronym usage AAD ME-ID

Note that this isn't an official abbreviation for the product but may be used in code or when absolute shortest form is required.

Revision history

Date Change description
March 5, 2024 Minor updates to statements that contained dates.
October 12, 2023
•Updated statement about availability of license plans.
• Added three other terms in the glossary: "Azure AD connector", "Azure AD license", and "Azure AD Premium"
September 15, 2023 Added a link to the how-to article on renaming Azure AD, updated the description for Azure AD B2C, and added more info about why the name Azure AD is changing.
August 29, 2023
• In the glossary, corrected the entry for "Azure AD activity logs" to separate "Azure AD audit log", which is a distinct type of activity log.
• Added Azure AD Sync and DirSync to the "What names aren't changing" section.
August 18, 2023
• Updated the article to include a new section, "Glossary of updated terminology", which includes the old and new terminology.
• Updated info and added link to usage of the Microsoft Entra ID icon, and updates to verbiage in some sections.
July 11, 2023 Published the original guidance as part of the Microsoft Entra moment and related announcement.

Next steps