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How to Export and Automate Microsoft 365 Recent Activity Data
Question details
The user needs to export their Recent activity or My sign-ins data into a spreadsheet and automate the retrieval process to maintain a continuous activity tracker.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating an automated tracking spreadsheet for Microsoft 365 account sign-in activities and history.
- Observed behavior
- Regular users are unable to download sign-in logs directly from the My sign-ins page, requiring an alternative or administrative method to retrieve the data.
Verify that you have Microsoft Entra administrator privileges, as standard user accounts do not have the required permissions to directly download sign-in logs or configure API-based automation.
Manually Export Sign-in Logs via Microsoft Entra Admin Center
Administrators can bypass the standard user interface and manually download comprehensive user sign-in logs directly from the Entra admin center.
Log in to the Microsoft Entra admin center using an account with administrator permissions.
Go to 'Identity' in the left menu, select 'Users', click on 'All users', and then select 'Sign-in logs' under the Activity section.
Click the 'Download' button at the top of the logs list and choose to export the activity data as a CSV or JSON file to open in your spreadsheet application.
Automate Activity Tracking with Microsoft Graph and Power Automate
Use the Microsoft Graph API and a custom connector in Power Automate to automatically fetch and write recent activity data into your tracker spreadsheet.
Analyze Your Exported Activity Spreadsheets with WPS Office
While retrieving Microsoft 365 sign-in logs requires administrative tools and Power Automate, managing the resulting CSV trackers is simple with WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, cost-effective alternative for viewing, formatting, and analyzing your security spreadsheets without the heavy subscription costs.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office from the official website and install the suite on your Windows, Mac, or mobile device.
- 2. Open Your Tracker: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open the CSV or Excel file containing your exported Microsoft 365 sign-in data.
- 3. Analyze the Logs: Apply built-in filters and conditional formatting to effortlessly review the recent activity data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a regular Microsoft 365 user download their own sign-in logs?
No, standard users do not have the functionality to download sign-in logs directly from the 'My sign-ins' page. Exporting this data requires a Microsoft Entra administrator.
What API endpoint is used to retrieve Microsoft 365 sign-in activity?
Administrators can utilize the Microsoft Graph API endpoint 'GET /auditLogs/signIns' to retrieve comprehensive Azure AD and Microsoft Entra sign-in logs for automation.
Can I export Microsoft 365 audit logs directly to a spreadsheet?
Yes, when manually downloading from the Microsoft Entra admin center, you can choose to export the sign-in logs as a CSV file. This file can be seamlessly opened and analyzed in spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel or WPS Spreadsheets.
