How to Get Current User Information in a SharePoint Online App
Question details
The user needs to retrieve the signed-in user's email address in a SharePoint Online tool and pass it to a restricted web application without requiring an additional sign-in or exposing passwords.
- Product
- SharePoint Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Integrating a SharePoint Online company tool with a restricted web application that requires user context.
- Observed behavior
- Successfully authenticating and passing user email securely in the background using an application context.
Ensure you have global administrator or privileged role administrator permissions in Microsoft Entra ID to register applications and grant directory consent.
Use Microsoft Entra ID for SharePoint App-Only Access
Configure a Microsoft Entra ID application with app-only permissions to authenticate securely using a certificate and private key.
To pass user information securely without prompting for another login, you must utilize an application context. This is achieved by registering an app in Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) and granting it app-only permissions for SharePoint.
Navigate to the Microsoft Entra ID admin center, go to 'App registrations', and select 'New registration'. Enter a name for your application and click 'Register'.
In the application menu, select 'API permissions' and click 'Add a permission'. Choose 'SharePoint', select 'Application permissions', and check the necessary permissions (such as Sites.Read.All or User.Read.All).
After adding the permissions, click the 'Grant admin consent for [Organization]' button to apply these permissions across your tenant.
Go to 'Certificates & secrets', select the 'Certificates' tab, and upload your public certificate (.cer file). This establishes the secure authentication method.
Use the Microsoft Authentication Library (MSAL) in your web application's backend. Utilize the application ID, tenant ID, and your securely stored private key to request an access token and retrieve the current user's details from SharePoint.
Try WPS Office for Your Business Document Needs
While configuring complex SharePoint Online and Microsoft Entra ID authentication requires advanced IT administration, handling your daily documents should be simple. WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office for all your word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation tasks.
- 1. Visit the official website: Go to the official WPS Office website to find the correct version for your operating system.
- 2. Download and install: Click the download button and run the lightweight installer to set up WPS Office on your device.
- 3. Open your documents: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your existing Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files with perfect formatting compatibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a client secret instead of a certificate for SharePoint app-only access?
While client secrets are supported in Microsoft Entra ID for many APIs, using a certificate is strongly recommended by Microsoft for enhanced security, especially when requesting app-only tokens for SharePoint Online.
Why is admin consent required for SharePoint application permissions?
Application permissions allow your web application to run as a background service without a signed-in user. Because this grants broad, tenant-wide access to directory and site data, an administrator must explicitly authorize it.
Will using an app-only context prompt users to sign in again?
No, configuring an app-only access token via Microsoft Entra ID allows your backend web application to authenticate securely in the background, making the data retrieval process seamless for the end-user.
