Grant App-only Permissions for Microsoft 365 Integration

App-only access lets WordPress make Microsoft 365 API calls using an application identity instead of a person. This supports background jobs, scheduled tasks, and service workflows that must continue reliably without interactive user sign‑ins.

Our All-in-One Microsoft Office 365 Apps Plugin uses this model to authenticate as a registered application in Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD). Operations then run under tenant‑approved app roles, which are centrally controlled by an administrator for governance and compliance.

How App-Only Permissions Work

App-only permissions begin with registering an application in Microsoft Entra ID. The registration provides credentials such as a Client ID and Secret, which WordPress uses to request a token that identifies the application.

The token carries all administrator-granted permissions, including access to SharePoint files, Outlook email, and calendars. Because the identity belongs to the application itself, WordPress can perform tasks such as sending update emails, retrieving documents, or synchronizing a knowledge base without requiring any user to remain signed in.

Key Benefits

With App-only permissions, you give WordPress a reliable, organization-approved way to connect to Microsoft 365.

• Automation becomes possible without depending on human sessions.
• Scheduled jobs and background synchronizations can run consistently.
• Permissions are centralized and easy to monitor inside Entra ID.
• IT managers retain tight control since all activity follows tenant security rules.

Requirements

To make this work, your Microsoft 365 and WordPress environments need to be prepared first.

• The plugin must be active in WordPress.
• An Azure AD app registration must be created for WordPress.
• The app must be granted Graph API permissions like Files.Read, Mail.Send, or Calendars.Read depending on your needs.
• Tenant administrator consent must be completed so the app has the authority to act.
• The plugin must hold the app’s Client ID, Secret, and Tenant ID in its settings.