generated: '2026-06-20'
method: searched
source: >-
  https://github.com/microsoftgraph/msgraph-cli and
  https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/exchange/exchange-online-powershell
description: >-
  Two first-party command-line surfaces reach Exchange Online: the Microsoft
  Graph CLI (mgc), a cross-platform .NET/Kiota-generated CLI over the Graph
  REST API, and the ExchangeOnlineManagement PowerShell module, the REST-based
  (V3) cmdlet surface for Exchange administration. The binaries are catalogued
  in packages/; this artifact captures their command surface.
clis:
  - name: Microsoft Graph CLI
    binary: mgc
    repo: https://github.com/microsoftgraph/msgraph-cli
    docs: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/cli/installation
    ga: 'Microsoft Graph CLI v1.0.0 (generally available)'
    install:
      - method: download
        detail: Download the platform binary from GitHub releases; run mgc (Windows) or ./mgc (Linux/macOS); add to PATH.
      - method: winget
        detail: winget install Microsoft.Graph.CLI
    auth:
      - mgc login  # interactive delegated auth
      - mgc login --strategy ClientCertificate  # app-only
    command_groups:
      - group: mgc users messages
        maps_to: Graph Mail API
        example: mgc users messages list --user-id {id}
      - group: mgc users events
        maps_to: Graph Calendar API
      - group: mgc users contacts
        maps_to: Graph Contacts API
      - group: mgc users people
        maps_to: Graph People API
      - group: mgc users mail-folders
        maps_to: Graph Mail folders
  - name: Exchange Online PowerShell (V3)
    module: ExchangeOnlineManagement
    docs: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/exchange/exchange-online-powershell
    install:
      - Install-Module ExchangeOnlineManagement -Scope CurrentUser
      - Import-Module ExchangeOnlineManagement
    connect:
      - Connect-ExchangeOnline -UserPrincipalName admin@contoso.com
    note: >-
      V3 (3.0+) cmdlets are REST-based (no WinRM), support modern auth/MFA and
      certificate-based app-only auth, and cover the full Exchange management
      surface (mailboxes, mail-flow rules, organization config).
    command_groups:
      - group: "*-Mailbox / *-MailboxFolderPermission"
        maps_to: Exchange Online Admin API
      - group: "*-DistributionGroup / *-DynamicDistributionGroup"
      - group: "*-AcceptedDomain / *-OrganizationConfig"