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Implementing Microsoft Entra OpenID Connect for Secure Authentication

Andrios Robert

• 1 min read

Microsoft Entra ID supports OpenID Connect (OIDC) for modern authentication and authorization. OIDC builds on OAuth 2.0, adding an identity layer that returns ID tokens alongside access tokens. With Microsoft Entra, this means you can authenticate users from Azure AD tenants, issue secure tokens, and integrate with applications and APIs without custom auth logic.

To implement Microsoft Entra OIDC, first register your app in the Entra admin portal. Assign a redirect URI that matches your application’s callback endpoint. Enable the “OpenID” scope along with “profile” and “email” if those claims are required. The OIDC discovery document is available at:

https://login.microsoftonline.com/{tenant}/v2.0/.well-known/openid-configuration

Replace {tenant} with your directory tenant ID or domain name. This document gives you the authorization endpoint, token endpoint, JWKS URI, and supported claims.

During the authorization request, send users to the /authorize endpoint with parameters:

  • client_id from your app registration
  • response_type=id_token or code depending on implicit or authorization code flow
  • scope=openid plus any extra scopes
  • redirect_uri matching the portal configuration
  • state for CSRF protection
  • nonce for replay protection in ID tokens

If you choose the authorization code flow, your backend exchanges the code at the /token endpoint for access and ID tokens. Tokens are signed with keys found in the JWKS URI. Always validate the iss, aud, exp, nonce claims before trusting the identity.

Microsoft Entra OpenID Connect integration works cleanly with single-page apps, native mobile clients, and server-side applications. It supports conditional access, MFA, and custom claims through user attributes or optional claims configuration.

When scaling, the OIDC model’s standardized endpoints and token formats reduce complexity. You rely on Entra’s uptime, policy enforcement, and compliance rather than building your own identity stack.

Get the Microsoft Entra OpenID Connect flow running and your app gains secure sign-in with minimal moving parts.

Want to see it live in minutes? Try it now with hoop.dev — connect Microsoft Entra OIDC, run the flow, and watch secure, verified access come together instantly.