Azure Identity client library for Java

The Azure Identity library provides Microsoft Entra ID token-based authentication support across the Azure SDK. It provides a set of TokenCredential implementations that can be used to construct Azure SDK clients that support Microsoft Entra token authentication.

Source code | API reference documentation | Microsoft Entra ID documentation

Getting started

Include the package

Include the BOM file

Include the azure-sdk-bom in your project to take a dependency on the stable version of the library. In the following snippet, replace the {bom_version_to_target} placeholder with the version number. To learn more about the BOM, see the Azure SDK BOM README.

<dependencyManagement>
    <dependencies>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>com.azure</groupId>
            <artifactId>azure-sdk-bom</artifactId>
            <version>{bom_version_to_target}</version>
            <type>pom</type>
            <scope>import</scope>
        </dependency>
    </dependencies>
</dependencyManagement>

Then include the direct dependency in the dependencies section without the version tag:

<dependencies>
  <dependency>
    <groupId>com.azure</groupId>
    <artifactId>azure-identity</artifactId>
  </dependency>
</dependencies>

Include direct dependency

To take dependency on a particular version of the library that isn't present in the BOM, add the direct dependency to your project as follows:

<dependency>
    <groupId>com.azure</groupId>
    <artifactId>azure-identity</artifactId>
    <version>1.18.1</version>
</dependency>

Prerequisites

A Java Development Kit (JDK), version 8 or later.
- Here are details about Java 8 client compatibility with Azure Certificate Authority.
An Azure subscription.
The Azure CLI can also be useful for authenticating in a development environment, creating accounts, and managing account roles.

Authenticate the client

When debugging and executing code locally, it's typical for a developer to use their own account for authenticating calls to Azure services. There are several developer tools that can be used to perform this authentication in your development environment:

Select each item above to learn about how to configure them for Azure Identity authentication.

Key concepts

Credentials

A credential is a class that contains or can obtain the data needed for a service client to authenticate requests. Service clients across the Azure SDK accept credentials when they're constructed. The service clients use those credentials to authenticate requests to the service.

The Azure Identity library focuses on OAuth authentication with Microsoft Entra ID, and it offers various credential classes capable of acquiring a Microsoft Entra token to authenticate service requests. All of the credential classes in this library are implementations of the TokenCredential abstract class in azure-core, and any of them can be used by to construct service clients capable of authenticating with a TokenCredential.

See Credential classes for a complete list of available credential classes.

DefaultAzureCredential

DefaultAzureCredential simplifies authentication while developing apps that deploy to Azure by combining credentials used in Azure hosting environments with credentials used in local development. For more information, see DefaultAzureCredential overview.

Continuation policy

As of v1.10.0, DefaultAzureCredential attempts to authenticate with all developer credentials until one succeeds, regardless of any errors previous developer credentials experienced. For example, a developer credential may attempt to get a token and fail, so DefaultAzureCredential continues to the next credential in the flow. Deployed service credentials stop the flow with a thrown exception if they're able to attempt token retrieval, but don't receive one.

This allows for trying all of the developer credentials on your machine while having predictable deployed behavior.

Examples

You can find more examples of using various credentials in Azure Identity Examples Wiki page.

Authenticate with `DefaultAzureCredential`

This example demonstrates authenticating the SecretClient from the azure-security-keyvault-secrets client library using DefaultAzureCredential:

/**
 * DefaultAzureCredential first checks environment variables for configuration.
 * If environment configuration is incomplete, it tries managed identity.
 */
public void createDefaultAzureCredential() {
    DefaultAzureCredential defaultCredential = new DefaultAzureCredentialBuilder().build();

    // Azure SDK client builders accept the credential as a parameter
    SecretClient client = new SecretClientBuilder()
        .vaultUrl("https://{YOUR_VAULT_NAME}.vault.azure.net")
        .credential(defaultCredential)
        .buildClient();
}

Authenticate a user-assigned managed identity with `DefaultAzureCredential`

To authenticate using user-assigned managed identity, ensure that configuration instructions for your supported Azure resource here have been successfully completed.

The below example demonstrates authenticating the SecretClient from the azure-security-keyvault-secrets client library using DefaultAzureCredential, deployed to an Azure resource with a user-assigned managed identity configured.

See more about how to configure a user-assigned managed identity for an Azure resource in Enable managed identity for Azure resources.

/**
 * DefaultAzureCredential uses the user-assigned managed identity with the specified client ID.
 */
public void createDefaultAzureCredentialForUserAssignedManagedIdentity() {
    DefaultAzureCredential defaultCredential = new DefaultAzureCredentialBuilder()
        .managedIdentityClientId("<MANAGED_IDENTITY_CLIENT_ID>")
        .build();

    // Azure SDK client builders accept the credential as a parameter
    SecretClient client = new SecretClientBuilder()
        .vaultUrl("https://{YOUR_VAULT_NAME}.vault.azure.net")
        .credential(defaultCredential)
        .buildClient();
}

In addition to configuring the managedIdentityClientId via code, it can also be set using the AZURE_CLIENT_ID environment variable. These two approaches are equivalent when using DefaultAzureCredential.

Authenticate a user in Azure Toolkit for IntelliJ with `DefaultAzureCredential`

To authenticate using IntelliJ, ensure that configuration instructions here have been successfully completed.

The below example demonstrates authenticating the SecretClient from the azure-security-keyvault-secrets client library using DefaultAzureCredential, on a workstation with IntelliJ IDEA installed, and the user has signed in with an Azure account to the Azure Toolkit for IntelliJ.

See more about how to configure your IntelliJ IDEA in Sign in Azure Toolkit for IntelliJ for IntelliJCredential.

/**
 * DefaultAzureCredential uses the signed-in user from Azure Toolkit for Java.
 */
public void createDefaultAzureCredentialForIntelliJ() {
    DefaultAzureCredential defaultCredential = new DefaultAzureCredentialBuilder()
        .build();

    // Azure SDK client builders accept the credential as a parameter
    SecretClient client = new SecretClientBuilder()
        .vaultUrl("https://{YOUR_VAULT_NAME}.vault.azure.net")
        .credential(defaultCredential)
        .buildClient();
}

Authenticate Using Visual Studio Code with `DefaultAzureCredential`

To authenticate using Visual Studio Code, ensure you have signed in through the Azure Resources extension. The signed-in user is then picked up automatically by DefaultAzureCredential in the Azure SDK for Java.

Prerequisites

Azure Resources Extension is installed in Visual Studio Code.
You are signed in using the Azure: Sign In command in VS Code.
Your project includes the azure-identity-broker package.

Example: Use `DefaultAzureCredential` with Key Vault

The following example demonstrates authenticating the SecretClient from the azure-security-keyvault-secrets client library using DefaultAzureCredential:

/**
 * DefaultAzureCredential uses the signed-in user from Visual Studio Code
 * via the Azure Resources extension.
 */
public void createDefaultAzureCredentialForVSCode() {
    DefaultAzureCredential defaultCredential = new DefaultAzureCredentialBuilder()
        .build();

    // Azure SDK client builders accept the credential as a parameter
    SecretClient client = new SecretClientBuilder()
        .vaultUrl("https://{YOUR_VAULT_NAME}.vault.azure.net")
        .credential(defaultCredential)
        .buildClient();
    }

Managed Identity support

The Managed identity authentication is supported indirectly via DefaultAzureCredential or directly via ManagedIdentityCredential for the following Azure Services:

Note: Use azure-identity version 1.7.0 or later to utilize token caching support for managed identity authentication.

Examples

Authenticate in Azure with Managed Identity

This example demonstrates authenticating the SecretClient from the azure-security-keyvault-secrets client library using the ManagedIdentityCredential in a Virtual Machine, App Service, Functions app, Cloud Shell, or AKS environment on Azure, with system-assigned or user-assigned managed identity enabled.

See more about how to configure your Azure resource for managed identity in Enable managed identity for Azure resources

/**
 * Authenticate with a user-assigned managed identity.
 */
public void createManagedIdentityCredential() {
    ManagedIdentityCredential managedIdentityCredential = new ManagedIdentityCredentialBuilder()
        .clientId("<USER-ASSIGNED MANAGED IDENTITY CLIENT ID>") // only required for user-assigned
        .build();

    // Azure SDK client builders accept the credential as a parameter
    SecretClient client = new SecretClientBuilder()
        .vaultUrl("https://{YOUR_VAULT_NAME}.vault.azure.net")
        .credential(managedIdentityCredential)
        .buildClient();
}

public void createUserAssignedManagedIdentityCredentialWithResourceId() {
    ManagedIdentityCredential managedIdentityCredential = new ManagedIdentityCredentialBuilder()
        .resourceId("/subscriptions/<subscriptionID>/resourcegroups/<resource group>/providers/Microsoft.ManagedIdentity/userAssignedIdentities/<MI name>") // only required for user-assigned
        .build();

    // Azure SDK client builders accept the credential as a parameter
    SecretClient client = new SecretClientBuilder()
        .vaultUrl("https://{YOUR_VAULT_NAME}.vault.azure.net")
        .credential(managedIdentityCredential)
        .buildClient();
}

public void createUserAssignedManagedIdentityCredentialWithObjectId() {
    ManagedIdentityCredential managedIdentityCredential = new ManagedIdentityCredentialBuilder()
        .objectId("<USER-ASSIGNED MANAGED IDENTITY OBJECT ID>") // only required for user-assigned
        .build();

    // Azure SDK client builders accept the credential as a parameter
    SecretClient client = new SecretClientBuilder()
        .vaultUrl("https://{YOUR_VAULT_NAME}.vault.azure.net")
        .credential(managedIdentityCredential)
        .buildClient();
}

/**
 * Authenticate with a system-assigned managed identity.
 */
public void createManagedIdentityCredential() {
    ManagedIdentityCredential managedIdentityCredential = new ManagedIdentityCredentialBuilder()
        .build();

    // Azure SDK client builders accept the credential as a parameter
    SecretClient client = new SecretClientBuilder()
        .vaultUrl("https://{YOUR_VAULT_NAME}.vault.azure.net")
        .credential(managedIdentityCredential)
        .buildClient();
}

Define a custom authentication flow with `ChainedTokenCredential`

While DefaultAzureCredential is generally the quickest way to authenticate apps for Azure, you can create a customized chain of credentials to be considered. ChainedTokenCredential enables users to combine multiple credential instances to define a customized chain of credentials. For more information, see ChainedTokenCredential overview.

Cloud / Sovereign configuration

By default, credentials authenticate to the Microsoft Entra endpoint for Azure Public Cloud. To access resources in other clouds, such as Azure US Government or a private cloud, use one of the following solutions:

Configure credentials with the authorityHost method. For example:

DefaultAzureCredential defaultAzureCredential = new DefaultAzureCredentialBuilder()
    .authorityHost(AzureAuthorityHosts.AZURE_GOVERNMENT)
    .build();

AzureAuthorityHosts defines authorities for well-known clouds.

Set the AZURE_AUTHORITY_HOST environment variable to the appropriate authority host URL. For example, https://login.microsoftonline.us/. Note that this setting affects all credentials in the environment. Use the previous solution to set the authority host on a specific credential.

Not all credentials honor this configuration. Credentials that authenticate through a development tool, such as AzureCliCredential, use that tool's configuration.

Credential classes

Credential chains

Credential	Usage	Example
DefaultAzureCredential	Provides a simplified authentication experience to quickly start developing apps run in Azure	example
ChainedTokenCredential	Allows users to define custom authentication flows composing multiple credentials	example

Authenticate Azure-hosted applications

Credential	Usage	Example	Reference
EnvironmentCredential	Authenticates a service principal or user via credential information specified in environment variables
ManagedIdentityCredential	Authenticates the managed identity of an Azure resource	example
WorkloadIdentityCredential	Supports Microsoft Entra Workload ID on Kubernetes	example	Microsoft Entra Workload ID

Authenticate service principals

Credential	Usage	Example	Reference
AzurePipelinesCredential	Authenticates with a service connection in Azure Pipelines.		Manage service connections
ClientAssertionCredential	Authenticates a service principal using a signed client assertion
ClientCertificateCredential	Authenticates a service principal using a certificate	example	Service principal authentication
ClientSecretCredential	Authenticates a service principal using a secret	example	Service principal authentication

Authenticate users

Credential	Usage	Example	Reference
AuthorizationCodeCredential	Authenticates a user with a previously obtained authorization code as part of an OAuth 2.0 auth code flow		OAuth 2.0 auth code
DeviceCodeCredential	Interactively authenticates a user on devices with limited UI	example	device code authentication
InteractiveBrowserCredential	Interactively authenticates a user with the default system browser	example	OAuth 2.0 auth code
OnBehalfOfCredential	Propagates the delegated user identity and permissions through the request chain		On-behalf-of authentication

Authenticate via development tools

Credential	Usage	Example	Reference
AzureCliCredential	Authenticates in a development environment with the enabled user or service principal in Azure CLI	example	Azure CLI authentication
AzureDeveloperCliCredential	Authenticates in a development environment with the enabled user or service principal in Azure Developer CLI		Azure Developer CLI authentication
AzurePowerShellCredential	Authenticates in a development environment with the enabled user or service principal in Azure PowerShell	example	Azure PowerShell authentication
IntelliJCredential	Authenticates in a development environment with the account in Azure Toolkit for IntelliJ	example	IntelliJ authentication
VisualStudioCodeCredential	Authenticates in a development environment with the account in Visual Studio Code

Note: All credential implementations in the Azure Identity library are threadsafe, and a single credential instance can be used to create multiple service clients.

Credentials can be chained together to be tried in turn until one succeeds using ChainedTokenCredential. For more information, see chaining credentials.

Environment variables

DefaultAzureCredential and EnvironmentCredential can be configured with environment variables. Each type of authentication requires values for specific variables.

Service principal with secret

Variable name	Value
`AZURE_CLIENT_ID`	ID of a Microsoft Entra application
`AZURE_TENANT_ID`	ID of the application's Microsoft Entra tenant
`AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET`	one of the application's client secrets

Service principal with certificate

Variable name	Value
`AZURE_CLIENT_ID`	ID of a Microsoft Entra application
`AZURE_TENANT_ID`	ID of the application's Microsoft Entra tenant
`AZURE_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE_PATH`	path to a PFX or PEM-encoded certificate file including private key
`AZURE_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD`	(optional) password for certificate. The certificate can't be password-protected unless this value is specified.

Managed identity (`DefaultAzureCredential`)

Variable name	Value
`AZURE_CLIENT_ID`	The client ID for the user-assigned managed identity.

Configuration is attempted in the preceding order. For example, if values for a client secret and certificate are both present, the client secret is used.

Continuous Access Evaluation

As of v1.10.0, accessing resources protected by Continuous Access Evaluation (CAE) is possible on a per-request basis. This can be enabled using the TokenRequestContext.setCaeEnabled(boolean) API. CAE isn't supported for developer credentials.

Token caching

Token caching is a feature provided by the Azure Identity library that allows apps to:

Cache tokens in memory (default) or on disk (opt-in).
Improve resilience and performance.
Reduce the number of requests made to Microsoft Entra ID to obtain access tokens.

The Azure Identity library offers both in-memory and persistent disk caching. For more information, see the token caching documentation.

Brokered authentication

An authentication broker is an application that runs on a user’s machine and manages the authentication handshakes and token maintenance for connected accounts. Currently, only the Windows Web Account Manager (WAM) is supported. To enable support, use the azure-identity-broker package. For details on authenticating using WAM, see the broker plugin documentation.

Troubleshooting

Credentials raise exceptions when they fail to authenticate or can't execute authentication. When credentials fail to authenticate, theClientAuthenticationException is raised. The exception has a message attribute, which describes why authentication failed. When ChainedTokenCredential raises this exception, the chained execution of underlying list of credentials is stopped.

When credentials can't execute authentication due to one of the underlying resources required by the credential being unavailable on the machine, the CredentialUnavailableException is raised. The exception has a message attribute that describes why the credential is unavailable for authentication execution. When ChainedTokenCredential raises this exception, the message collects error messages from each credential in the chain.

See the troubleshooting guide for details on how to diagnose various failure scenarios.

Next steps

The Java client libraries listed here support authenticating with TokenCredential and the Azure Identity library. You can learn more about their use, and find additional documentation on use of these client libraries along samples with can be found in the links mentioned here.

The microsoft-graph-sdk also supports authenticating with TokenCredential and the Azure Identity library.

Contributing

This project welcomes contributions and suggestions. Most contributions require you to agree to a Contributor License Agreement (CLA) declaring that you have the right to, and actually do, grant us the rights to use your contribution. For details, visit https://cla.microsoft.com.

When you submit a pull request, a CLA-bot will automatically determine whether you need to provide a CLA and decorate the PR appropriately (e.g., label, comment). Simply follow the instructions provided by the bot. You will only need to do this once across all repos using our CLA.

This project has adopted the Microsoft Open Source Code of Conduct. For more information, see the Code of Conduct FAQ or contact opencode@microsoft.com with any additional questions or comments.