How to fix PowerShell Graph Get-MgBetaUserAuthenticationMethod 400 BadRequest Error for Multiple User Matches

Are you struggling with the PowerShell Graph error “Get-MgBetaUserAuthenticationMethod” when the API finds multiple users with the same userPrincipalName, proxyAddresses, or signInNames? This comprehensive guide to resolve the problem and ensuring smooth user authentication.

The detail error message as below:

Get-MgBetaUserAuthenticationMethod : More than one users found where the users' userPrincipalName, proxyAddresses, or signInNames contains the target User Principal Name.
Status: 400 (BadRequest)
ErrorCode: badRequest

Table of Contents

Understand the Get-MgBetaUserAuthenticationMethod error
Prerequisite
Check Permissions
Update the Module
Solution: Identify and remove duplicate user accounts
Prevent future errors

Understand the Get-MgBetaUserAuthenticationMethod error

The “Get-MgBetaUserAuthenticationMethod” error typically appears when trying to authenticate users through PowerShell Graph. It’s caused by duplicate user information in your system, confusing the API and preventing proper authentication. This frustrating issue occurs when the API encounters multiple users with identical userPrincipalName, proxyAddresses, or signInNames.

Here’s how you can resolve it effectively.

Prerequisite

Check Permissions

Ensure you have the right permissions. You need one of these:

UserAuthenticationMethod.Read
UserAuthenticationMethod.Read.All
UserAuthenticationMethod.ReadWrite
UserAuthenticationMethod.ReadWrite.All

Update the Module

Make sure you’re using the latest version of the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK. Outdated versions can cause unexpected errors.

Solution: Identify and remove duplicate user accounts

Step 1: Identify the duplicate user accounts using the Get-MgUser cmdlet with a filter:

Get-MgUser -Filter "userPrincipalName eq 'targetUPN' or proxyAddresses/any(x:x eq 'targetUPN') or identities/any(x:x/issuerAssignedId eq 'targetUPN' and x/issuer eq 'contoso.onmicrosoft.com')"

Step 2: Determine which account is the correct one to keep. Consider factors like account creation date, last sign-in, and associated licenses.

Step 3: Update the incorrect account(s) with a unique userPrincipalName, proxyAddresses, or signInNames value.

Step 4: If the duplicate account is no longer needed, you can remove it using the Remove-MgUser cmdlet:

Remove-MgUser -UserId "duplicateUserID"

Step 5: After updating or removing duplicate accounts, try the Get-MgBetaUserAuthenticationMethod cmdlet again with the updated user information.

Prevent future errors

To avoid encountering this error in the future, always ensure that each user in your system has unique identifying properties. This practice will maintain smooth authentication processes and prevent API conflicts.

By following this guide, you’ll swiftly overcome the PowerShell Graph error and ensure seamless user authentication. Remember to regularly check for and resolve any duplicate user information to maintain a clean and efficient system.