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(Access is denied) error when you connect to Exchange Online by using remote Windows PowerShell

  • Article
  • Applies to:
    Exchange Online

Problem

When you try to connect to Microsoft Exchange Online by using remote Windows PowerShell, you receive the following error message:

[outlook.office365.com] Connecting to remote server failed with the following error message: Access is
denied. For more information, see the about_Remote_Troubleshooting Help topic.

+ CategoryInfo : OpenError: (System.Manageme....RemoteRunspace:RemoteRunspace) [].
PSRemotingTransportException

+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : PSSessionOpenedFailed

Import-PSSession : Cannot validate argument on parameter 'Session'. The argument is null.
Supply a non-null argument and try the command again.

At D:\Users\Connect.ps1:7 char:21

+ Import-PSSession < < < < $Session

+ CategoryInfo : Invalid Data: (:) [Import-PSSession], ParameterBindingValidationException

+ FullyQualifiedErrorId :
ParameterArgumentValidationError,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.ImportPSSessionCommand

Cause

This issue occurs for one of the following reasons:

  • You enter an incorrect user name or password.
  • You try to sign in to the service by using an account that doesn't have access to Exchange Online.
  • You have security defaults enabled in your tenant.

Solution

To resolve this issue, use the Exchange admin center in Microsoft 365 to add the user as a member of the administrator role group. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to the Microsoft 365 portal (https://portal.office.com) as an administrator.
  2. Click Admin, and then click Exchange.
  3. Click permissions, and then click admin roles.
  4. Double-click the role group to which you want to add the user. For example, if you want the user to have full access that includes Windows PowerShell, double-click Organization Management.
  5. To add the user to the list, click Add ( ) under Members.
  6. Click Save.

If you have security defaults enabled, see Connect to Exchange Online PowerShell using modern authentication with or without MFA.

More information

For more information about how to connect to Exchange Online by using remote PowerShell, go to Connect to Exchange Online using Remote PowerShell.

Still need help? Go to Microsoft Community.