Retirement of PowerShell -Credential parameter pushed back to the end of 2026
Microsoft has delayed the removal of the -Credential parameter from Exchange Online PowerShell until December 2026, giving administrators more time to update affected scripts and automation.The -Credential parameter is used when connecting to Exchange Online PowerShell. It allows an administrator to supply stored username and password credentials. These days, it is heavily discouraged, particularly when more secure authentication methods are available.Microsoft had designated the parameter for removal in July 2026 as part of its move away from password-based authentication. The trouble is tracking down automation scripts that use it, updating them, and validating the changes – assuming a fix is even possible.
Once the parameter is gone from the Connect-ExchangeOnline and Connect-IppsSession cmdlets in the Exchange Online PowerShell module, any scripts still relying on it will break, potentially taking carefully built workflows down with them.
However, Microsoft has opted to push back the retirement beginning December 2026 – a festive gift for administrators.The company stated: "If your organization uses the -Credential parameter in PowerShell scripts or automation workflows connecting to Exchange Online or Security & Compliance PowerShell, those scripts will break when you update to an Exchange Online PowerShell module version released beginning December 2026."
