Retirement of -Credential parameter when connecting to Exchange Online PowerShell
Based on customer feedback, Microsoft postponed the client-side removal of the -Credential parameter. New Exchange Online PowerShell module releases will stop supporting it beginning in December 2026, not July 2026 as originally announced.
The retirement has not been cancelled, but the additional time removes the immediate July deadline and gives administrators a longer migration window.
Introduction
Microsoft is retiring the -Credential parameter used when connecting to Exchange Online PowerShell. Starting with module versions released in December 2026 and later, the parameter will be removed from both Connect-ExchangeOnline and Connect-IppsSession.
The change moves administrators and automation away from the Resource Owner Password Credentials (ROPC) flow, which cannot satisfy modern protections such as multifactor authentication and Conditional Access.