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Contacts.Read

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ApplicationDelegated Read User Scope

Allows the app to read all contacts in all mailboxes without a signed-in user.

Delegated Access App-Only Access

Permission Details

Application Permission

Read contacts in all mailboxes

Allows the app to read all contacts in all mailboxes without a signed-in user.

Delegated Permission User consent allowed

Read user contacts

Allows the app to read user contacts.

Properties

Property Type Description
id string The unique identifier for an entity. Read-only.
isEnabled booleanNullable true if the duplicate contact merge suggestions feature is enabled for the user; false if the feature is disabled. Default value is true.

Relationships

Relationship Type Description
extensions extension collection The collection of open extensions defined for the contact. Nullable.
photo profilePhoto Optional contact picture. You can get or set a photo for a contact.
singleValueExtendedProperties singleValueExtendedProperties collection The collection of single-value extended properties defined for the contact. Read-only. Nullable.
multiValueExtendedProperties multiValueExtendedProperties collection The collection of multi-value extended properties defined for the contact. Read-only. Nullable.

Graph Methods

Delegated access App-only access
Methods
GET /contacts
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/directReports
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/directReports/{directoryObject-id}
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/directReports/{directoryObject-id}/graph.orgContact
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/directReports/{directoryObject-id}/graph.user
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/directReports/graph.orgContact
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/directReports/graph.user
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/manager
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/memberOf
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/memberOf/{directoryObject-id}
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/memberOf/{directoryObject-id}/graph.administrativeUnit
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/memberOf/{directoryObject-id}/graph.group
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/memberOf/graph.administrativeUnit
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/memberOf/graph.group
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/onPremisesSyncBehavior
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/serviceProvisioningErrors
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveMemberOf
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveMemberOf/{directoryObject-id}
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveMemberOf/{directoryObject-id}/graph.administrativeUnit
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveMemberOf/{directoryObject-id}/graph.group
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveMemberOf/graph.administrativeUnit
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveMemberOf/graph.group
GET /devices/{Id}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /groups/{Id}/events/{Id}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /groups/{Id}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /groups/{id}/photo/$value
GET /groups/{Id}/threads/{Id}/posts/{Id}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /me/contactFolders
GET /me/contactfolders/{contactFolderId}/contacts/{id}/photo/$value
GET /me/contactFolders/{id}
GET /me/contactFolders/{id}/childFolders
GET /me/contactFolders/{id}/contacts
GET /me/contactFolders/{id}/contacts/delta
GET /me/contactFolders/delta
GET /me/contacts
GET /me/contacts/{id}
GET /me/contacts/{id}/photo/$value
GET /me/mailFolders/{id}/messages/{id}?$expand=multiValueExtendedProperties($filter=id eq '{id_value}')
GET /me/mailFolders/{id}/messages/{id}?$expand=singleValueExtendedProperties($filter=id eq '{id_value}')
GET /me/messages/{id}?$expand=multiValueExtendedProperties($filter=id eq '{id_value}')
GET /me/messages/{id}?$expand=singleValueExtendedProperties($filter=id eq '{id_value}')
GET /me/photo/$value
GET /organization/{Id}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /subscriptions
GET /subscriptions/{id}
GET /teams/{id}/photo/$value
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contactFolders
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contactfolders/{contactFolderId}/contacts/{id}/photo/$value
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contactFolders/{id}
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contactFolders/{id}/childFolders
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contactFolders/{id}/contacts
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contactFolders/{id}/contacts/delta
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contacts
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contacts/{id}
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contacts/{id}/photo/$value
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/photo/$value
GET /users/{id}/contactFolders/delta
GET /users/{Id|userPrincipalName}/contacts/{Id}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /users/{Id|userPrincipalName}/events/{Id}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /users/{Id|userPrincipalName}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /users/{id|userPrincipalName}/messages/{id}?$expand=multiValueExtendedProperties($filter=id eq '{id_value}')
GET /users/{id|userPrincipalName}/messages/{id}?$expand=singleValueExtendedProperties($filter=id eq '{id_value}')
GET /users/{Id|userPrincipalName}/messages/{Id}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /users/{Id|userPrincipalName}/todo/lists/{todoTaskListId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /users/{Id|userPrincipalName}/todo/lists/{todoTaskListId}/tasks/{taskId}/extensions/{extensionId}
POST /contacts/{orgContact-id}/checkMemberGroups
POST /contacts/{orgContact-id}/checkMemberObjects
POST /contacts/{orgContact-id}/getMemberGroups
POST /contacts/{orgContact-id}/getMemberObjects
POST /contacts/{orgContact-id}/restore
POST /contacts/{orgContact-id}/retryServiceProvisioning
POST /contacts/getAvailableExtensionProperties
POST /contacts/validateProperties
POST /subscriptions
POST /subscriptions/{subscriptionsId}/reauthorize
PATCH /contacts/{orgContact-id}
PATCH /contacts/{orgContact-id}/onPremisesSyncBehavior
PATCH /subscriptions/{id}
DELETE /contacts/{orgContact-id}
DELETE /contacts/{orgContact-id}/onPremisesSyncBehavior
DELETE /subscriptions/{subscription-id}
Methods
GET /administrativeUnits/{administrativeUnitId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /contacts
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/directReports
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/directReports/{directoryObject-id}
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/directReports/{directoryObject-id}/graph.orgContact
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/directReports/{directoryObject-id}/graph.user
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/directReports/graph.orgContact
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/directReports/graph.user
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/manager
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/memberOf
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/memberOf/{directoryObject-id}
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/memberOf/{directoryObject-id}/graph.administrativeUnit
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/memberOf/{directoryObject-id}/graph.group
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/memberOf/graph.administrativeUnit
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/memberOf/graph.group
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/onPremisesSyncBehavior
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/serviceProvisioningErrors
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveMemberOf
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveMemberOf/{directoryObject-id}
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveMemberOf/{directoryObject-id}/graph.administrativeUnit
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveMemberOf/{directoryObject-id}/graph.group
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveMemberOf/graph.administrativeUnit
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveMemberOf/graph.group
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveReports
GET /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveReports/{directoryObject-id}
GET /devices/{deviceId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /drive/items/{itemId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /groups/{groupId}/events/{eventId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /groups/{groupId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /groups/{groupId}/threads/{threadId}/posts/{postId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /groups/{id}/photo/$value
GET /me/contactFolders
GET /me/contactfolders/{contactFolderId}/contacts/{id}/photo/$value
GET /me/contactFolders/{id}
GET /me/contactFolders/{id}/childFolders
GET /me/contactFolders/{id}/contacts
GET /me/contactFolders/{id}/contacts/delta
GET /me/contactFolders/delta
GET /me/contacts
GET /me/contacts/{id}
GET /me/contacts/{id}/photo/$value
GET /me/mailFolders/{id}/messages/{id}?$expand=multiValueExtendedProperties($filter=id eq '{id_value}')
GET /me/mailFolders/{id}/messages/{id}?$expand=singleValueExtendedProperties($filter=id eq '{id_value}')
GET /me/messages/{id}?$expand=multiValueExtendedProperties($filter=id eq '{id_value}')
GET /me/messages/{id}?$expand=singleValueExtendedProperties($filter=id eq '{id_value}')
GET /me/photo/$value
GET /organization/{organizationId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /sites/{siteId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /subscriptions
GET /subscriptions/{id}
GET /subscriptions/getVapidPublicKey
GET /teams/{id}/photo/$value
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contactFolders
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contactfolders/{contactFolderId}/contacts/{id}/photo/$value
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contactFolders/{id}
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contactFolders/{id}/childFolders
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contactFolders/{id}/contacts
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contacts
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contacts/{id}
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/contacts/{id}/photo/$value
GET /users/{id | userPrincipalName}/photo/$value
GET /users/{id}/contactFolders/{id}/contacts/delta
GET /users/{id}/contactFolders/delta
GET /users/{Id|userPrincipalName}/events/{eventId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /users/{id|userPrincipalName}/messages/{id}?$expand=multiValueExtendedProperties($filter=id eq '{id_value}')
GET /users/{id|userPrincipalName}/messages/{id}?$expand=singleValueExtendedProperties($filter=id eq '{id_value}')
GET /users/{userId|userPrincipalName}/contacts/{contactId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /users/{userId|userPrincipalName}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /users/{userId|userPrincipalName}/messages/{messageId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /users/{userId|userPrincipalName}/tasks/lists/{listId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /users/{userId|userPrincipalName}/tasks/lists/{listId}/tasks/{baseTaskId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /users/{userId|userPrincipalName}/todo/lists/{listId}/extensions/{extensionId}
GET /users/{userId|userPrincipalName}/todo/lists/{listId}/tasks/{todoTaskId}/extensions/{extensionId}
POST /contacts/{orgContact-id}/checkMemberGroups
POST /contacts/{orgContact-id}/checkMemberObjects
POST /contacts/{orgContact-id}/getMemberGroups
POST /contacts/{orgContact-id}/getMemberObjects
POST /contacts/{orgContact-id}/restore
POST /contacts/{orgContact-id}/retryServiceProvisioning
POST /contacts/{orgContact-id}/transitiveReports/{directoryObject-id}
POST /contacts/getUserOwnedObjects
POST /contacts/validateProperties
POST /subscriptions
POST /subscriptions/{subscriptionsId}/reauthorize
PATCH /contacts/{orgContact-id}
PATCH /contacts/{orgContact-id}/onPremisesSyncBehavior
PATCH /subscriptions/{id}
DELETE /contacts/{orgContact-id}
DELETE /contacts/{orgContact-id}/onPremisesSyncBehavior
DELETE /subscriptions/{subscription-id}

Code Examples

C# / .NET SDK
// Install: dotnet add package Microsoft.Graph
// Install: dotnet add package Azure.Identity
using Microsoft.Graph;
using Azure.Identity;

// Delegated permissions - interactive user sign-in
var scopes = new[] { "Contacts.Read" };
var options = new InteractiveBrowserCredentialOptions
{
    ClientId = "YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
    TenantId = "YOUR_TENANT_ID",
    RedirectUri = new Uri("http://localhost")
};
var credential = new InteractiveBrowserCredential(options);
var graphClient = new GraphServiceClient(credential, scopes);

// Example: GET /me
var result = await graphClient.Me.GetAsync();
Console.WriteLine($"User: {result?.DisplayName}");

// Application permissions - daemon/service app
var tenantId = "YOUR_TENANT_ID";
var clientId = "YOUR_CLIENT_ID";
var clientSecret = "YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET";

var credential = new ClientSecretCredential(tenantId, clientId, clientSecret);
var graphClient = new GraphServiceClient(credential);

// Example: GET /users/{user-id}
var users = await graphClient.Users.GetAsync();
foreach (var user in users?.Value ?? [])
{
    Console.WriteLine($"User: {user.DisplayName}");
}
JavaScript / TypeScript
// npm install @azure/msal-browser @microsoft/microsoft-graph-client
import { PublicClientApplication } from "@azure/msal-browser";
import { Client } from "@microsoft/microsoft-graph-client";
import { AuthCodeMSALBrowserAuthenticationProvider } from 
    "@microsoft/microsoft-graph-client/authProviders/authCodeMsalBrowser";

const msalConfig = {
    auth: {
        clientId: "YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
        authority: "https://login.microsoftonline.com/YOUR_TENANT_ID"
    }
};

const pca = new PublicClientApplication(msalConfig);
await pca.initialize();

// Delegated: Login with required scope
const loginResponse = await pca.loginPopup({
    scopes: ["Contacts.Read"]
});

const authProvider = new AuthCodeMSALBrowserAuthenticationProvider(pca, {
    account: loginResponse.account,
    scopes: ["Contacts.Read"],
    interactionType: "popup"
});

const graphClient = Client.initWithMiddleware({ authProvider });

// Example: GET /me
const result = await graphClient.api("/me").get();
console.log(result);

// Application: Use client credentials (Node.js backend only)
// npm install @azure/identity @microsoft/microsoft-graph-client
import { ClientSecretCredential } from "@azure/identity";
import { TokenCredentialAuthenticationProvider } from 
    "@microsoft/microsoft-graph-client/authProviders/azureTokenCredentials";

const credential = new ClientSecretCredential(
    "YOUR_TENANT_ID",
    "YOUR_CLIENT_ID", 
    "YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET"
);

const authProvider = new TokenCredentialAuthenticationProvider(credential, {
    scopes: ["https://graph.microsoft.com/.default"]
});

const graphClient = Client.initWithMiddleware({ authProvider });
const result = await graphClient.api("/users").get();
console.log(result);
PowerShell
# Install Microsoft Graph PowerShell module
Install-Module Microsoft.Graph -Scope CurrentUser

# Delegated access - interactive sign-in
Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "Contacts.Read"

# Verify connection
Get-MgContext | Select-Object Account, TenantId, Scopes

# Example: GET /me
$result = Invoke-MgGraphRequest -Method GET -Uri "https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/me"
$result | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 5

# Application access with certificate
$params = @{
    ClientId = "YOUR_CLIENT_ID"
    TenantId = "YOUR_TENANT_ID"
    CertificateThumbprint = "YOUR_CERT_THUMBPRINT"
}
Connect-MgGraph @params

# Or with client secret (not recommended for production)
# Connect-MgGraph -ClientSecretCredential $credential

# Example: GET /users
$result = Invoke-MgGraphRequest -Method GET -Uri "https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/users"
$result | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 5

# Always disconnect when done
Disconnect-MgGraph
Python
# pip install msgraph-sdk azure-identity
from azure.identity import InteractiveBrowserCredential, ClientSecretCredential
from msgraph import GraphServiceClient
import asyncio

# Delegated permissions - interactive browser sign-in
credential = InteractiveBrowserCredential(
    client_id="YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
    tenant_id="YOUR_TENANT_ID"
)
scopes = ["Contacts.Read"]
client = GraphServiceClient(credential, scopes)

async def get_data():
    # Example: GET /me
    result = await client.me.get()
    print(f"User: {result.display_name}")
    return result

asyncio.run(get_data())

# Application permissions - client credentials
credential = ClientSecretCredential(
    tenant_id="YOUR_TENANT_ID",
    client_id="YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
    client_secret="YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET"
)
scopes = ["https://graph.microsoft.com/.default"]
client = GraphServiceClient(credential, scopes)

async def get_users():
    # Example: GET /users
    result = await client.users.get()
    for user in result.value:
        print(f"User: {user.display_name}")
    return result

asyncio.run(get_users())

App Registration

1

Navigate to Azure Portal

Go to App registrations in Microsoft Entra admin center

2

Add API Permission

Select your app → API permissions → Add a permission → Microsoft Graph

3

Select Permission Type

Choose Application permissions or Delegated permissions and search for Contacts.Read

4

Grant Admin Consent

Application permissions always require admin consent. Click "Grant admin consent" in the Azure portal.