Does Microsoft require Microsoft Entra ID (previously managed work or school accounts) for volume licensing?
Yes. Volume licensing is now managed in Microsoft 365 admin center, which requires Entra ID for user sign in. Benefits include:
- Best-in-class user authentication and authorization to protect assets acquired through Microsoft volume licensing.
- Allows most users to have a single Log In ID to manage on-premise software, on-line services and subscriptions such as Visual Studio.
- Individual users are more readily identifiable as belonging to an organization.
- User access is removed once users are no longer part of their organization's active directory.
- Forgotten passwords can be reset by the organization's global administrator, or by self-service password reset if the global admin allows it.
Important
The purpose of the Microsoft Entra ID is for authenticating a user's relationship with an organization and ensure permissions are accurately and securely assigned with the licensed organization. Having a Microsoft Entra ID does not require that user or organization consume Microsoft Services such as Office 365.
What does a Microsoft Entra ID for volume licensing look like?
Previously known as a work or school account, a Microsoft Entra ID typically takes the form of username@orgname.com or username@orgname.onmicrosoft.com (where orgname is their employer's email domain name).
If you use a Microsoft online services already, you have a Microsoft Entra ID. Try signing in to the Microsoft 365 admin ceneter with the same account you use to access that service.
I am being prompted to take over my unmanaged directory as an administrator.
For a period, VLSC permitted user sign in with an identity automatically created based on the user email domain. (Previously referred to as unmanaged or viral tenants).
From September 2021, users signing in to VLSC with these accounts were prompted to convert to managed accounts to maintain access to volume licensing information transitioned to Microsoft 365 admin center.
Any volume licensing users still using these old account types need to either convert the accounts to a managed one or sign up for a new account before asking Volume Licensing Support to request a volume licensing role in Microsoft 365 admin center.
For more about viral tenants, please see Self-service sign-up for email-verified users.
How do I know if I have an unmanaged tenant account
- Sign into Portal.Office.com (or other online service) and if you see an Admin tile in the App Picker, the tenant is Unmanaged.
- Or for the IT Pro determine whether you have a viral tenant account without having to log into VLSC.
Convert unmanaged directory to managed directory to access volume licensing.
Option 1 - sign in with email domain specific to your organization by taking over a viral tenant.
To be able to sign in as vluser@fourthcoffee.xyzyou or your organization's administrator need to verify ownership of email domain @fourthcoffee.xyz.
To do this, your organization's IT administrator or network administrator will need to confirm the domain's DNS TXT records. (These are available from the domain name registrar, such as GoDaddy).
Your IT administrator may choose to input the DNS TXT details and become the Global Administrator for your organization themselves.
Doing so does not mean they need to manage volume license agreement permissions or roles.
For step-by-step instructions see How to takeover over an unmanaged directory
Reasons that might prevent you from completing a takeover include:
- Unable to identify your IT Administrator: For large organizations this is typically a Help Desk number, but smaller organizations may outsource this to an IT provider.
- Unable to prove domain ownership: Your IT administrators will know this or have access to the information - which is sourced from your Internet Service Provider.
- Your account belongs to a restricted or reclaimed domain. This setting is determined by your organization's IT administrator.
In these instances you may want to create a new user ID.
After you have converted your unmanaged account to a managed Entra ID account (ie the active directory has been taken over), submit a case to VLSC Support requesting a new volume licensing profile in the Microsoft 365 admin center. See below,
Option 2 - Create a new Entra ID
If a sign in ID format that does not match your organization's email domain is acceptable to you, or you are unable to prove ownership of your organization's email domain at this time, it may be as easy to create a Microsoft Entra ID (in a format such as user@fourthcoffeexyz.onmicrosoft.com) that you manage independently of your IT or Network Admin.
This may be a good option for you if you only need to use this account to manage volume licensing. However, customers may need to check their organization's internal IT policies before choosing this option.
- Go to Sign Up to create a new Microsoft Entra ID with yourself as the administrator (you don't need to confirm DNS TXT details for this type of domain).
- The format may be something like
user@fourthcoffeexyz.onmicrosoft.com - Be sure to write down your user new ID as you will need it later.
Tip
It is highly recommended that prior to deploying any online services such as Office 365, your organization take over this new Entra ID Tennat and link it to the organizations own domain.
After the active directory has been taken over, submit a case to VLSC Support requesting a new volume licensing profile in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
You will need to provide both your old VLSC Sign In ID and th new ID you just signed up for.
Contact Volume Licensing Support
Volume licensing customers may Contact Us by phone or by web form.
You will need to provide your Log in ID and the license number(s) your issue relates to.
Please also rovide a detailed description of the issue, including any specific error message and screenshots containing the the desktop timestamp (date and time of the PC) Or use PSR Record steps to reproduce a problem - See Find Object ID
If you need assistance with creation of a new volume licensing user profile because your VLSC account was a Microsoft Account or an unmanaged account that cannot be used in Microsoft 365 admin center you will need to provide additional information outlined below.
How do I find my Object ID to provide to Support
Sometimes Support will need information to validate your identity and will request you provide your unique "object ID". To capture your object ID navigate to entra.microsoft.com > selectUsers > All Users > search for user > select user > copy the Object ID See Find Object ID
Contact Volume Licensing Support
Volume licensing customers may Contact Us by phone or by web form.
Required Information for a new volume licensing user profile
To replace an obsolete VLSC account type please provide both old Log In ID and your new Log In ID - must be a Microsoft Entra ID. Volume license agreement number(s) Email address listed on the volume licensing agreement (where the invitation was sent to)
User Object ID in text form and full page screenshot showing your Log In ID, User Session ID captured in text form by the user as follows: Right click > Inspect element > Applications > Cookies > Check in admin.microsoft.com cookies > s.SessID
State whether you are unable to view all VL pages under the Volume licensing blade in MAC > Billing > Your Products > Volume Licensing? (Yes/No?) If no, can you access using any of the corresponding deep links