How to Manage Licenses in Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Managing Licenses in Microsoft 365 Admin Center - A Simplified Approach

Managing licenses can be a bit of a maze, especially with multiple admin portals at our disposal. While the Entra Admin Portal offers powerful tools for license management. however, Starting September 1st, 2024, management of license assignments in the Entra portal will be discontinued. These features will transition to the M365 admin portal (admin.microsoft.com). But it is important to note that PowerShell/Graph functionalities will remain unaffected by this change. the Microsoft 365 Admin Center provides a user-friendly and integrated approach that many find easier to navigate.  In this post, we'll explore why you might prefer using the Microsoft 365 Admin Center for managing your licenses and how to get the most out of it.

Why Choose Microsoft 365 Admin Center?

1. Centralized Management

The Microsoft 365 Admin Center is designed to be a one-stop-shop for managing your Microsoft 365 environment. Here, you can handle everything from user management to license assignments without hopping between different admin portals. This centralization simplifies tasks and improves efficiency.

2. User-Friendly Interface

The Microsoft 365 Admin Center features an intuitive interface that makes it easy for administrators of all levels to manage licenses. Its clean layout and straightforward options help reduce the learning curve and streamline administrative tasks.

3. Integration with Other Services

When you manage licenses through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, you benefit from seamless integration with other Microsoft services. This integration ensures that all your users' needs are met without needing to switch contexts.

As I mentioned previously, Starting September 1st, 2024, management of license assignments in the Entra portal will be discontinued. These features will transfer to the M365 admin portal (admin.microsoft.com). So, let’s have a look where we go to find the licensing management on M365 admin portal.

How to Manage Licenses in Microsoft 365 Admin Center

1. Accessing the Admin Center

To get started, log in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center using your admin credentials. From the dashboard, you’ll see an overview of your Microsoft 365 environment, including the license management section.

2. Viewing and Assigning Licenses

•  Navigate to Billing: Go to the "Billing" section on the left sidebar, then select     "Licenses."

• View License Details: Here, you can see all the licenses your organization owns, including their status and quantity.

• Assign Licenses: To assign licenses to users, go to "Users" > "Active users," select a user, and then click "Licenses & Apps" to assign or remove licenses as needed.

• Also, you can assign licenses to the user via the “Licenses” tab in the “Billing” Section.

• In addition, we can also assign licenses to groups. To do that, first we need to create security groups in M365 admin center. follow this path mentioned in the below screenshot to create a security group. You can use an appropriate name for that sec group.

• After creating a security group, you can assign licenses to that group as you need. This screenshot mentions that several security groups have been created and assigned licenses to those groups.

Managing licenses by assigning them to individual users can be time-consuming, particularly if you have many employees. Instead, you can streamline this process by assigning licenses to groups. This method not only saves time but also simplifies license management as your organization grows.

3. Managing License Usage

Keep track of your license usage and ensure you’re not overspending or underutilizing your resources. The Microsoft 365 Admin Center provides insights into how many licenses are in use and what types of licenses are being consumed.

4. Renewals and Purchases

Manage renewals and additional purchases directly from the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. This streamlined process helps you keep track of license expiration dates and make timely decisions about purchasing new licenses.

Benefits of Managing Licenses in Microsoft 365 Admin Center

• Efficiency: Reduce the time spent navigating multiple portals by using a single, integrated platform.

• Simplicity: Enjoy a more user-friendly experience that simplifies complex tasks.

• Integration: Benefit from seamless integration with other Microsoft services for a more cohesive administrative experience.

Conclusion

While the Entra Admin Portal is a powerful tool for various administrative tasks, the Microsoft 365 Admin Center offers a more streamlined approach to license management. By centralizing your tasks and taking advantage of the intuitive interface, you can manage your licenses more efficiently and effectively.

Also, Starting September 1st, 2024, a new update will require changes to our existing routines. Currently, the task is straightforward and like our usual processes within the Entra portal. Yet, it lacks the provision of easily accessible status updates or notifications. It would be advantageous for license error alerts to be clearly visible when an administrator logs into the admin portal, especially in the licensing section. I am optimistic that such functionalities will be implemented soon. In the meantime, it is wise to actively monitor any license inconsistencies within your system.

So, it’s the time, give the Microsoft 365 Admin Center a try and experience how it simplifies your administrative duties!

I hope you found this article helpful in understanding the licensing future of Microsoft 365 Admin Center. If you enjoyed this post, don't forget to share it with your colleagues and friends who might benefit from this knowledge.

Have thoughts or questions? I'd love to hear from you! Drop a comment below, and let's discuss more…!!!

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