Modern authentication is a Microsoft 365 authentication method available in ShareGate Migrate.
It opens a browser window for your connection in-app and preserves an OAuth2 Bearer token locally; it does not store your username or password.
The token does not expire for at least 90 days.
Modern authentication supports MFA and is considered a more secure method than Browser authentication.
It is also the only authentication method you can use in a PowerShell script to connect to Microsoft 365 without entering your credentials in a browser prompt, provided MFA is not enforced.
Prerequisites
To use Modern authentication, a global or privileged role admin must consent to a set of general Microsoft 365 permissions for ShareGate.
To learn more, see How a global or privileged role admin can consent to ShareGate's Microsoft 365 permission sets.
How-to
Modern authentication is available across all features of ShareGate Migrate, except for mailbox migrations with Copy mailboxes and Copy from Gmail for now.
From any connection screen, open the Authentication dropdown to select Modern.
When you connect, a browser window will open to confirm your credentials.
For more info on the connection process, see Connect to SharePoint and Microsoft 365.
To learn how to use Modern authentication in PowerShell, see Connect-Site.
If you're having trouble connecting, see Troubleshoot Microsoft 365 connection issues.
Limitations
Modern authentication limits ShareGate Migrate's access to some legacy Microsoft APIs, which can affect how certain features interact with your Microsoft 365 environment.
Copy limitations
Modern authentication has some migration limitations. For example, the top navigation in your pages and classic web parts will not be supported. For a list of all the migration limitations, see Modern authentication copy limitations.
Size data in governance features and reports
When using Modern authentication, the size information in the Explore screen, reports, and source analysis is partially limited:
List sizes are often reported as close to zero, as list structure and metadata are not retrieved.
Library sizes reflect files only; structure and metadata are not included.
Site sizes are accurate and provide a reliable overall picture of everything they encompass.
Tip: If any of these limitations are a concern, consider using Browser authentication instead.