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Use this guide when an organization wants members to sign in to OpenWork with Microsoft Entra ID.

Before you start

You need:
  • An OpenWork organization with the Enterprise SSO entitlement.
  • Owner or admin access in that OpenWork organization.
  • Admin access to a Microsoft Entra enterprise application.
  • The final OpenWork auth origin, for example https://app.openworklabs.com.

1. Create the Entra enterprise app

In the Microsoft Azure portal, open Microsoft Entra ID and create a new enterprise application for OpenWork. Choose SAML as the single sign-on method.

2. Configure Basic SAML Configuration

In Entra, open Single sign-on and edit Basic SAML Configuration. Set:
Entra fieldValue
Identifier (Entity ID)The OpenWork auth origin, for example https://app.openworklabs.com
Reply URL (Assertion Consumer Service URL)The ACS URL OpenWork shows after saving SAML, for example https://app.openworklabs.com/api/auth/sso/saml2/sp/acs/openwork-sso-<org-id>
Sign on URLThe org-specific OpenWork Sign-in URL shown after saving SAML, for example https://app.openworklabs.com/sso/<org-slug>
Relay StateLeave blank
The Entity ID must be the OpenWork auth origin. Do not use the Entra tenant identifier, https://sts.windows.net/<tenant-id>/, as the Entity ID. OpenWork SAML connections are organization-scoped. If a user belongs to multiple OpenWork organizations, the Entra app, ACS URL, and Sign-in URL select which organization they are entering.

3. Configure SAML signing

Open SAML Certificates and edit the token signing certificate settings. Set:
  • Signing Option: Sign SAML assertion
  • Signing Algorithm: SHA-256
OpenWork requires signed SAML assertions. If Entra signs only the response, the callback fails with saml_error and Invalid SAML response. After any certificate change, copy the active certificate again. Entra can create or activate a new signing certificate while you are editing SAML settings, and OpenWork must store the certificate that is currently active.

4. Copy Entra values into OpenWork

In OpenWork, open the organization dashboard, then SSO. Choose SAML and enter:
OpenWork fieldEntra value
IdP Issuer URLMicrosoft Entra Identifier, for example https://sts.windows.net/<tenant-id>/
DomainThe Entra-managed email domain, for example example.onmicrosoft.com
SAML Entry PointLogin URL, for example https://login.microsoftonline.com/<tenant-id>/saml2
Audience URLLeave blank so OpenWork uses the auth origin, unless support gives you a different audience
IdP CertificateThe active Certificate (Base64) from Entra
Save the SSO connection. OpenWork then shows the generated ACS URL. Copy that ACS URL back into Entra’s Reply URL if it was not available before the first save. Copy the OpenWork Sign-in URL into Entra’s Sign on URL so the Entra tile can launch the same organization-scoped flow.

5. Assign test users

In Entra, open the enterprise application’s Users and groups page and assign the users who should be allowed to sign in. For external users, assign the guest identity shown by Entra, not only the original external email address.

Troubleshooting

SymptomLikely causeFix
AADSTS700016: Application with identifier 'https://app.openworklabs.com' was not foundEntra’s Entity ID does not match OpenWork’s SAML issuerSet Identifier (Entity ID) to the OpenWork auth origin
/?error=saml_error&error_description=Invalid%20SAML%20responseEntra is signing with a different certificate than the one saved in OpenWork, or assertions are not signedConfirm Signing Option is Sign SAML assertion, then paste Entra’s active Certificate (Base64) into OpenWork and save
/?error=unsolicited_response&error_description=IdP-initiated+SSO+not+allowedThe deployment is running an older OpenWork version that rejects IdP-initiated SAMLUpgrade OpenWork, or launch from the org-specific OpenWork Sign-in URL
User reaches Microsoft but cannot continueThe user is not assigned to the enterprise applicationAdd the user under Users and groups
Reply URL mismatchEntra’s Reply URL does not match the OpenWork ACS URL exactlyCopy the ACS URL from OpenWork and paste it into Entra