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Azure DevOps Services | Azure DevOps Server | Azure DevOps Server 2022
Visual Studio 2019 | Visual Studio 2022
Each work item list column maps to a work item field. Use Column options to add or remove columns, reorder them, and tailor the list to the fields you want to see. Your column settings persist for each page and apply only to your views.
The following table shows where you can perform each column action:
| Action | Backlogs | Sprint backlogs | Queries | Work items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add or remove columns | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Add or remove the Parent field | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Add or remove a rollup column | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Sort on a column | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Backlogs don't support column-based sorting. To sort backlog items, select Create Query on the backlog, and then use the Sorting tab in the Column options dialog. Not all fields support sorting. For example, Parent, History, Description, and other rich-text fields return an error if you try to sort on them.
Most fields in the Work item field index are available, including fields defined across the organization that your project doesn't use. To review available fields, go to Organization Settings > Process > Fields.
Most fields in the Work item field index are available, including fields defined across the project collection that your project doesn't use. If your project uses the Inherited process model, review available fields at Organization Settings > Process > Fields.
Tip
You can use AI to help with this task later in this article, or see Enable AI assistance with Azure DevOps MCP Server to get started.
Column option persistence
Column options persist until you change them. The following rules apply:
- Backlogs — Settings apply to the active team and backlog level. Product backlog and portfolio backlog settings are independent.
- Sprint backlogs — Settings apply across all sprints until you change them.
- Queries — Settings persist when you save the query.
- Work items — Settings persist per view only (for example, Assigned to me, Following, or Mentioned).
Note
You can't set column options for other team members or set default column options.
Note
You can't set column options for other team members. For projects that use the Inherited process model, you can't set default column options. For projects that use the On-premises XML process model, you can set defaults for product, portfolio, and sprint backlogs. For more information, see Process configuration XML element reference.
Prerequisites
| Category | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Project access | Project member. |
| Permissions | - Member of the Contributors or Project Administrators security group. - To view or modify work items: View work items in this node and Edit work items in this node permissions set to Allow. By default, the Contributors group has this permission set to Allow. For more information, see Set work tracking permissions. |
| Access levels | To add or modify work items: At least Basic access. Users with Stakeholder access for public projects have full access to backlog and board features, like users with Basic access. For more information, see Stakeholder access quick reference. |
| Defined iterations | To use the Planning pane: Ensure your team administrator defined iteration paths (sprints) and configure team iterations. |
| Category | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Project access | Project member. |
| Permissions | - Member of the Contributors or Project Administrators security group. - To view or modify work items: View work items in this node and Edit work items in this node permissions set to Allow. By default, the Contributors group has this permission set to Allow. For more information, see Set work tracking permissions. |
| Access levels | To add or modify work items: At least Basic access. |
| Defined iterations | To use the Planning pane: Ensure your team administrator defined iteration paths (sprints) and configure team iterations. |
Open the Column options dialog
Open the Column Options dialog from any work item list. If the option isn't visible, select More actions (…) to find it.
Add or remove columns
In the Column options dialog:
- Select Add a column to add a field.
- Drag and drop fields to reorder them.
- Select
to remove a field.
Add or remove rollup columns
Rollup columns can display progress bars or the sum of numeric fields of child items. You can add them to any product or portfolio backlog. For more information, see Display rollup progress or totals.
Sort on a column
To sort query results or Work items views, open the Column options dialog and select Sorting. Add the fields you want to sort by, drag them into priority order, and use the up or down arrows to set ascending or descending order.
Keyboard shortcuts for columns and sorting
- Reorder a column — Drag the column header to a new position.
- Resize a column — Drag the column divider to the right of the header.
- Sort by a column (query results only) — Shift+select the column header.
- Reverse sort order — Shift+select the same column header again.
- Sort by multiple columns — Shift+select each column header in the order you want.
For a full list of keyboard shortcuts, press ? on any page.
Use AI to configure board columns
If you configure the Azure DevOps MCP Server, you can describe board column configuration in natural language instead of using the column settings dialog for each column.
| Task | Example prompt |
|---|---|
| Add a column | Add a "Ready for Review" column between "Doing" and "Done" on the board for team <Web> in project <Contoso> |
| Rename a column | Rename the "Doing" column to "In Progress" on the board for team <Web> in project <Contoso> |
| Reorder columns | Move the "Testing" column so it appears before "Done" on the board for team <Web> in project <Contoso> |
| Set a WIP limit | Set a WIP limit of 5 on the "Doing" column on the board for team <Web> in project <Contoso> |
| Split a column | Split the "Doing" column into "Doing" and "Done" swim lanes on the board for team <Web> in project <Contoso> |
| Map a column to a state | Map the "In Review" column to the "Active" workflow state on the board for team <Web> in project <Contoso> |
| Set Definition of Done | Add a Definition of Done checklist to the "Done" column on the board for team <Web> in project <Contoso> |
| Remove a column | Remove the "Blocked" column from the board for team <Web> in project <Contoso> |
| Copy column layout | Copy the column layout from team <Web> to team <Mobile> in project <Contoso> |
| Audit column setup | List all boards in project <Contoso> that don't have WIP limits configured |
Note
If you're using Visual Studio Code, agent mode is especially helpful for complex board configuration operations.