Azure DevOps CLI

Manage Azure DevOps resources using the Azure CLI with the Azure DevOps extension.

CLI Version: 2.81.0 (current as of 2025)

Prerequisites

# Install Azure CLI
brew install azure-cli  # macOS
curl -sL https://aka.ms/InstallAzureCLIDeb | sudo bash  # Linux

# Install Azure DevOps extension
az extension add --name azure-devops

Authentication

# Login with PAT token
az devops login --organization https://dev.azure.com/{org} --token YOUR_PAT_TOKEN

# Set default organization and project (avoids repeating --org/--project)
# Note: Legacy URL https://{org}.visualstudio.com should be replaced with https://dev.azure.com/{org}
az devops configure --defaults organization=https://dev.azure.com/{org} project={project}

# List current configuration
az devops configure --list

CLI Structure

az devops          # Main DevOps commands
├── admin          # Administration (banner)
├── extension      # Extension management
├── project        # Team projects
├── security       # Security operations
│   ├── group      # Security groups
│   └── permission # Security permissions
├── service-endpoint # Service connections
├── team           # Teams
├── user           # Users
├── wiki           # Wikis
├── configure      # Set defaults
├── invoke         # Invoke REST API
├── login          # Authenticate
└── logout         # Clear credentials

az pipelines       # Azure Pipelines
├── agent          # Agents
├── build          # Builds
├── folder         # Pipeline folders
├── pool           # Agent pools
├── queue          # Agent queues
├── release        # Releases
├── runs           # Pipeline runs
├── variable       # Pipeline variables
└── variable-group # Variable groups

az boards          # Azure Boards
├── area           # Area paths
├── iteration      # Iterations
└── work-item      # Work items

az repos           # Azure Repos
├── import         # Git imports
├── policy         # Branch policies
├── pr             # Pull requests
└── ref            # Git references

az artifacts       # Azure Artifacts
└── universal      # Universal Packages

Reference Files

Read the relevant reference file based on the user's task. Each file contains complete command syntax and examples for its domain.

File	When to read	Covers
references/repos-and-prs.md	Repos, branches, pull requests, branch policies	Repositories, Import, PRs (create/list/vote/reviewers/policies), Git refs, Branch policies
references/pipelines-and-builds.md	Pipelines, builds, releases, artifacts	Pipelines CRUD, runs, builds, releases, artifacts download/upload
references/boards-and-iterations.md	Work items, sprints, area paths	Work items (WIQL/create/update/relations), Area paths, Iterations, Team iterations
references/variables-and-agents.md	Pipeline variables, agent pools	Pipeline variables, Variable groups, Pipeline folders, Agent pools/queues
references/org-and-security.md	Projects, teams, users, permissions, wikis	Projects, Extensions, Teams, Users, Security groups/permissions, Service endpoints, Wikis, Admin
references/advanced-usage.md	Output formatting, JMESPath queries	Output formats, JMESPath queries (basic + advanced), Global args, Common params, Git aliases
references/workflows-and-patterns.md	Automation scripts, best practices, error handling	Common workflows, Best practices, Error handling, Scripting patterns, Real-world examples
references/long-comments-on-windows.md	Long --discussion, --description, or --content values failing on Windows	The cmd.exe 8191 char cap on az.cmd, shell detection, and three verified workarounds (azps.ps1, native --file-path, az devops invoke --in-file)