Set up Automations App for Azure DevOps

Install the Automations App, sign in a work or school account, then create automations in a project.

Install the Automations App

Open the Visual Studio Marketplace and install the Automations App into your Azure DevOps organization.

Automations for Azure DevOps on the Visual Studio Marketplace

Choose how automations run

A Project Collection Administrator opens Organization Settings → Automations. Choose one of these:

Setup Automation User (Simple). Click Setup User. Automations run as the work or school account you sign in with. The organization does not need to be connected to Microsoft Entra.
Connect an Entra app (Advanced). Connect Entra App stays unavailable until the organization is connected to Microsoft Entra (Organization Settings → Microsoft Entra). Those steps are in the section below.

When one setup is already in use, click Disconnect before you choose the other.

Choose Setup Automation User or Connect an Entra app

Choose access

The Automation access dialog opens. By default, only Project Administrators can manage automations in a project.

Work items stays selected.
Read pipelines lets automations use pipeline triggers.
Run pipelines lets an automation queue a pipeline. It includes Read pipelines.

Turn pipeline access off if you only need work item automations. Click Continue.

Choose Work items and pipeline access before signing in — Choose Work items and pipeline access before you sign in

Accept the Microsoft prompt

Sign in with the work or school account that should run automations. A personal Microsoft account cannot sign in to Azure DevOps. Click Accept. The prompt lists work items, and Build when pipeline access is included.

Microsoft sign-in consent for the access you selected — Accept the Microsoft permissions for the access you selected

You are signed in

The status shows Signed in. You can create automations in a project from here. Ready is the status for Connect an Entra app.

Automations run as the account under Signed in as, in every project that account can already use. Make that account a Project Administrator only in projects where automations should run.

Change user or access switches the account or the checkboxes. Disconnect before you choose Connect an Entra app.

Setup Automation User signed in, with access and projects this account can use — Setup Automation User connected, with the signed-in account and its access

Advanced: Connect an Entra app

Use this when the Azure DevOps organization is connected to Microsoft Entra. A Project Collection Administrator signs in once, chooses projects, and automations then run as the app. If Setup Automation User is already in use, Disconnect first.

Select projects

Click Connect Entra App and choose the projects where automations should run. Change that list later with Manage projects.

Accept Entra consent

Microsoft Entra consent to add the Automations App — Accept Microsoft Entra consent to add the Automations app

Confirmation

The window lists the app and the projects where it was added to Project Administrators. It closes on its own and returns you to Azure DevOps.

Ready

Status shows Ready. Automations run only in projects marked Running. Use Manage projects to add a project or pause one. Each automation’s Enabled toggle stays as it is.

Create automations in a project

Open Automations in the project. Click Create automation, then Start from scratch or Explore templates.

Create an automation from a template or start from scratch

Monitor automation executions

Open the Logs tab in the project to see each run and expand a row for step details.

Logs tab showing automation executions in a project — Logs tab in the project, with automation executions and expandable step details

Common questions

Who can set up Automations?

A Project Collection Administrator opens Organization Settings → Automations and completes Setup Automation User or Connect an Entra app.

What do the access checkboxes change?

Work items stays selected. Read pipelines is for pipeline triggers. Run pipelines is for queuing a pipeline, and it includes Read pipelines. Turn pipeline access off if you only need work item automations.

Can I change which projects Automations runs in?

Manage projects applies only to Connect an Entra app. Setup Automation User has no project list. It runs in every project that the signed-in account can already use.

Can I switch between the two setups?

Disconnect first, then choose the other setup. Automations you already created stay saved, but they do not run until setup is finished again.

Can I create automations without templates?

Yes. A project administrator can start from scratch after setup is finished.

How can I verify if automations are running correctly?

Check the Logs tab in each project to see each run and its step details.

Visual Studio Marketplace

Automations

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