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create-a-test-plan.md

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title Create and manage test plans
titleSuffix Azure Test Plans
description Learn how to create, rename, and delete test plans in Azure Test Plans.
ms.assetid 99FD819E-A861-4F28-A486-FD452DB65D69
ms.service azure-devops-test-plans
ms.custom UpdateFrequency3, copilot-scenario-highlight
ai-usage ai-assisted
ms.topic how-to
ms.author pliaros
author rohit-batra
monikerRange <= azure-devops
ms.date 04/09/2026
ms.update-cycle 1095-days

Create and manage test plans

[!INCLUDE version-lt-eq-azure-devops]

Create test plans and test suites to track manual testing for sprints or milestones. By using this approach, you can see when the testing for a specific sprint or milestone is complete. For more information about manual testing, see What is Azure Test Plans?

Share work items across your test experience

As you build your product, create test cases and update them at any time. For each development cycle, create a test plan and import existing test cases. To organize testing, divide test cases into separate test suites within the plan.

A typical test cycle works like this:

  1. Create a test plan for the sprint or milestone.
  2. Assign test configurations and assign testers to cover the required test matrix.
  3. Testers run the tests until the product meets exit criteria.
  4. For the next cycle, create a new test plan and import the same test cases.

Because test plans reference test cases, updates to a test case automatically reflect in all plans and suites that use it. To create an independent baseline instead, copy or clone the test cases.

Prerequisites

[!INCLUDE prerequisites-define]

::: moniker range="azure-devops" [!INCLUDE ai-assistance-mcp-server-tip] ::: moniker-end

Create a test plan

::: moniker range="<=azure-devops" In general, you create test plans to test requirements. Before you create a test plan, define your backlog of requirements.

  1. Sign in to your Azure DevOps project and select Test Plans > Test Plans.

    :::image type="content" source="media/create-test-plan/open-test-plans.png" alt-text="Screenshot of opening the list of test plans page.":::

  2. Select + New Test Plan.

    :::image type="content" source="media/create-test-plan/new-test-plan.png" alt-text="Screenshot of creating a new test plan.":::

  3. Enter a name for the test plan, verify that the area path and iteration are set correctly, and then select Create.

    :::image type="content" source="media/create-test-plan/test-plan-name-path-iteration.png" alt-text="Screenshot of adding test plan details.":::

    The test plan is created and you can start adding test suites and test cases.

::: moniker-end

Rename a test plan

::: moniker range="<=azure-devops"

To rename a test plan, use the following steps:

  1. Select Test Plans.

  2. Next to the test plan name, select More Actions > Edit.

    :::image type="content" source="media/create-test-plan/rename-edit-test-plan.png" alt-text="Screenshot shows option to edit a test plan.":::

  3. Change the name and then select Save & Close.

    You can also update the area path, iteration, and other test plan settings from this dialog.

::: moniker-end

Delete a test plan

::: moniker range="<=azure-devops"

To delete a test plan, use the following steps:

  1. Select Test Plans.

  2. Next to the test plan name, select More Actions:::image type="icon" source="../media/icons/more-actions.png" border="false"::: > Delete.

  3. The Delete test artifacts dialog box explains exactly what gets deleted. Enter the test plan ID to confirm that you want to delete, and then select Delete.

    :::image type="content" border="true" source="media/create-test-plan/delete-test-artifacts.png" alt-text="Screenshot shows delete test artifacts dialog box.":::

Note

Deleted test plans are moved to the Test Plan Recycle Bin and can be restored within 14 days by using the REST API. For more information, see Restore deleted test plans and test suites using REST API.

::: moniker-end

::: moniker range="azure-devops"

Use AI to manage test plans

If you configure the Azure DevOps MCP Server, you can use AI assistants to manage your test plans and suites by using natural language prompts.

Example prompts for test plan management

Task Example prompt
Create a test plan Create a new test plan in <Contoso> project called '<Sprint 5 Regression Tests>'
List test plans List all test plans in <Contoso> project
Create a test suite Create a static test suite called '<Checkout Flow>' under test plan <12345>
Query test cases in a suite Show all test cases in test suite <67890> in project <Contoso>
Find untested areas List test suites in test plan <12345> that have no test cases assigned
Check test plan coverage Show all requirement-based test suites in test plan <12345> and their associated work items
Compare sprint plans List test suites in test plan <12345> and test plan <54321> side by side
Find unlinked test cases Show test cases in project <Contoso> that aren't in any test suite
Audit test plan readiness List test cases in test plan <12345> that have State = <Design> and no test steps defined

Tip

If you're using Visual Studio Code, agent mode is especially helpful for troubleshooting complex test planning scenarios.

  • To avoid using stale or cached data from previous queries, add to your prompt, "Do not use previously fetched data."

::: moniker-end

Next step

[!div class="nextstepaction"] Create and manage test suites

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