query-faqs.yml

### YamlMime:FAQ
metadata:
  title: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Queries in Azure Boards and Azure DevOps
  description: Get answers to common questions about working with work item queries in Azure DevOps. 
  titleSuffix: Azure Boards
  ms.custom: boards-queries
  ms.service: azure-devops-boards
  ms.author: chcomley
  author: chcomley
  ms.topic: faq
  monikerRange: '<= azure-devops'
  ms.date: 09/29/2025

title: FAQs about queries in Azure Boards and Azure DevOps

summary: | 
  [!INCLUDE [version-lt-eq-azure-devops](../../includes/version-lt-eq-azure-devops.md)]  

  The Query Editor finds work items by using clauses that combine fields, operators, and values. Save queries and share them with teammates. The following answers cover common questions about work item queries. 
   
sections:
  - name: General
    questions: 
      - question: Can I use a wildcard in my query?
        answer: |
           Yes. Use an asterisk (*) as a wildcard. For examples, see [Query by titles, IDs, and rich-text fields](titles-ids-descriptions.md#keyword-or-phrase-query-with-wildcards).

      - question: What's the difference between a managed query and a semantic search?
        answer: |
          Managed queries and semantic search both return lists of work items, but they use different filter capabilities and present results differently. For details and examples, see [Functional work item search, Semantic search vs. managed work item queries](../../project/search/functional-work-item-search.md).  

      - question: Can I export a query and import it into another project?
        answer: |
          Yes. Save the query as a `.wiq` file, adjust the syntax if needed, and import it into another project, organization, or collection.    

      - question: What filter functions are available in the Query Editor?
        answer: |
          Use the Query Editor's filter functions to build powerful queries. The list below links to articles with samples. You can also apply interactive filters to query results; see [Interactively filter backlogs, boards, queries, and plans](../backlogs/filter-backlogs-boards-plans.md).

          ::: moniker range="<=azure-devops"
          > [!NOTE] 
          > Managed queries don't support proximity searches; semantic searches do. Semantic search supports both `*` and `?` as wildcard characters and allows multiple wildcards. For more, see [Advanced work items search](../../project/search/advanced-work-item-search-syntax.md).
          ::: moniker-end

          ---
          :::row:::
             :::column span="2":::
                **Filter features**
             :::column-end::: 
             :::column span="2":::
                **Macros**
             :::column-end:::
          :::row-end:::
          ---
          :::row:::
             :::column span="1":::
                ::: moniker range="<=azure-devops"
                - [Compare fields](./query-field-value.md) 
                - [Key words](./titles-ids-descriptions.md)  
                - [Linked work items](./linking-attachments.md)  
                - [Logical groupings](./using-queries.md)  
                - [Query macros](about-managed-queries.md#supported-macros)  
                - [Tags](./add-tags-to-work-items.md#query)  
                - [Was Ever](./query-by-workflow-changes.md)  
                - [Wildcard](./titles-ids-descriptions.md)  
                ::: moniker-end
                
             :::column-end::: 
             :::column span="1":::
               ::: moniker range="<=azure-devops"
                - [Blank or empty fields](./titles-ids-descriptions.md#empty-or-not-empty-html-field-queries)
                - [Boolean searches](./query-by-workflow-changes.md#query-changes-to-a-kanban-board) 
                - [History and Discussion](./history-and-auditing.md) 
                - [Board fields](./query-by-workflow-changes.md#query-changes-to-a-kanban-board)
                - [In and Not In Group searches](./planning-ranking-priorities.md) 
                - [Search across projects](./using-queries.md)
                ::: moniker-end
                
             :::column-end:::
             :::column span="2":::
                ::: moniker range="<=azure-devops"
                - [[Any]](titles-ids-descriptions.md)
                - [@Me](query-by-workflow-changes.md)
                - [@Today](query-by-date-or-current-iteration.md) 
                - [@CurrentIteration, @CurrentIteration +/-n](query-by-date-or-current-iteration.md)   
                - [@Follows](titles-ids-descriptions.md#following)
                - [@MyRecentActivity, @RecentMentions, @RecentProjectActivity](titles-ids-descriptions.md#recent-macros)
                - [@StartOfDay, @StartOfMonth, @StartOfWeek, @StartOfYear](query-by-date-or-current-iteration.md)   
                - [@TeamAreas](query-by-area-iteration-path.md)
                ::: moniker-end
                
             :::column-end:::
          :::row-end:::
          ---

      - question: Can I filter query results interactively?
        answer: |
          Yes. Use the interactive filters described in [Interactively filter backlogs, boards, queries, and plans](../backlogs/filter-backlogs-boards-plans.md).

      - question: Can I run several queries at the same time?
        answer: |
          Yes. Open each query in a new browser tab to run multiple queries concurrently.  

      - question: Which query macros work only in the web portal?
        answer: |
          The following macros run only in the web portal: **@CurrentIteration**, **@CurrentIteration +/- n**, **@Follows**, **@MyRecentActivity**, **@RecentMentions**, **@RecentProjectActivity**, and **@TeamAreas**. Queries that use these macros don't run correctly in Visual Studio/Team Explorer, Excel, or Project.

  - name: Navigate 
    questions: 
      - question: How do I quickly access queries I view frequently?
        answer: |
          Favorite queries and artifacts you access often. Select the :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/icon-favorite-star.png" border="false"::: star icon to favorite a query. Favorited queries (:::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/icon-favorited.png" border="false"::: favorited icon) appear in **Queries > Favorites** and in the queries selector.

          > [!div class="mx-imgBorder"]  
          > ![Screenshot of favorited queries breadcrumb selector.](media/example-queries/queries-selector.png)  

      - question: How do I navigate quickly within a query folder?
        answer: |
          Use the queries breadcrumb selector. When viewing a query, open the breadcrumb (or the folder name) to list and open other queries in the same folder.

          > [!div class="mx-imgBorder"]  
          > ![Screenshot of queries breadcrumb selector.](media/view-run-queries/folder-selector.png)  

  - name: Find work items
    questions:
      - question: Where can I find work assigned to me or work I'm following?
        answer: | 
          Open **Queries > All**. Under **My Queries** there are two customizable queries by default: **Assigned to me** and **Followed work items**.

      - question: Where can I find recent work item activity?
        answer: | 
          - Open **Boards > Work Items** and choose the **Recently updated** view. See [View and add work items](../work-items/view-add-work-items.md).  
          - Or build queries that use macros such as **@Me**, **@Follows**, **@MyRecentActivity**, **@RecentMentions**, or **@RecentProjectActivity**. See [Query macros and variables](query-operators-variables.md#macros).

      - question: Can I sort on the Parent field?
        answer: | 
          No. Sorting a query by the **Parent** field isn't supported.

  - name: Linked work item queries 
    questions: 

      - question: How do I query for a list of related work items?
        answer: |
          You can't filter only by the **Related** link type. To find items that contain links, use `Related Link Count > 0`. That returns all work items that have any link type (Parent-Child, Predecessor-Successor, Related, etc.).

      - question: Can I query for work items linked across projects?
        answer: |
          No. Cross-project linked queries aren't supported due to performance constraints.

      - question: Can I link work items across organizations or collections?
        answer: |
          ::: moniker range="azure-devops"
          Yes—you can link across organizations. See [Link user stories, issues, bugs, and other work items; Link to a remote work item](../backlogs/add-link.md). However, you can't run a search that returns items linked from other projects outside the current project context.
          ::: moniker-end
          ::: moniker range="< azure-devops"
          No—linking across collections isn't supported.
          ::: moniker-end

  - name: Bulk add and update work items using queries
    questions: 
      - question: Can I export a cross-project query to Excel?
        answer: |
          ::: moniker range="<=azure-devops"
          No. Cross-project queries don't open directly in Excel. Export a cross-project query to CSV, open it in Excel, and then import the data into Azure Boards. See [Bulk import or update work items using CSV files](import-work-items-from-csv.md).
          ::: moniker-end

      - question: How do I manage dependencies across projects?
        answer: |
          Use Predecessor/Successor link types to model dependencies between work items. For details, see [Link user stories, issues, bugs, and other work items](../backlogs/add-link.md).

  - name: Query folders
    questions:
      - question: Can I change the owner of a query or folder?
        answer: |
          No. You can't change the owner. You can grant folder or query permissions to users and groups from the folder's permissions window.

      - question: Can I move a query or a folder?
        answer: |
          Yes. In the web portal, choose **Rename** from the context menu to move or rename a folder. In Visual Studio Team Explorer, drag the folder to the new location. In Team Explorer Everywhere or Eclipse, choose **Move** and select the destination folder.

      - question: Can I add folders to My Favorites or Team Favorites?
        answer: |
          No. Favoriting folders isn't supported.

      - question: Are queries and folders created in the web portal the same as in Team Explorer?
        answer: |
          Yes. They share the same structure; you might need to refresh the other client to see updates. In Visual Studio 2019, enable the legacy experience to view work item queries and folders: see [Set work item experience in Visual Studio](../work-items/set-work-item-experience-vs.md).

  - name: Monitor progress with queries 
    questions:
      - question: How can I use queries to monitor progress on a project or team?
        answer: |
          Create charts for queries and add them to dashboards. Or add the [Query Results widget](../../report/dashboards/widget-catalog.md#query-results-widget) to a dashboard so the query runs and refreshes automatically each time you open the dashboard.

additionalContent: |
  ## Related content
  -  [Azure Boards FAQs](../faqs.yml) 
  -  [Work across projects FAQs](../../project/work-across-projects-faqs.yml)
  -  [Excel FAQs](../backlogs/office/faqs.yml)