Excel Import & Export for Azure Boards · Migration guide

Keep the spreadsheet workflow. Lose the unsupported Office add-in.

Move Azure Boards bulk editing into the browser: export a saved query or WIQL result to typed Excel, review changes offline, upload the workbook, and inspect a dry run before anything writes.

Install from Visual Studio Marketplace

Why teams need a replacement now

Microsoft’s current Azure Boards documentation labels the Azure DevOps Office integration add-in as no longer supported, warns that it might not work with current Office or browser versions, and recommends the web portal or CSV import/export for supported bulk operations.

Primary source: Microsoft Learn — Add or modify work items in bulk by using Microsoft Excel.

Choose the workflow that fits

CapabilityLegacy Office add-inNative CSVCody Labs extension
Current Microsoft supportNo longer supportedRecommendedIndependent Marketplace extension
Operating environmentDesktop Excel with add-inAzure DevOps web portalAzure DevOps web portal; .xlsx or CSV
Saved query / WIQL exportLegacy connected listQuery exportSaved query or WIQL to typed .xlsx
Before-write reviewExcel validation and publish errorsImport previewPer-row dry run: create, update, skip, warning, or error
Cody Labs server receives work itemsNot applicableNoNo; the extension runs client-side

A low-risk pilot takes four steps

1. Start narrow

Choose a saved query with a handful of non-critical work items and fields.

2. Export typed Excel

Confirm dates, numbers, identities, and headers open as expected in your spreadsheet tool.

3. Change one field

Edit a safe field on one pilot row, then upload the workbook and review the dry run.

4. Commit and verify

Commit the reviewed plan, follow the returned work-item link, and confirm the audit trail.

Then scale

Expand the saved query only after field mapping and permissions are proven.

Keep rollback simple

Retain the exported workbook as the before-state snapshot for the pilot.

Migration readiness check

Can your organization install Visual Studio Marketplace extensions?
Can you view the work items in the query you will export?
Can you edit the work items you plan to re-import?
Do you already have a saved query or WIQL for the pilot?
Do you want a dry run before any work item is changed?
Do you prefer the workflow to run inside Azure DevOps in a browser?

Run the pilot on the free tier

Free includes exports up to 250 rows and imports up to 25 rows per run, including the dry-run validation workflow.

Install Excel Import & Export for Azure Boards