Microsoft: Azure DevOps can be controlled from Copilot without switching apps

Microsoft has announced that a plugin for Azure DevOps is available in Microsoft Copilot. Azure DevOps is a tool many development teams use to plan and manage software work. A plugin is an add-on module that gives Copilot access to another application.

The announcement appears on the Azure DevOps blog and is dated October 20, 2026.

What the plugin is meant to do

According to Microsoft, the plugin will make it possible to work with projects, work items, pull requests, test plans and pipelines from Copilot (Chat, Cowork and Code) without switching to Azure DevOps. A work item is a task or a bug that the team needs to resolve. A pull request is a request to have new code approved and merged into the project.

Microsoft says the plugin has built-in skills, meaning ready-made functions. They include reviewing and prioritizing the backlog (the list of tasks waiting to be done), triaging bugs, creating features from requirements, structuring epics and user stories, generating acceptance criteria and adding comments to work items based on meeting notes.

Azure DevOps can also be used together with other Microsoft content such as Word documents and meeting notes. One of Microsoft's examples is turning a requirements document into a feature with associated work items.

How to install it in Cowork

In Cowork, go to Customize, search for "Azure DevOps," install the plugin, enter the name of your Azure DevOps organization and select Connect.

The plugin supports only Azure DevOps Services, not Azure DevOps Server 2022. It is also not currently possible to select multiple tenants. According to unconfirmed comments, the rollout may be limited.

A plugin for GitHub Copilot as well

On August 27, 2026, Microsoft announced a plugin for the GitHub Copilot app. It can show your own work items and pull requests from My Work, open and edit work items, and edit and complete pull requests. Microsoft calls it a first version with limited functionality and says it will add more features over time.

An independent write-up on news.baeke.info assesses the GitHub plugin as an early integration that handles the most common tasks around items assigned to you. According to the write-up, it removes some context switching but does not change workflows yet. It also points to uncertainty about support for multiple organizations, real-time updates and handling of access control. The write-up does not cover the Microsoft Copilot plugin.