How to Create a Sprint in Azure DevOps
Azure DevOps supports Scrum sprints natively. Here's how to create and launch your first sprint.
Step-by-step
Go to your project backlog
In Azure DevOps, navigate to your project and open the Backlog view. This is where unstarted work lives before it's pulled into a sprint.
Create a new sprint
Look for a "Create sprint" button at the top of the backlog. Give the sprint a name (e.g. "Sprint 14"), set the start and end dates, and optionally add a sprint goal.
Populate the sprint
Drag issues from the backlog into the sprint, or right-click and select "Add to sprint". Aim for a sustainable amount of work based on your team's velocity from previous sprints.
Start the sprint
When the team is aligned on the sprint scope, click "Start sprint". Azure DevOps will move all sprint issues to the active sprint board and begin tracking progress.
Track and close
Use the sprint board to track daily progress. At the end of the sprint, click "Complete sprint" — Azure DevOps will prompt you to move any incomplete issues back to the backlog or into the next sprint.
Pro tips
- Keep sprint goals outcome-focused ("Reduce checkout abandonment by 15%") rather than task-focused.
- Azure DevOps has a steep learning curve — run a sprint retrospective specifically about the tooling in your first sprint.
- Velocity is a guide, not a target. Don't use it to pressure the team.