Learn how to delete an abandoned pull request in Azure DevOps. Our DevOps Support team is here to answer the queries and concerns.
Delete an Abandoned Pull Request in Azure DevOps | 2 Methods
Anyone who has worked with Azure DevOps for a while has likely encountered the scenario where a pull request (PR) becomes obsolete or irrelevant.
Unfortunately, Azure DevOps does not currently offer a direct option to permanently delete a pull request, even if it’s abandoned. However, don’t worry, our Experts have devised two methods to achieve a clean and clutter-free PR list.
Today, we will take a closer look at how to delete an abandoned pull request in Azure DevOps. For a broader understanding of Azure DevOps workflows and features, you might also find this introduction to Azure DevOps helpful.
An Overview:
Why Would You Want to Delete an Abandoned PR?
There are several reasons we may want to get rid of an old or abandoned PR:
- To prevent an accidental merge into the production branch.
- To keep the repository clean and organized.
- To avoid confusion from outdated or irrelevant PRs.
- To stop PRs from showing up under “Open” or “Abandoned” lists.
Method 1. Reactivate and Complete the Abandoned Pull Request
- First, delete the source branch (if it still exists).
- Then, create a new branch from the main branch, using the same name as the deleted source branch.
- Now, go to the abandoned pull request and reactivate it.
- Complete the pull request.
- At this point, the PR status will now change from Abandoned to Completed, and it will no longer show in the abandoned list.
This method is helpful if we want the pull request to look “completed” rather than abandoned.
If you’re also working with features like cherry-picking commits across branches, check out our guide on how to cherry-pick in Azure DevOps.
Method 2. Use a Temporary Branch to Close the PR
If we want to avoid reviving the original branch, we can use a dummy branch to complete the PR.
- First, create a temporary branch called `temp`.
- Then, open the abandoned pull request and change its target branch to `temp`.
- Now, complete the pull request.
- In `temp`, make a minor change (even a comment or whitespace).
- Then, create a new PR to merge `DeleteMe` back into the original base branch.
- Finally, complete the new PR and then delete the `DeleteMe` branch.
This process marks the PR as completed, removing it from the open or abandoned state.
This workaround is particularly helpful in larger teams where mismanagement of PRs can lead to confusion. It’s also worth reviewing common Azure DevOps access issues if some users can’t view or modify repositories.
Clean-up Tips
To ensure an abandoned PR doesn’t accidentally get merged or misinterpreted, here are some tips:
- Add yourself as a reviewer, and then reject the PR.
- Change the target branch to a dummy branch.
- Rename the PR title to start with `[DELETED]`.
- Set the PR status to Draft to reset review states.
- Finally, abandon the PR if none of the above methods are suitable.
How to Abandon a Pull Request in Azure DevOps
If all you need is to stop the PR from being active:
- First, go to the Pull Requests tab in the repository.
- Then, click on the pull request we want to remove.
- Select the options menu.
- Now, select “Abandon” from the dropdown.
- Confirm the choice when prompted.
Abandoning a pull request does not delete it, but it does remove it from the active list.
If you’re running into unusual permission issues or authentication errors while working with PRs, our guide on Azure DevOps Error Code 53003 might help troubleshoot the problem.
[Need assistance with a different issue? Our team is available 24/7.]
Conclusion
Although there’s no direct delete option for pull requests in Azure DevOps, these methods give us practical workarounds to clean up the repository and avoid PR clutter.
In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated how to delete an abandoned pull request in Azure DevOps
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