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Reordering checklist items

A checklist starts in the order set on its template. With Premium, a template can also let people change that order on a single work item. The new order is saved in the mapped content field and stays with that work item.

Drag and drop in the template editor is separate. That changes the default order for every work item that uses the template. Work item reordering changes the order only where someone reorders it.

Turn it on​

Reordering on the work item is a Premium option. On the free tier you can still reorder items in the template editor.

  1. Open Project settings → Extensions → Checklist Templates.
  2. Open the template.
  3. Under Options, turn on Allow users to reorder checklist items.
  4. Save the template.

Without Premium, the checkbox stays locked. Choosing it, or the unlock prompt under it, opens the upgrade dialog. The setting is not saved until the organization has Premium. See Working with templates for the Free and Premium comparison.

Reorder on the work item​

The Reorder items button appears when the template allows reordering and the mapped content field is writable.

  1. Open the work item and find the checklist.
  2. Choose Reorder items. Drag handles appear on the items.
  3. Drag an item to the position you want. The new order is saved when you drop it.
  4. Choose Stop reordering when you are done.

Each checklist on the work item has its own button. Reordering one checklist does not change the others.

Reorder mode also ends when you complete or skip an item, collapse the checklist, add or edit a custom item, or open Reset Checklists. Saving, refreshing, or reloading the work item leaves reorder mode as well. An order that was already dropped stays saved.

The button is hidden when:

  • The template does not allow reordering.
  • The mapped content field is missing from the work item type.
  • The mapped content field is read-only for the current user.

What is saved​

The order is stored as the line order of the checklist markdown in the mapped content field. Opening the work item again keeps that order. Field history records the change like any other edit to that field.

If the template later gains a new item, that item is added at the end of the saved list. Existing items keep the order already saved on the work item. See Applying templates automatically for how stored markdown is merged with the template.

Reset Checklists restores the template’s default order. It also clears completion, skipped items, and custom items.