[Feature Request] Markdown support for az boards work-item create

[ShadAhm]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
Yes. Currently, when creating work items via the Azure DevOps CLI (az boards work-item create), Markdown formatting is not supported in large text fields such as System.Description. This is different in the Azure DevOps UI and REST API, which do support Markdown. As a result, users who rely on CLI workflows cannot benefit from Markdown when creating work items.

Describe the solution you'd like
I would like the Azure DevOps CLI to support Markdown formatting in large text fields during work item creation. Maybe adding a parameter or flag (e.g., --markdown) that allows users to specify Markdown as the format for fields like System.Description, Acceptance Criteria, or any custom multiline fields.

This would mirror the REST API functionality, where Markdown can be enabled using:

{ "op": "add", "path": "/fields/System.Description", "value": "# some markdown text" },
{ "op": "add", "path": "/multilineFieldsFormat/System.Description", "value": "Markdown" }

The CLI should internally apply the same logic to support Markdown formatting.

Additional context

Relevant article:
https://devblogs.microsoft.com/devops/markdown-support-arrives-for-work-items/

[JAspeling]

I'm actually surprised that a feature like this is rolled out without the API being updated.

[nakah]

Any news or workaround for this issue ?

[gp-slick-coder]

maybe we can use the skill https://smithery.ai/skills/julianobarbosa/azure-devops-skill

with the proper adaption

{ 
  "op": "add",
  "path": "/fields/System.Description",
  "value": "# some markdown text"
},
{ 
  "op": "add",
  "path": "/multilineFieldsFormat/System.Description",
  "value": "Markdown"
},

[AndyVulhop]

This is also a thorn in my side. It's quite the pain to try to reformat each item by hand in the UI since neither the CSV bulk import nor the az CLI tool seem to support Markdown, which was announced nearly a year ago...

Yeah, I could change my workflow to call the API from Powershell or something, but it's pretty clunky that the CLI tool meant for users like me doesn't work with Markdown in June 2026...