I can access tickets and see boards even with admin level access for the project

Question

I have been granted Project Administrator rights for a specific project, yet I cannot see the Boards or access specific Tickets/Work Items. When I navigate to the Boards section, I receive a "Page not found" or "You do not have permission" message.

1. Platform: Azure DevOps (Services/Server)
2. Access Level: Stakeholder
3. User Group: Project Administrators Verified I am in the Project Administrators group under Project Settings.
4. Logged out and cleared browser cache.
5. Confirmed other admins can see the boards. Is it possible for Area Path security to override Project Admin rights?
6. Does my Access Level Stakeholder restrict me from seeing Boards even if I am an Admin?

Answer 1

It seems that your access issues may stem from the combination of your access level and the permissions associated with the Area Path security settings. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Access Level: As a Stakeholder, your access is limited compared to higher access levels like Basic. Stakeholders can view and modify many work items, but they may not have access to all Board features, which could explain the "Page not found" or "You do not have permission" messages you are encountering.
2. Project Administrator Rights: Being in the Project Administrators group does grant you certain permissions, but it does not override the restrictions imposed by your access level. Therefore, even as an admin, your Stakeholder access level may prevent you from accessing specific features like Boards.
3. Area Path Security: Yes, Area Path security can indeed restrict access to work items and boards. If specific Area Path permissions are set to deny access, this can affect your ability to view or interact with those items, regardless of your admin status.

To resolve this issue, you may need to discuss with your organization’s Azure DevOps administrator about upgrading your access level from Stakeholder to Basic or higher, or reviewing the Area Path permissions that may be restricting your access.

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References:

• Default permissions and access levels for Azure Boards
• Troubleshoot access and permission issues