ARM adds deployment stacks what-if commands
Introduced 2026-08-04 · score 0.94
HOW TO USE IT
When previewing a deployment stack change, run `az stack-whatif <scope> create` at its resource group, subscription, or management group scope, supplying the stack ID and required scope settings. The command creates a deployment stack what-if result.
az stack-whatif group create --name <result-name> --resource-group <resource-group> --template-file <template-file> --deny-settings-mode none --action-on-unmanage deleteResources --ri P5D --stack-id <stack-resource-id>az stack-whatif sub create --name <result-name> --template-file <template-file> --location <location> --deny-settings-mode none --action-on-unmanage deleteResources --ri P5D --stack-id <stack-resource-id>az stack-whatif mg create --name <result-name> --template-file <template-file> --location <location> --management-group-id <management-group-id> --deny-settings-mode none --action-on-unmanage deleteResources --ri P5D --stack-id <stack-resource-id>WHY THIS HELPS
Preview a deployment stack change before applying it.
REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS
- Version: 2.89.0
- --name (required): Name for the what-if result.
- --resource-group (required): Resource group scope for the result.
- --management-group-id (required): Management group scope for the result.
- --location (required): Location for the subscription- or management-group-scope result.
- --stack-id (required): Resource ID of the deployment stack being previewed.
- --action-on-unmanage / --aou (required): Action for resources removed from the stack: deleteAll, deleteResources, or detachAll.
- --deny-settings-mode / --dm (required): Deny settings mode: denyDelete, denyWriteAndDelete, or none.
- --retention-interval / --ri (required): Retention interval for the what-if result.
- --template-file: Path to the template file; create also accepts --template-spec or --template-uri.
- --parameters: Template parameters, including parameter files and key/value pairs.
- Prerequisite: Azure CLI 2.89.0 or later is required for `az stack-whatif`.
FIRST-PARTY EVIDENCE
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/release-notes-azure-cli#august-04-2026
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/stack-whatif/group?view=azure-cli-latest
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/stack-whatif/sub?view=azure-cli-latest
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/stack-whatif/mg?view=azure-cli-latest
- https://github.com/Azure/arm-template-whatif
Check the installed version and the source before using it. Entry JSON