diff --git a/conda_smithy/templates/azure-pipelines-win.yml.tmpl b/conda_smithy/templates/azure-pipelines-win.yml.tmpl
index cedb8ee07..3cd69e70e 100644
--- a/conda_smithy/templates/azure-pipelines-win.yml.tmpl
+++ b/conda_smithy/templates/azure-pipelines-win.yml.tmpl
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ jobs:
 - job: win
   {{ azure_yaml|indent(2) }}
   steps:
+    # enabled dev mode to allow symlink
+    - displayName: enable dev mode
+      powershell: reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModelUnlock" /t REG_DWORD /f /v "AllowDevelopmentWithoutDevLicense" /d "1"
+
 {%- if clone_depth is not none %}
     - checkout: self
       fetchDepth: {{ clone_depth }}
diff --git a/news/enable-azure-win-dev-mode.rst b/news/enable-azure-win-dev-mode.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2da3c583a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/enable-azure-win-dev-mode.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+**Added:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Changed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Deprecated:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Removed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Fixed:**
+
+* Enable Windows Developer Mode in Azure Pipelines to allow symlink.
+
+**Security:**
+
+* <news item>