# Backlog Explorer The backlog explorer on the left lists the stories (work items) of the selected type or returned by your **Query**. You can also apply a **Filter** to the results. ![Backlogs](../_static/images/UserInterface/Backlogs.png) Stories not yet on your map are listed with a white background. You can add these stories to your map, see [Adding Stories to the Map](../../WorkingWithStoryMaps/Adding_Stories_To_The_Map_Manually.md). Stories that have already been added to the map are displayed with a grey background. These cannot be added to the map, as each story can only be added to the map once. You can choose to hide the items already on the map (see below). ## Selecting Features/Epics/Stories Click on Backlogs at the top of the list to access the queries for **Features**, **Epics** and **Stories** (PBIs). These queries restirct the list to the selected item type The default query returns all work items with the following states: - Proposed - New - Active - Approved - Committed ## Using Your Own Queries You can also use other queries you have defined in Azure DevOps/TFS. To do so: 1. Click on **Queries** at the top of the list.\ ![Queries](../_static/images/UserInterface/Queries.png) 1. Select the desired query from the list to apply it to the list of work items. ## Filtering the Stories in the List In addition to using queries to define which stories are displayed in the list, you can also use the **Filter** field to search for stories by title. Enter part of the stories name in the field to display all matching titles: ![Filter](../_static/images/UserInterface/Filter.png) ## Hiding Mapped Items You can hide the items already on your  map (i.e. those with a grey background). To do so: - Click on the **Hide mapped work items** icon next to the **Filter**.\ ![Hide mapped work items](../_static/images/UserInterface/Hide_Mapped_Work_Items.png) ## Hiding the Backlog Explorer To hide the backlog explorer: 1. Click on the small left arrow at the top of the **Stories** list:\ ![Stories](../_static/images/UserInterface/Stories.png) 1. The backlog explorer is hidden. You can show the list again by clicking on the small right arrow:\ ![Right arrow](../_static/images/UserInterface/Right_Arrow.png) ## Adding New Items to the Backlog You can add new PBIs to your product backlog from the story list. To do so: 1. Click on **New**. 1. Enter a name for the new item and click on **Add**.\ ![Add](../_static/images/UserInterface/Add.png) 1. A new (empty) product backlog item is added with the name you specified.