dotnet/efcore · error · InvalidOperationException

The query uses 'NoTrackingWithIdentityResolution' and projec

Error message

The query uses 'NoTrackingWithIdentityResolution' and projects owned entities, but the projection does not include the primary key properties '{properties}' of the root document entity type '{entityType}'. Include all primary key properties of the root document entity in the projection.

What it means

Thrown during query postprocessing when the query uses NoTrackingWithIdentityResolution and the shaper contains owned entity types, but the projection does not include all primary key properties of the root document entity. Identity resolution for owned entities requires the owner's PK to be present in the projection so EF can correctly associate owned instances with their owner; without it EF cannot guarantee correct identity-resolution semantics.

Source

Thrown at src/EFCore.Cosmos/Query/Internal/CosmosQueryTranslationPostprocessor.cs:97

        {
            return;
        }

        var visitor = new NoTrackingIdentityResolutionProjectionVisitor(selectExpression, rootEntityType, primaryKeyProperties);
        visitor.Visit(shaperExpression);

        if (!visitor.ContainsOwnedEntityShaper)
        {
            return;
        }

        var missingKeyProperties = primaryKeyProperties
            .Where(property => !visitor.ProjectedKeyProperties.Contains(property))
            .ToArray();

        if (missingKeyProperties.Length > 0)
        {
            throw new InvalidOperationException(
                CosmosStrings.NoTrackingIdentityResolutionOwnedEntityProjectionMissingOwnerKey(
                    string.Join(", ", missingKeyProperties.Select(property => property.Name)),
                    rootEntityType.DisplayName()));
        }
    }

    private sealed class NoTrackingIdentityResolutionProjectionVisitor(
        SelectExpression selectExpression,
        IEntityType rootEntityType,
        IReadOnlyList<IProperty> primaryKeyProperties)
        : ExpressionVisitor
    {
        public bool ContainsOwnedEntityShaper { get; private set; }

        public HashSet<IProperty> ProjectedKeyProperties { get; } = [];

        public override Expression? Visit(Expression? node)
            => ContainsOwnedEntityShaper

View on GitHub (pinned to dbf9771522)

Solutions

1. Include the root entity's primary key property(ies) in the Select projection, e.g. Select(b => new { b.Id, b.Owned }).
2. If you do not need identity resolution, use AsNoTracking() instead of AsNoTrackingWithIdentityResolution().
3. Project the entire root entity rather than only owned sub-parts.

Example fix

// before
var result = await context.Blogs
    .AsNoTrackingWithIdentityResolution()
    .Select(b => new { b.OwnedDetails })
    .ToListAsync();
// after
var result = await context.Blogs
    .AsNoTrackingWithIdentityResolution()
    .Select(b => new { b.Id, b.OwnedDetails })
    .ToListAsync();

// Before executing, ensure the root PK is in the projection
var pkProps = context.Model.FindEntityType(typeof(Blog))!.FindPrimaryKey()!.Properties;
// include all pkProps names in your Select projection

When it happens

Trigger: Calling .AsNoTrackingWithIdentityResolution() and then .Select() projecting only owned/nested entities or a subset of properties that excludes the root entity's primary key columns.

Common situations: DTO projections that select only an owned collection or specific owned properties while requesting NoTrackingWithIdentityResolution. Switching from AsNoTracking to AsNoTrackingWithIdentityResolution on an existing projection query.

Related errors

• The LINQ expression '{expression}' could not be translated.
• The LINQ expression '{expression}' could not be translated.
• The LINQ expression '{expression}' could not be translated.
• Including navigation '{navigation}' is not supported as the
• Unhandled expression '{expression}' of type '{expressionType

AI-assisted analysis of dotnet/efcore@dbf9771522 (2026-08-06). Data as JSON: /api/errors/15da81562bae81bf. Report an issue: GitHub.