diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/common/types/job_validation.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/common/types/job_validation.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..0c1db63ff3762
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/common/types/job_validation.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0; you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License
+ * 2.0.
+ */
+
+import type { ErrorType } from '../util/errors';
+
+export interface DatafeedValidationResponse {
+  valid: boolean;
+  documentsFound: boolean;
+  error?: ErrorType;
+}
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/common/types/saved_objects.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/common/types/saved_objects.ts
index 0e48800dd845d..e376fddbe6272 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/common/types/saved_objects.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/common/types/saved_objects.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
  * 2.0.
  */
 
-import { ErrorType } from '../util/errors';
+import type { ErrorType } from '../util/errors';
 export type JobType = 'anomaly-detector' | 'data-frame-analytics';
 export const ML_SAVED_OBJECT_TYPE = 'ml-job';
 export const ML_MODULE_SAVED_OBJECT_TYPE = 'ml-module';
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/contexts/kibana/use_navigate_to_path.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/contexts/kibana/use_navigate_to_path.ts
index 951d9d6dfded9..00050803b97c6 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/contexts/kibana/use_navigate_to_path.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/contexts/kibana/use_navigate_to_path.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ export const useNavigateToPath = () => {
   const location = useLocation();
 
   return useCallback(
-    async (path: string | undefined, preserveSearch = false) => {
+    async (path: string | undefined, preserveSearch: boolean = false) => {
       if (path === undefined) return;
       const modifiedPath = `${path}${preserveSearch === true ? location.search : ''}`;
       /**
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/common/job_creator/job_creator.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/common/job_creator/job_creator.ts
index a44b4bdef60c4..607a4fcf9a73c 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/common/job_creator/job_creator.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/common/job_creator/job_creator.ts
@@ -502,6 +502,10 @@ export class JobCreator {
     return this._datafeed_config.indices;
   }
 
+  public set indices(indics: string[]) {
+    this._datafeed_config.indices = indics;
+  }
+
   public get scriptFields(): Field[] {
     return this._scriptFields;
   }
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/common/job_creator/util/general.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/common/job_creator/util/general.ts
index 78903e64686f5..46315ac3b02d8 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/common/job_creator/util/general.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/common/job_creator/util/general.ts
@@ -258,17 +258,21 @@ export function convertToMultiMetricJob(
   jobCreator.createdBy = CREATED_BY_LABEL.MULTI_METRIC;
   jobCreator.modelPlot = false;
   stashJobForCloning(jobCreator, true, true);
-
   navigateToPath(`jobs/new_job/${JOB_TYPE.MULTI_METRIC}`, true);
 }
 
 export function convertToAdvancedJob(jobCreator: JobCreatorType, navigateToPath: NavigateToPath) {
   jobCreator.createdBy = null;
   stashJobForCloning(jobCreator, true, true);
-
   navigateToPath(`jobs/new_job/${JOB_TYPE.ADVANCED}`, true);
 }
 
+export function resetAdvancedJob(jobCreator: JobCreatorType, navigateToPath: NavigateToPath) {
+  jobCreator.createdBy = null;
+  stashJobForCloning(jobCreator, true, false);
+  navigateToPath('/jobs/new_job');
+}
+
 export function resetJob(jobCreator: JobCreatorType, navigateToPath: NavigateToPath) {
   jobCreator.jobId = '';
   stashJobForCloning(jobCreator, true, true);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/common/json_editor_flyout/json_editor_flyout.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/common/json_editor_flyout/json_editor_flyout.tsx
index ce71cd80e45c0..9e5d1ac5eef6f 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/common/json_editor_flyout/json_editor_flyout.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/common/json_editor_flyout/json_editor_flyout.tsx
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ export const JsonEditorFlyout: FC<Props> = ({ isDisabled, jobEditorMode, datafee
                 >
                   <FormattedMessage
                     id="xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.jsonFlyout.indicesChange.calloutText"
-                    defaultMessage="It is not possible to alter the indices being used by the datafeed here. If you wish to select a different index pattern or saved search, please start the job creation again, selecting a different index pattern."
+                    defaultMessage="You cannot alter the indices being used by the datafeed here. To select a different index pattern or saved search, go to step 1 of the wizard and select the Change index pattern option."
                   />
                 </EuiCallOut>
               </>
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/components/data_view/change_data_view.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/components/data_view/change_data_view.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..c402ee4bf9799
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/components/data_view/change_data_view.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,326 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0; you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License
+ * 2.0.
+ */
+
+import React, { FC, useState, useEffect, useCallback, useContext } from 'react';
+import { FormattedMessage } from '@kbn/i18n/react';
+
+import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
+import {
+  EuiFlexGroup,
+  EuiFlexItem,
+  EuiButtonEmpty,
+  EuiModal,
+  EuiButton,
+  EuiCallOut,
+  EuiSpacer,
+  EuiModalHeader,
+  EuiLoadingSpinner,
+  EuiModalHeaderTitle,
+  EuiModalBody,
+} from '@elastic/eui';
+
+import { JobCreatorContext } from '../../../job_creator_context';
+import { AdvancedJobCreator } from '../../../../../common/job_creator';
+import { resetAdvancedJob } from '../../../../../common/job_creator/util/general';
+import {
+  CombinedJob,
+  Datafeed,
+} from '../../../../../../../../../common/types/anomaly_detection_jobs';
+import { extractErrorMessage } from '../../../../../../../../../common/util/errors';
+import type { DatafeedValidationResponse } from '../../../../../../../../../common/types/job_validation';
+
+import { SavedObjectFinderUi } from '../../../../../../../../../../../../src/plugins/saved_objects/public';
+import {
+  useMlKibana,
+  useMlApiContext,
+  useNavigateToPath,
+} from '../../../../../../../contexts/kibana';
+
+const fixedPageSize: number = 8;
+
+enum STEP {
+  PICK_DATA_VIEW,
+  VALIDATE,
+}
+
+interface Props {
+  onClose: () => void;
+}
+
+export const ChangeDataViewModal: FC<Props> = ({ onClose }) => {
+  const {
+    services: {
+      savedObjects,
+      uiSettings,
+      data: { dataViews },
+    },
+  } = useMlKibana();
+  const navigateToPath = useNavigateToPath();
+  const { validateDatafeedPreview } = useMlApiContext();
+
+  const { jobCreator: jc } = useContext(JobCreatorContext);
+  const jobCreator = jc as AdvancedJobCreator;
+
+  const [validating, setValidating] = useState(false);
+  const [step, setStep] = useState(STEP.PICK_DATA_VIEW);
+
+  const [currentDataViewTitle, setCurrentDataViewTitle] = useState<string>('');
+  const [newDataViewTitle, setNewDataViewTitle] = useState<string>('');
+  const [validationResponse, setValidationResponse] = useState<DatafeedValidationResponse | null>(
+    null
+  );
+
+  useEffect(function initialPageLoad() {
+    setCurrentDataViewTitle(jobCreator.indexPatternTitle);
+  }, []);
+
+  useEffect(
+    function stepChange() {
+      if (step === STEP.PICK_DATA_VIEW) {
+        setValidationResponse(null);
+      }
+    },
+    [step]
+  );
+
+  function onDataViewSelected(dataViewId: string) {
+    if (validating === false) {
+      setStep(STEP.VALIDATE);
+      validate(dataViewId);
+    }
+  }
+
+  const validate = useCallback(
+    async (dataViewId: string) => {
+      setValidating(true);
+
+      const { title } = await dataViews.get(dataViewId);
+      setNewDataViewTitle(title);
+
+      const indices = title.split(',');
+      if (jobCreator.detectors.length) {
+        const datafeed: Datafeed = { ...jobCreator.datafeedConfig, indices };
+        const resp = await validateDatafeedPreview({
+          job: {
+            ...jobCreator.jobConfig,
+            datafeed_config: datafeed,
+          } as CombinedJob,
+        });
+        setValidationResponse(resp);
+      }
+      setValidating(false);
+    },
+    [dataViews, validateDatafeedPreview, jobCreator]
+  );
+
+  const applyDataView = useCallback(() => {
+    const newIndices = newDataViewTitle.split(',');
+    jobCreator.indices = newIndices;
+    resetAdvancedJob(jobCreator, navigateToPath);
+  }, [jobCreator, newDataViewTitle, navigateToPath]);
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      <EuiModal onClose={onClose} data-test-subj="mlJobMgmtImportJobsFlyout">
+        <EuiModalHeader>
+          <EuiModalHeaderTitle>
+            <FormattedMessage
+              id="xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.step0.title"
+              defaultMessage="Change index pattern"
+            />
+          </EuiModalHeaderTitle>
+        </EuiModalHeader>
+
+        <EuiModalBody>
+          {step === STEP.PICK_DATA_VIEW && (
+            <>
+              <FormattedMessage
+                id="xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.step1.title"
+                defaultMessage="Select new index pattern for the job"
+              />
+
+              <EuiSpacer size="s" />
+
+              <SavedObjectFinderUi
+                key="searchSavedObjectFinder"
+                onChoose={onDataViewSelected}
+                showFilter
+                noItemsMessage={i18n.translate(
+                  'xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.step1.noMatchingError',
+                  {
+                    defaultMessage: 'No matching indices or saved searches found.',
+                  }
+                )}
+                savedObjectMetaData={[
+                  {
+                    type: 'index-pattern',
+                    getIconForSavedObject: () => 'indexPatternApp',
+                    name: i18n.translate(
+                      'xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.step1.dataView',
+                      {
+                        defaultMessage: 'Index pattern',
+                      }
+                    ),
+                  },
+                ]}
+                fixedPageSize={fixedPageSize}
+                uiSettings={uiSettings}
+                savedObjects={savedObjects}
+              />
+            </>
+          )}
+          {step === STEP.VALIDATE && (
+            <>
+              <FormattedMessage
+                id="xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.step2.title"
+                defaultMessage="Changing {dv1} for {dv2}"
+                values={{ dv1: currentDataViewTitle, dv2: newDataViewTitle }}
+              />
+
+              <EuiSpacer size="s" />
+
+              {validating === true ? (
+                <>
+                  <EuiLoadingSpinner />
+                  <FormattedMessage
+                    id="xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.step2.validatingText"
+                    defaultMessage="Checking index pattern and job compatibility"
+                  />
+                </>
+              ) : (
+                <ValidationMessage
+                  validationResponse={validationResponse}
+                  dataViewTitle={newDataViewTitle}
+                />
+              )}
+
+              <EuiSpacer size="s" />
+
+              <EuiFlexGroup justifyContent="spaceBetween">
+                <EuiFlexItem grow={false}>
+                  <EuiButtonEmpty
+                    onClick={setStep.bind(null, STEP.PICK_DATA_VIEW)}
+                    isDisabled={validating}
+                    flush="left"
+                  >
+                    <FormattedMessage
+                      id="xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.step2.backButton"
+                      defaultMessage="Back"
+                    />
+                  </EuiButtonEmpty>
+                </EuiFlexItem>
+                <EuiFlexItem grow={false}>
+                  <EuiButton
+                    onClick={() => applyDataView()}
+                    isDisabled={validating}
+                    data-test-subj="mlJobsImportButton"
+                  >
+                    <FormattedMessage
+                      id="xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.step2.ApplyButton"
+                      defaultMessage="Apply"
+                    />
+                  </EuiButton>
+                </EuiFlexItem>
+              </EuiFlexGroup>
+            </>
+          )}
+        </EuiModalBody>
+      </EuiModal>
+    </>
+  );
+};
+
+const ValidationMessage: FC<{
+  validationResponse: DatafeedValidationResponse | null;
+  dataViewTitle: string;
+}> = ({ validationResponse, dataViewTitle }) => {
+  if (validationResponse === null) {
+    return (
+      <EuiCallOut
+        title={i18n.translate(
+          'xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.validation.noDetectors.title',
+          {
+            defaultMessage: 'Index pattern valid',
+          }
+        )}
+        color="primary"
+      >
+        <FormattedMessage
+          id="xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.validation.noDetectors.message"
+          defaultMessage="No detectors have been configured; this index pattern can be applied to the job."
+        />
+      </EuiCallOut>
+    );
+  }
+  if (validationResponse.valid === true) {
+    if (validationResponse.documentsFound === true) {
+      return (
+        <EuiCallOut
+          title={i18n.translate(
+            'xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.validation.valid.title',
+            {
+              defaultMessage: 'Index pattern valid',
+            }
+          )}
+          color="primary"
+        >
+          <FormattedMessage
+            id="xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.validation.valid.message"
+            defaultMessage="This index pattern can be applied to this job."
+          />
+        </EuiCallOut>
+      );
+    } else {
+      return (
+        <EuiCallOut
+          title={i18n.translate(
+            'xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.validation.possiblyInvalid.title',
+            {
+              defaultMessage: 'Index pattern possibly invalid',
+            }
+          )}
+          color="warning"
+        >
+          <FormattedMessage
+            id="xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.validation.possiblyInvalid.message"
+            defaultMessage="This index pattern produced no results when previewing the datafeed. There may be no documents in {dataViewTitle}."
+            values={{ dataViewTitle }}
+          />
+        </EuiCallOut>
+      );
+    }
+  } else {
+    return (
+      <EuiCallOut
+        title={i18n.translate(
+          'xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.validation.invalid.title',
+          {
+            defaultMessage: 'Index pattern invalid',
+          }
+        )}
+        color="danger"
+      >
+        <FormattedMessage
+          id="xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.validation.invalid.message"
+          defaultMessage="This index pattern produced an error when attempting to preview the datafeed. The fields selected for this job might not exist in {dataViewTitle}."
+          values={{ dataViewTitle }}
+        />
+
+        <EuiSpacer size="s" />
+
+        <FormattedMessage
+          id="xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.validation.invalid.reason"
+          defaultMessage="Reason:"
+        />
+
+        <EuiSpacer size="s" />
+
+        {validationResponse.error ? extractErrorMessage(validationResponse.error) : null}
+      </EuiCallOut>
+    );
+  }
+};
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/components/data_view/change_data_view_button.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/components/data_view/change_data_view_button.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..dc9af26236d8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/components/data_view/change_data_view_button.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0; you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License
+ * 2.0.
+ */
+
+import React, { FC, useState } from 'react';
+import { FormattedMessage } from '@kbn/i18n/react';
+
+import { EuiButtonEmpty } from '@elastic/eui';
+import { Description } from './description';
+import { ChangeDataViewModal } from './change_data_view';
+
+export const ChangeDataView: FC<{ isDisabled: boolean }> = ({ isDisabled }) => {
+  const [showFlyout, setShowFlyout] = useState(false);
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      {showFlyout && <ChangeDataViewModal onClose={setShowFlyout.bind(null, false)} />}
+
+      <Description>
+        <EuiButtonEmpty
+          onClick={setShowFlyout.bind(null, true)}
+          isDisabled={isDisabled}
+          data-test-subj="mlJobsImportButton"
+        >
+          <FormattedMessage
+            id="xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.changeDataView.button"
+            defaultMessage="Change index pattern"
+          />
+        </EuiButtonEmpty>
+      </Description>
+    </>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/components/data_view/description.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/components/data_view/description.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..2632660738a58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/components/data_view/description.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0; you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License
+ * 2.0.
+ */
+
+import React, { memo, FC } from 'react';
+import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
+import { FormattedMessage } from '@kbn/i18n/react';
+import { EuiDescribedFormGroup, EuiFormRow } from '@elastic/eui';
+
+export const Description: FC = memo(({ children }) => {
+  const title = i18n.translate('xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.title', {
+    defaultMessage: 'Index pattern',
+  });
+  return (
+    <EuiDescribedFormGroup
+      title={<h3>{title}</h3>}
+      description={
+        <FormattedMessage
+          id="xpack.ml.newJob.wizard.datafeedStep.dataView.description"
+          defaultMessage="The index pattern that is currently used for this job."
+        />
+      }
+    >
+      <EuiFormRow>
+        <>{children}</>
+      </EuiFormRow>
+    </EuiDescribedFormGroup>
+  );
+});
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/components/data_view/index.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/components/data_view/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..ef7c451b4889c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/components/data_view/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0; you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License
+ * 2.0.
+ */
+
+export { ChangeDataView } from './change_data_view_button';
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/datafeed.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/datafeed.tsx
index 77db2eb2419cd..47e488ab201ec 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/datafeed.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/jobs/new_job/pages/components/datafeed_step/datafeed.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { FrequencyInput } from './components/frequency';
 import { ScrollSizeInput } from './components/scroll_size';
 import { ResetQueryButton } from './components/reset_query';
 import { TimeField } from './components/time_field';
+import { ChangeDataView } from './components/data_view';
 import { WIZARD_STEPS, StepProps } from '../step_types';
 import { JobCreatorContext } from '../job_creator_context';
 import { JsonEditorFlyout, EDITOR_MODE } from '../common/json_editor_flyout';
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ export const DatafeedStep: FC<StepProps> = ({ setCurrentStep, isCurrentStep }) =
               <FrequencyInput />
               <ScrollSizeInput />
               <TimeField />
+              <ChangeDataView isDisabled={false} />
             </EuiFlexItem>
           </EuiFlexGroup>
           <ResetQueryButton />
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/services/ml_api_service/index.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/services/ml_api_service/index.ts
index 883e5d499c3d4..720e54e386cbc 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/services/ml_api_service/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/application/services/ml_api_service/index.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import type { FieldHistogramRequestConfig } from '../../datavisualizer/index_bas
 import type { DataRecognizerConfigResponse, Module } from '../../../../common/types/modules';
 import { getHttp } from '../../util/dependency_cache';
 import type { RuntimeMappings } from '../../../../common/types/fields';
+import type { DatafeedValidationResponse } from '../../../../common/types/job_validation';
 
 export interface MlInfoResponse {
   defaults: MlServerDefaults;
@@ -194,7 +195,7 @@ export function mlApiServicesProvider(httpService: HttpService) {
     },
 
     validateJob(payload: {
-      job: Job;
+      job: CombinedJob;
       duration: {
         start?: number;
         end?: number;
@@ -209,6 +210,15 @@ export function mlApiServicesProvider(httpService: HttpService) {
       });
     },
 
+    validateDatafeedPreview(payload: { job: CombinedJob }) {
+      const body = JSON.stringify(payload);
+      return httpService.http<DatafeedValidationResponse>({
+        path: `${basePath()}/validate/datafeed_preview`,
+        method: 'POST',
+        body,
+      });
+    },
+
     validateCardinality$(job: CombinedJob): Observable<CardinalityValidationResults> {
       const body = JSON.stringify(job);
       return httpService.http$({
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_validation/index.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_validation/index.ts
index 92d3e7d613efc..a527b9dcf3d4b 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_validation/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_validation/index.ts
@@ -7,3 +7,7 @@
 
 export { validateJob } from './job_validation';
 export { validateCardinality } from './validate_cardinality';
+export {
+  validateDatafeedPreviewWithMessages,
+  validateDatafeedPreview,
+} from './validate_datafeed_preview';
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_validation/job_validation.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_validation/job_validation.ts
index 838f188455d44..4cd2d8a95ee79 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_validation/job_validation.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_validation/job_validation.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import { basicJobValidation, uniqWithIsEqual } from '../../../common/util/job_ut
 import { validateBucketSpan } from './validate_bucket_span';
 import { validateCardinality } from './validate_cardinality';
 import { validateInfluencers } from './validate_influencers';
-import { validateDatafeedPreview } from './validate_datafeed_preview';
+import { validateDatafeedPreviewWithMessages } from './validate_datafeed_preview';
 import { validateModelMemoryLimit } from './validate_model_memory_limit';
 import { validateTimeRange, isValidTimeField } from './validate_time_range';
 import { validateJobSchema } from '../../routes/schemas/job_validation_schema';
@@ -111,7 +111,9 @@ export async function validateJob(
         validationMessages.push({ id: 'missing_summary_count_field_name' });
       }
 
-      validationMessages.push(...(await validateDatafeedPreview(mlClient, authHeader, job)));
+      validationMessages.push(
+        ...(await validateDatafeedPreviewWithMessages(mlClient, authHeader, job))
+      );
     } else {
       validationMessages = basicValidation.messages;
       validationMessages.push({ id: 'skipped_extended_tests' });
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_validation/validate_datafeed_preview.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_validation/validate_datafeed_preview.ts
index 4ae94229a930b..0775de7ae0e13 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_validation/validate_datafeed_preview.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/models/job_validation/validate_datafeed_preview.ts
@@ -9,12 +9,25 @@ import type { MlClient } from '../../lib/ml_client';
 import type { AuthorizationHeader } from '../../lib/request_authorization';
 import type { CombinedJob } from '../../../common/types/anomaly_detection_jobs';
 import type { JobValidationMessage } from '../../../common/constants/messages';
+import type { DatafeedValidationResponse } from '../../../common/types/job_validation';
 
-export async function validateDatafeedPreview(
+export async function validateDatafeedPreviewWithMessages(
   mlClient: MlClient,
   authHeader: AuthorizationHeader,
   job: CombinedJob
 ): Promise<JobValidationMessage[]> {
+  const { valid, documentsFound } = await validateDatafeedPreview(mlClient, authHeader, job);
+  if (valid) {
+    return documentsFound ? [] : [{ id: 'datafeed_preview_no_documents' }];
+  }
+  return [{ id: 'datafeed_preview_failed' }];
+}
+
+export async function validateDatafeedPreview(
+  mlClient: MlClient,
+  authHeader: AuthorizationHeader,
+  job: CombinedJob
+): Promise<DatafeedValidationResponse> {
   const { datafeed_config: datafeed, ...tempJob } = job;
   try {
     const { body } = (await mlClient.previewDatafeed(
@@ -28,11 +41,15 @@ export async function validateDatafeedPreview(
       // previewDatafeed response type is incorrect
     )) as unknown as { body: unknown[] };
 
-    if (Array.isArray(body) === false || body.length === 0) {
-      return [{ id: 'datafeed_preview_no_documents' }];
-    }
-    return [];
+    return {
+      valid: true,
+      documentsFound: Array.isArray(body) && body.length > 0,
+    };
   } catch (error) {
-    return [{ id: 'datafeed_preview_failed' }];
+    return {
+      valid: false,
+      documentsFound: false,
+      error: error.body ?? error,
+    };
   }
 }
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/apidoc.json b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/apidoc.json
index 7f53ebb92b68a..226b69e06b48a 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/apidoc.json
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/apidoc.json
@@ -123,11 +123,13 @@
     "GetJobAuditMessages",
     "GetAllJobAuditMessages",
     "ClearJobAuditMessages",
+    
     "JobValidation",
     "EstimateBucketSpan",
     "CalculateModelMemoryLimit",
     "ValidateCardinality",
     "ValidateJob",
+    "ValidateDataFeedPreview",
 
     "DatafeedService",
     "CreateDatafeed",
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/job_validation.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/job_validation.ts
index b75eab20e7bc0..bceb59fa33fc6 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/job_validation.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/job_validation.ts
@@ -16,12 +16,18 @@ import {
   modelMemoryLimitSchema,
   validateCardinalitySchema,
   validateJobSchema,
+  validateDatafeedPreviewSchema,
 } from './schemas/job_validation_schema';
 import { estimateBucketSpanFactory } from '../models/bucket_span_estimator';
 import { calculateModelMemoryLimitProvider } from '../models/calculate_model_memory_limit';
-import { validateJob, validateCardinality } from '../models/job_validation';
+import {
+  validateJob,
+  validateCardinality,
+  validateDatafeedPreview,
+} from '../models/job_validation';
 import { getAuthorizationHeader } from '../lib/request_authorization';
 import type { MlClient } from '../lib/ml_client';
+import { CombinedJob } from '../../common/types/anomaly_detection_jobs';
 
 type CalculateModelMemoryLimitPayload = TypeOf<typeof modelMemoryLimitSchema>;
 
@@ -205,4 +211,40 @@ export function jobValidationRoutes({ router, mlLicense, routeGuard }: RouteInit
       }
     })
   );
+
+  /**
+   * @apiGroup DataFeedPreviewValidation
+   *
+   * @api {post} /api/ml/validate/datafeed_preview Validates datafeed preview
+   * @apiName ValidateDataFeedPreview
+   * @apiDescription Validates that the datafeed preview runs successfully and produces results
+   *
+   * @apiSchema (body) validateDatafeedPreviewSchema
+   */
+  router.post(
+    {
+      path: '/api/ml/validate/datafeed_preview',
+      validate: {
+        body: validateDatafeedPreviewSchema,
+      },
+      options: {
+        tags: ['access:ml:canCreateJob'],
+      },
+    },
+    routeGuard.fullLicenseAPIGuard(async ({ client, mlClient, request, response }) => {
+      try {
+        const resp = await validateDatafeedPreview(
+          mlClient,
+          getAuthorizationHeader(request),
+          request.body.job as CombinedJob
+        );
+
+        return response.ok({
+          body: resp,
+        });
+      } catch (e) {
+        return response.customError(wrapError(e));
+      }
+    })
+  );
 }
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/schemas/job_validation_schema.ts b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/schemas/job_validation_schema.ts
index a83bbbff6cec9..a481713f67359 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/schemas/job_validation_schema.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/server/routes/schemas/job_validation_schema.ts
@@ -60,6 +60,13 @@ export const validateJobSchema = schema.object({
   }),
 });
 
+export const validateDatafeedPreviewSchema = schema.object({
+  job: schema.object({
+    ...anomalyDetectionJobSchema,
+    datafeed_config: datafeedConfigSchema,
+  }),
+});
+
 export const validateCardinalitySchema = schema.object({
   ...anomalyDetectionJobSchema,
   datafeed_config: datafeedConfigSchema,
diff --git a/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/data_frame_analytics/delete.ts b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/data_frame_analytics/delete.ts
index 055b4b69ab7a6..e7ea71863352e 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/data_frame_analytics/delete.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/data_frame_analytics/delete.ts
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ export default ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) => {
         const destinationIndex = generateDestinationIndex(analyticsId);
 
         before(async () => {
-          await ml.api.createIndices(destinationIndex);
+          await ml.api.createIndex(destinationIndex);
           await ml.api.assertIndicesExist(destinationIndex);
         });
 
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ export default ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) => {
 
         before(async () => {
           // Mimic real job by creating target index & index pattern after DFA job is created
-          await ml.api.createIndices(destinationIndex);
+          await ml.api.createIndex(destinationIndex);
           await ml.api.assertIndicesExist(destinationIndex);
           await ml.testResources.createIndexPatternIfNeeded(destinationIndex);
         });
diff --git a/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/job_validation/datafeed_preview_validation.ts b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/job_validation/datafeed_preview_validation.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..c16050e08c886
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/job_validation/datafeed_preview_validation.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,175 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0; you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License
+ * 2.0.
+ */
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0; you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License
+ * 2.0.
+ */
+
+import expect from '@kbn/expect';
+import { estypes } from '@elastic/elasticsearch';
+import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
+import { USER } from '../../../../functional/services/ml/security_common';
+import { COMMON_REQUEST_HEADERS } from '../../../../functional/services/ml/common_api';
+
+const farequoteMappings: estypes.MappingTypeMapping = {
+  properties: {
+    '@timestamp': {
+      type: 'date',
+    },
+    airline: {
+      type: 'keyword',
+    },
+    responsetime: {
+      type: 'float',
+    },
+  },
+};
+
+function getBaseJobConfig() {
+  return {
+    job_id: 'test',
+    description: '',
+    analysis_config: {
+      bucket_span: '15m',
+      detectors: [
+        {
+          function: 'mean',
+          field_name: 'responsetime',
+        },
+      ],
+      influencers: [],
+    },
+    analysis_limits: {
+      model_memory_limit: '11MB',
+    },
+    data_description: {
+      time_field: '@timestamp',
+      time_format: 'epoch_ms',
+    },
+    model_plot_config: {
+      enabled: false,
+      annotations_enabled: false,
+    },
+    model_snapshot_retention_days: 10,
+    daily_model_snapshot_retention_after_days: 1,
+    allow_lazy_open: false,
+    datafeed_config: {
+      query: {
+        bool: {
+          must: [
+            {
+              match_all: {},
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+      },
+      indices: ['ft_farequote'],
+      scroll_size: 1000,
+      delayed_data_check_config: {
+        enabled: true,
+      },
+      job_id: 'test',
+      datafeed_id: 'datafeed-test',
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+export default ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) => {
+  const esArchiver = getService('esArchiver');
+  const supertest = getService('supertestWithoutAuth');
+  const ml = getService('ml');
+
+  describe('Validate datafeed preview', function () {
+    before(async () => {
+      await esArchiver.loadIfNeeded('x-pack/test/functional/es_archives/ml/farequote');
+      await ml.testResources.setKibanaTimeZoneToUTC();
+      await ml.api.createIndex('farequote_empty', farequoteMappings);
+    });
+
+    after(async () => {
+      await ml.api.cleanMlIndices();
+      await ml.api.deleteIndices('farequote_empty');
+    });
+
+    it(`should validate a job with documents`, async () => {
+      const job = getBaseJobConfig();
+
+      const { body } = await supertest
+        .post('/api/ml/validate/datafeed_preview')
+        .auth(USER.ML_POWERUSER, ml.securityCommon.getPasswordForUser(USER.ML_POWERUSER))
+        .set(COMMON_REQUEST_HEADERS)
+        .send({ job })
+        .expect(200);
+
+      expect(body.valid).to.eql(true, `valid should be true, but got ${body.valid}`);
+      expect(body.documentsFound).to.eql(
+        true,
+        `documentsFound should be true, but got ${body.documentsFound}`
+      );
+    });
+
+    it(`should fail to validate a job with documents and non-existent field`, async () => {
+      const job = getBaseJobConfig();
+      job.analysis_config.detectors[0].field_name = 'no_such_field';
+
+      const { body } = await supertest
+        .post('/api/ml/validate/datafeed_preview')
+        .auth(USER.ML_POWERUSER, ml.securityCommon.getPasswordForUser(USER.ML_POWERUSER))
+        .set(COMMON_REQUEST_HEADERS)
+        .send({ job })
+        .expect(200);
+
+      expect(body.valid).to.eql(false, `valid should be false, but got ${body.valid}`);
+      expect(body.documentsFound).to.eql(
+        false,
+        `documentsFound should be false, but got ${body.documentsFound}`
+      );
+    });
+
+    it(`should validate a job with no documents`, async () => {
+      const job = getBaseJobConfig();
+      job.datafeed_config.indices = ['farequote_empty'];
+
+      const { body } = await supertest
+        .post('/api/ml/validate/datafeed_preview')
+        .auth(USER.ML_POWERUSER, ml.securityCommon.getPasswordForUser(USER.ML_POWERUSER))
+        .set(COMMON_REQUEST_HEADERS)
+        .send({ job })
+        .expect(200);
+
+      expect(body.valid).to.eql(true, `valid should be true, but got ${body.valid}`);
+      expect(body.documentsFound).to.eql(
+        false,
+        `documentsFound should be false, but got ${body.documentsFound}`
+      );
+    });
+
+    it(`should fail for viewer user`, async () => {
+      const job = getBaseJobConfig();
+
+      await supertest
+        .post('/api/ml/validate/datafeed_preview')
+        .auth(USER.ML_VIEWER, ml.securityCommon.getPasswordForUser(USER.ML_VIEWER))
+        .set(COMMON_REQUEST_HEADERS)
+        .send({ job })
+        .expect(403);
+    });
+
+    it(`should fail for unauthorized user`, async () => {
+      const job = getBaseJobConfig();
+
+      await supertest
+        .post('/api/ml/validate/datafeed_preview')
+        .auth(USER.ML_UNAUTHORIZED, ml.securityCommon.getPasswordForUser(USER.ML_UNAUTHORIZED))
+        .set(COMMON_REQUEST_HEADERS)
+        .send({ job })
+        .expect(403);
+    });
+  });
+};
diff --git a/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/job_validation/index.ts b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/job_validation/index.ts
index 4b75102d7b0bf..be07ae3b1852a 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/job_validation/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/ml/job_validation/index.ts
@@ -13,5 +13,6 @@ export default function ({ loadTestFile }: FtrProviderContext) {
     loadTestFile(require.resolve('./calculate_model_memory_limit'));
     loadTestFile(require.resolve('./cardinality'));
     loadTestFile(require.resolve('./validate'));
+    loadTestFile(require.resolve('./datafeed_preview_validation'));
   });
 }
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/services/ml/api.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/services/ml/api.ts
index abde3bf365384..6ffd95f213c41 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/services/ml/api.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/services/ml/api.ts
@@ -126,14 +126,20 @@ export function MachineLearningAPIProvider({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
       );
     },
 
-    async createIndices(indices: string) {
+    async createIndex(
+      indices: string,
+      mappings?: Record<string, estypes.MappingTypeMapping> | estypes.MappingTypeMapping
+    ) {
       log.debug(`Creating indices: '${indices}'...`);
       if ((await es.indices.exists({ index: indices, allow_no_indices: false })).body === true) {
         log.debug(`Indices '${indices}' already exist. Nothing to create.`);
         return;
       }
 
-      const { body } = await es.indices.create({ index: indices });
+      const { body } = await es.indices.create({
+        index: indices,
+        ...(mappings ? { body: { mappings } } : {}),
+      });
       expect(body)
         .to.have.property('acknowledged')
         .eql(true, 'Response for create request indices should be acknowledged.');