diff --git a/openwisp_controller/config/admin.py b/openwisp_controller/config/admin.py
index 5777540ce..b634b5fdc 100644
--- a/openwisp_controller/config/admin.py
+++ b/openwisp_controller/config/admin.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 
 from openwisp_controller.config.views import (
     get_default_templates,
+    get_relevant_templates,
     get_template_default_values,
 )
 from openwisp_users.models import Organization
@@ -478,6 +479,17 @@ def _get_default_template_urls(self):
             urls[str(org.pk)] = reverse('admin:get_default_templates', args=[org.pk])
         return json.dumps(urls)
 
+    def _get_relevant_template_urls(self):
+        """
+        returns URLs to get relevant templates
+        used in change_form.html template
+        """
+        organizations = Organization.active.all()
+        urls = {}
+        for org in organizations:
+            urls[str(org.pk)] = reverse('admin:get_relevant_templates', args=[org.pk])
+        return json.dumps(urls)
+
     def get_urls(self):
         return [
             url(
@@ -485,6 +497,11 @@ def get_urls(self):
                 get_default_templates,
                 name='get_default_templates',
             ),
+            url(
+                r'^config/get-relevant-templates/(?P<organization_id>[^/]+)/$',
+                get_relevant_templates,
+                name='get_relevant_templates',
+            ),
             url(
                 r'^get-template-default-values/$',
                 get_template_default_values,
@@ -495,6 +512,7 @@ def get_urls(self):
     def get_extra_context(self, pk=None):
         ctx = super().get_extra_context(pk)
         ctx.update({'default_template_urls': self._get_default_template_urls()})
+        ctx.update({'relevant_template_urls': self._get_relevant_template_urls()})
         return ctx
 
     def add_view(self, request, form_url='', extra_context=None):
diff --git a/openwisp_controller/config/static/config/js/default_templates.js b/openwisp_controller/config/static/config/js/default_templates.js
index d7bf4286e..2b336146c 100644
--- a/openwisp_controller/config/static/config/js/default_templates.js
+++ b/openwisp_controller/config/static/config/js/default_templates.js
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 'use strict';
 django.jQuery(function ($) {
     var firstRun = true,
-        addChangeEventToBackend = function (urls) {
+        addChangeEventToBackend = function (default_urls, relevant_urls) {
             $('#id_config-0-backend').change(function () {
                 setTimeout(function () {
                     // ensures getDefaultTemplates execute only after other
                     // onChange event handlers attached this field has been
                     // executed.
-                    getDefaultTemplates(urls);
+                    getRelevantTemplates(relevant_urls);
+                    getDefaultTemplates(default_urls);
                 });
             });
         },
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ django.jQuery(function ($) {
                 return;
             }
             var url = urls[orgID],
-                isNew = $('#id_config-0-id').length == 0;
+                isNew = $('#id_config-0-id').length === 0;
             // if device is not new, do not execute on page load
             if (!isNew && firstRun) {
                 return;
@@ -46,23 +47,81 @@ django.jQuery(function ($) {
                 });
             });
         },
-        bindDefaultTemplateLoading = function (urls) {
+        getRelevantTemplates = function (urls) {
+            var orgID = $('#id_organization').val(),
+                backend = $('#id_config-0-backend').val();
+            if (!orgID || !backend) {
+                return;
+            }
+            // proceed only if an organization and a backend have been selected
+            if (orgID.length === 0 || backend.length === 0) {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            var url = urls[orgID];
+            // get relevant templates of selected org and backend
+            url = url + '?backend=' + backend;
+            $.get(url).done(function (data) {
+                var relevantTemplates = {};
+                $.each(data.templates, function (i, uuid) {
+                    relevantTemplates[uuid] = uuid;
+                });
+                var disabledTemplates =
+                    localStorage.getItem('config-disabled-templates', null);
+                disabledTemplates = JSON.parse(disabledTemplates) || {};
+                $('input.sortedm2m').each(function () {
+                    if (($(this).val() in relevantTemplates) === false) {
+                        // hide templates which are not relevant
+                        // also removed disabled attribute and uncheck it
+                        if ($(this).prop('disabled')) {
+                            disabledTemplates[$(this).val()] = $(this).val();
+                            $(this).prop('disabled', false);
+                            $(this).prop('checked', false);
+                        }
+                        $(this).parent().parent().hide();
+                    } else {
+                        // show templates which are relevant
+                        if ($(this).val() in disabledTemplates) {
+                            $(this).prop('disabled', true);
+                            $(this).prop('checked', true);
+                            delete disabledTemplates[$(this).val()];
+                        }
+                        $(this).parent().parent().show();
+                    }
+                });
+                disabledTemplates = JSON.stringify(disabledTemplates);
+                localStorage.setItem('config-disabled-templates', disabledTemplates);
+                // change help text if no relevant template
+                var msg = 'Choose items and order by drag & drop.';
+                if (Object.keys(relevantTemplates).length === 0) {
+                    msg = 'No Template available';
+                }
+                if (gettext) {
+                    msg = gettext(msg);
+                }
+                $('.sortedm2m-container > .help').text(msg);
+            });
+        },
+        bindDefaultTemplateLoading = function (default_urls, relevant_urls) {
             var backendField = $('#id_config-0-backend');
             $('#id_organization').change(function () {
                 if ($('#id_config-0-backend').length > 0) {
-                    getDefaultTemplates(urls);
+                    getRelevantTemplates(relevant_urls);
+                    getDefaultTemplates(default_urls);
                 }
             });
             if (backendField.length > 0) {
-                addChangeEventToBackend(urls);
+                addChangeEventToBackend(default_urls, relevant_urls);
             } else {
                 $('#config-group > fieldset.module').ready(function () {
                     $('div.add-row > a').click(function () {
-                        addChangeEventToBackend(urls);
-                        getDefaultTemplates(urls);
+                        addChangeEventToBackend(default_urls, relevant_urls);
+                        getRelevantTemplates(relevant_urls);
+                        getDefaultTemplates(default_urls);
                     });
                 });
             }
+            getRelevantTemplates(relevant_urls);
             firstRun = false;
         };
     window.bindDefaultTemplateLoading = bindDefaultTemplateLoading;
diff --git a/openwisp_controller/config/templates/admin/config/change_form.html b/openwisp_controller/config/templates/admin/config/change_form.html
index 6c98aa652..8dfeeb202 100644
--- a/openwisp_controller/config/templates/admin/config/change_form.html
+++ b/openwisp_controller/config/templates/admin/config/change_form.html
@@ -61,7 +61,10 @@
         // enable default templates - do not remove this comment
         (function ($) {
             $(document).ready( function () {
-                window.bindDefaultTemplateLoading({{ default_template_urls| safe }});
+                window.bindDefaultTemplateLoading(
+                    {{ default_template_urls| safe }},
+                    {{relevant_template_urls| safe}}
+                );
             })
         }) (django.jQuery);
     </script>
diff --git a/openwisp_controller/config/tests/test_views.py b/openwisp_controller/config/tests/test_views.py
index 8a61297f8..0890b591b 100644
--- a/openwisp_controller/config/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/openwisp_controller/config/tests/test_views.py
@@ -141,3 +141,43 @@ def test_get_default_templates_400(self):
             reverse('admin:get_default_templates', args=['wrong'])
         )
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 404)
+
+    def test_get_relevant_templates(self):
+        org1 = self._create_org(name='org1')
+        org2 = self._create_org(name='org2')
+        t1 = self._create_template(
+            name='t1', organization=org1, backend='netjsonconfig.OpenWrt'
+        )
+        _ = self._create_template(
+            name='t2', organization=org2, backend='netjsonconfig.OpenWrt'
+        )
+        # shared template
+        t3 = self._create_template(
+            organization=None, name='t3', default=True, backend='netjsonconfig.OpenWrt'
+        )
+        self._login()
+
+        r = self.client.get(
+            reverse('admin:get_relevant_templates', args=[org1.pk]),
+            {'backend': 'netjsonconfig.OpenWrt'},
+        )
+        templates = r.json()['templates']
+        self.assertEqual(len(templates), 2)
+        self.assertIn(str(t1.pk), templates)
+        self.assertIn(str(t3.pk), templates)
+
+    def test_get_relevant_templates_403(self):
+        org1 = self._create_org(name='org1')
+        response = self.client.get(
+            reverse('admin:get_relevant_templates', args=[org1.pk]),
+            {'backend': 'netjsonconfig.OpenWrt'},
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 403)
+
+    def test_get_relevant_templates_404(self):
+        self._login()
+        response = self.client.get(
+            reverse('admin:get_relevant_templates', args=['wrong']),
+            {'backend': 'netjsonconfig.OpenWrt'},
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 404)
diff --git a/openwisp_controller/config/utils.py b/openwisp_controller/config/utils.py
index 8be4a0546..e191e39b8 100644
--- a/openwisp_controller/config/utils.py
+++ b/openwisp_controller/config/utils.py
@@ -199,3 +199,18 @@ def get_default_templates_queryset(
     if backend:
         queryset = queryset.filter(backend=backend)
     return queryset
+
+
+def get_relevant_templates_queryset(organization_id, backend, model=None):
+    """
+    It filters template as:
+        * Shared templates (organization==None), belonging to the
+          same config backend of the device.
+        * Templates belonging to the same organization and config backend
+          of the device
+    """
+    queryset = model.objects.filter(backend=backend)
+    queryset = queryset.filter(
+        Q(organization_id=organization_id) | Q(organization_id=None)
+    )
+    return queryset
diff --git a/openwisp_controller/config/views.py b/openwisp_controller/config/views.py
index f73627d53..614732d20 100644
--- a/openwisp_controller/config/views.py
+++ b/openwisp_controller/config/views.py
@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@
 from openwisp_users.models import Organization
 
 from .settings import BACKENDS, VPN_BACKENDS
-from .utils import get_default_templates_queryset, get_object_or_404
+from .utils import (
+    get_default_templates_queryset,
+    get_object_or_404,
+    get_relevant_templates_queryset,
+)
 
 Template = load_model('config', 'Template')
 
@@ -34,6 +38,24 @@ def get_default_templates(request, organization_id):
     return JsonResponse({'default_templates': uuids})
 
 
+def get_relevant_templates(request, organization_id):
+    """
+    returns relevant templates of specified organization
+    and config backend
+    """
+    backend = request.GET.get("backend", None)
+    user = request.user
+    authenticated = user.is_authenticated
+    if not authenticated and not user.is_staff:
+        return HttpResponse(status=403)
+    org = get_object_or_404(Organization, pk=organization_id, is_active=True)
+    templates = get_relevant_templates_queryset(org.pk, backend, model=Template).only(
+        'id'
+    )
+    uuids = [str(t.pk) for t in templates]
+    return JsonResponse({'templates': uuids})
+
+
 ALL_BACKENDS = BACKENDS + VPN_BACKENDS
 
 # ``available_schemas`` and ``available_schemas_json``