diff --git a/conf/defaults.ini b/conf/defaults.ini
index 51c835d1822..218efc49054 100644
--- a/conf/defaults.ini
+++ b/conf/defaults.ini
@@ -1208,7 +1208,7 @@ lokiQueryBuilder = true
 # Experimental Explore to Dashboard workflow
 explore2Dashboard = true
 
-# Experimental Command Palette
+# Command Palette
 commandPalette = true
 
 # Use dynamic labels in CloudWatch datasource
diff --git a/docs/sources/explore/_index.md b/docs/sources/explore/_index.md
index 190fb78c2e4..013e01db4c2 100644
--- a/docs/sources/explore/_index.md
+++ b/docs/sources/explore/_index.md
@@ -73,3 +73,7 @@ The Share shortened link capability allows you to create smaller and simpler URL
 > **Note:** Available in Grafana 8.5.0 and later versions.
 
 Enabled by default, allows users to create panels in dashboards from within Explore.
+
+### exploreMixedDatasource
+
+Disabled by default, allows users in Explore to have different datasources for different queries. If compatible, results will be combined.
diff --git a/packages/grafana-data/src/types/featureToggles.gen.ts b/packages/grafana-data/src/types/featureToggles.gen.ts
index c59f8e728f0..c69788424f4 100644
--- a/packages/grafana-data/src/types/featureToggles.gen.ts
+++ b/packages/grafana-data/src/types/featureToggles.gen.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ export interface FeatureToggles {
   export?: boolean;
   azureMonitorResourcePickerForMetrics?: boolean;
   explore2Dashboard?: boolean;
+  exploreMixedDatasource?: boolean;
   tracing?: boolean;
   commandPalette?: boolean;
   cloudWatchDynamicLabels?: boolean;
diff --git a/pkg/services/featuremgmt/registry.go b/pkg/services/featuremgmt/registry.go
index e38dc69157e..ed284fb8f8f 100644
--- a/pkg/services/featuremgmt/registry.go
+++ b/pkg/services/featuremgmt/registry.go
@@ -159,6 +159,12 @@ var (
 			State:        FeatureStateBeta,
 			FrontendOnly: true,
 		},
+		{
+			Name:         "exploreMixedDatasource",
+			Description:  "Enable mixed datasource in Explore",
+			State:        FeatureStateAlpha,
+			FrontendOnly: true,
+		},
 		{
 			Name:         "tracing",
 			Description:  "Adds trace ID to error notifications",
diff --git a/pkg/services/featuremgmt/toggles_gen.go b/pkg/services/featuremgmt/toggles_gen.go
index 35a6b40560c..239a454c9ab 100644
--- a/pkg/services/featuremgmt/toggles_gen.go
+++ b/pkg/services/featuremgmt/toggles_gen.go
@@ -119,6 +119,10 @@ const (
 	// Experimental Explore to Dashboard workflow
 	FlagExplore2Dashboard = "explore2Dashboard"
 
+	// FlagExploreMixedDatasource
+	// Enable mixed datasource in Explore
+	FlagExploreMixedDatasource = "exploreMixedDatasource"
+
 	// FlagTracing
 	// Adds trace ID to error notifications
 	FlagTracing = "tracing"
diff --git a/public/app/core/utils/explore.ts b/public/app/core/utils/explore.ts
index a28a58909bb..27d60caa9e0 100644
--- a/public/app/core/utils/explore.ts
+++ b/public/app/core/utils/explore.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   DataQuery,
   DataQueryRequest,
   DataSourceApi,
+  DataSourceRef,
   dateMath,
   DateTime,
   DefaultTimeZone,
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ import {
   toUtc,
   urlUtil,
 } from '@grafana/data';
-import { DataSourceSrv } from '@grafana/runtime';
+import { DataSourceSrv, getDataSourceSrv } from '@grafana/runtime';
 import { RefreshPicker } from '@grafana/ui';
 import store from 'app/core/store';
 import { TimeSrv } from 'app/features/dashboard/services/TimeSrv';
@@ -70,19 +71,6 @@ export async function getExploreUrl(args: GetExploreUrlArguments): Promise<strin
   let exploreTargets: DataQuery[] = panel.targets.map((t) => omit(t, 'legendFormat'));
   let url: string | undefined;
 
-  // Mixed datasources need to choose only one datasource
-  if (exploreDatasource.meta?.id === 'mixed' && exploreTargets) {
-    // Find first explore datasource among targets
-    for (const t of exploreTargets) {
-      const datasource = await datasourceSrv.get(t.datasource || undefined);
-      if (datasource) {
-        exploreDatasource = datasource;
-        exploreTargets = panel.targets.filter((t) => t.datasource === datasource.name);
-        break;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
   if (exploreDatasource) {
     const range = timeSrv.timeRangeForUrl();
     let state: Partial<ExploreUrlState> = { range };
@@ -99,7 +87,7 @@ export async function getExploreUrl(args: GetExploreUrlArguments): Promise<strin
         ...state,
         datasource: exploreDatasource.name,
         context: 'explore',
-        queries: exploreTargets.map((t) => ({ ...t, datasource: exploreDatasource.getRef() })),
+        queries: exploreTargets,
       };
     }
 
@@ -254,8 +242,34 @@ export function generateKey(index = 0): string {
   return `Q-${uuidv4()}-${index}`;
 }
 
-export function generateEmptyQuery(queries: DataQuery[], index = 0): DataQuery {
-  return { refId: getNextRefIdChar(queries), key: generateKey(index) };
+export async function generateEmptyQuery(
+  queries: DataQuery[],
+  index = 0,
+  dataSourceOverride?: DataSourceRef
+): Promise<DataQuery> {
+  let datasourceInstance: DataSourceApi | undefined;
+  let datasourceRef: DataSourceRef | null | undefined;
+  let defaultQuery: Partial<DataQuery> | undefined;
+
+  // datasource override is if we have switched datasources with no carry-over - we want to create a new query with a datasource we define
+  if (dataSourceOverride) {
+    datasourceRef = dataSourceOverride;
+  } else if (queries.length > 0 && queries[queries.length - 1].datasource) {
+    // otherwise use last queries' datasource
+    datasourceRef = queries[queries.length - 1].datasource;
+  } else {
+    // if neither exists, use the default datasource
+    datasourceInstance = await getDataSourceSrv().get();
+    defaultQuery = datasourceInstance.getDefaultQuery?.(CoreApp.Explore);
+    datasourceRef = datasourceInstance.getRef();
+  }
+
+  if (!datasourceInstance) {
+    datasourceInstance = await getDataSourceSrv().get(datasourceRef);
+    defaultQuery = datasourceInstance.getDefaultQuery?.(CoreApp.Explore);
+  }
+
+  return { refId: getNextRefIdChar(queries), key: generateKey(index), datasource: datasourceRef, ...defaultQuery };
 }
 
 export const generateNewKeyAndAddRefIdIfMissing = (target: DataQuery, queries: DataQuery[], index = 0): DataQuery => {
@@ -267,8 +281,13 @@ export const generateNewKeyAndAddRefIdIfMissing = (target: DataQuery, queries: D
 
 /**
  * Ensure at least one target exists and that targets have the necessary keys
+ *
+ * This will return an empty array if there are no datasources, as Explore is not usable in that state
  */
-export function ensureQueries(queries?: DataQuery[]): DataQuery[] {
+export async function ensureQueries(
+  queries?: DataQuery[],
+  newQueryDataSourceOverride?: DataSourceRef
+): Promise<DataQuery[]> {
   if (queries && typeof queries === 'object' && queries.length > 0) {
     const allQueries = [];
     for (let index = 0; index < queries.length; index++) {
@@ -287,7 +306,18 @@ export function ensureQueries(queries?: DataQuery[]): DataQuery[] {
     }
     return allQueries;
   }
-  return [{ ...generateEmptyQuery(queries ?? []) }];
+
+  try {
+    // if a datasourse override get its ref, otherwise get the default datasource
+    const emptyQueryRef = newQueryDataSourceOverride ?? (await getDataSourceSrv().get()).getRef();
+
+    const emptyQuery = await generateEmptyQuery(queries ?? [], undefined, emptyQueryRef);
+    return [emptyQuery];
+  } catch {
+    // if there are no datasources, return an empty array because we will not allow use of explore
+    // this will occur on init of explore with no datasources defined
+    return [];
+  }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -344,9 +374,9 @@ export function clearHistory(datasourceId: string) {
   store.delete(historyKey);
 }
 
-export const getQueryKeys = (queries: DataQuery[], datasourceInstance?: DataSourceApi | null): string[] => {
+export const getQueryKeys = (queries: DataQuery[]): string[] => {
   const queryKeys = queries.reduce<string[]>((newQueryKeys, query, index) => {
-    const primaryKey = datasourceInstance && datasourceInstance.name ? datasourceInstance.name : query.key;
+    const primaryKey = query.datasource?.uid || query.key;
     return newQueryKeys.concat(`${primaryKey}-${index}`);
   }, []);
 
diff --git a/public/app/core/utils/richHistory.ts b/public/app/core/utils/richHistory.ts
index c2c34ef50e3..fc66871eedd 100644
--- a/public/app/core/utils/richHistory.ts
+++ b/public/app/core/utils/richHistory.ts
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ export function mapQueriesToHeadings(query: RichHistoryQuery[], sortOrder: SortO
  */
 export function createDatasourcesList() {
   return getDataSourceSrv()
-    .getList()
+    .getList({ mixed: true })
     .map((dsSettings) => {
       return {
         name: dsSettings.name,
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/Explore.tsx b/public/app/features/explore/Explore.tsx
index 55233403242..32124d86453 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/Explore.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/Explore.tsx
@@ -158,8 +158,8 @@ export class Explore extends React.PureComponent<Props, ExploreState> {
   };
 
   onClickAddQueryRowButton = () => {
-    const { exploreId, queryKeys, datasourceInstance } = this.props;
-    this.props.addQueryRow(exploreId, queryKeys.length, datasourceInstance);
+    const { exploreId, queryKeys } = this.props;
+    this.props.addQueryRow(exploreId, queryKeys.length);
   };
 
   onMakeAbsoluteTime = () => {
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/ExplorePaneContainer.tsx b/public/app/features/explore/ExplorePaneContainer.tsx
index 0e7dc124a1f..44604f849d5 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/ExplorePaneContainer.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/ExplorePaneContainer.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import memoizeOne from 'memoize-one';
 import React from 'react';
 import { connect, ConnectedProps } from 'react-redux';
 
-import { DataQuery, ExploreUrlState, EventBusExtended, EventBusSrv, GrafanaTheme2 } from '@grafana/data';
+import { ExploreUrlState, EventBusExtended, EventBusSrv, GrafanaTheme2 } from '@grafana/data';
 import { selectors } from '@grafana/e2e-selectors';
 import { Themeable2, withTheme2 } from '@grafana/ui';
 import store from 'app/core/store';
@@ -64,16 +64,17 @@ class ExplorePaneContainerUnconnected extends React.PureComponent<Props> {
     };
   }
 
-  componentDidMount() {
+  async componentDidMount() {
     const { initialized, exploreId, initialDatasource, initialQueries, initialRange, panelsState } = this.props;
     const width = this.el?.offsetWidth ?? 0;
 
     // initialize the whole explore first time we mount and if browser history contains a change in datasource
     if (!initialized) {
+      const queries = await ensureQueries(initialQueries); // this will return an empty array if there are no datasources
       this.props.initializeExplore(
         exploreId,
         initialDatasource,
-        initialQueries,
+        queries,
         initialRange,
         width,
         this.exploreEvents,
@@ -116,7 +117,6 @@ class ExplorePaneContainerUnconnected extends React.PureComponent<Props> {
   }
 }
 
-const ensureQueriesMemoized = memoizeOne(ensureQueries);
 const getTimeRangeFromUrlMemoized = memoizeOne(getTimeRangeFromUrl);
 
 function mapStateToProps(state: StoreState, props: OwnProps) {
@@ -126,7 +126,6 @@ function mapStateToProps(state: StoreState, props: OwnProps) {
 
   const { datasource, queries, range: urlRange, panelsState } = (urlState || {}) as ExploreUrlState;
   const initialDatasource = datasource || store.get(lastUsedDatasourceKeyForOrgId(state.user.orgId));
-  const initialQueries: DataQuery[] = ensureQueriesMemoized(queries);
   const initialRange = urlRange
     ? getTimeRangeFromUrlMemoized(urlRange, timeZone, fiscalYearStartMonth)
     : getTimeRange(timeZone, DEFAULT_RANGE, fiscalYearStartMonth);
@@ -134,7 +133,7 @@ function mapStateToProps(state: StoreState, props: OwnProps) {
   return {
     initialized: state.explore[props.exploreId]?.initialized,
     initialDatasource,
-    initialQueries,
+    initialQueries: queries,
     initialRange,
     panelsState,
   };
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/ExploreToolbar.tsx b/public/app/features/explore/ExploreToolbar.tsx
index 34ded3050a7..8bc68cbc009 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/ExploreToolbar.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/ExploreToolbar.tsx
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ class UnConnectedExploreToolbar extends PureComponent<Props> {
             !datasourceMissing && (
               <DataSourcePicker
                 key={`${exploreId}-ds-picker`}
+                mixed={config.featureToggles.exploreMixedDatasource === true}
                 onChange={this.onChangeDatasource}
                 current={this.props.datasourceRef}
                 hideTextValue={showSmallDataSourcePicker}
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/Wrapper.test.tsx b/public/app/features/explore/Wrapper.test.tsx
index ad0a1c665e6..0d182273c1b 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/Wrapper.test.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/Wrapper.test.tsx
@@ -39,8 +39,7 @@ describe('Wrapper', () => {
 
   it('shows warning if there are no data sources', async () => {
     setupExplore({ datasources: [] });
-    // Will throw if isn't found
-    screen.getByText(/Explore requires at least one data source/i);
+    await waitFor(() => screen.getByText(/Explore requires at least one data source/i));
   });
 
   it('inits url and renders editor but does not call query on empty url', async () => {
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ describe('Wrapper', () => {
       orgId: '1',
       left: serializeStateToUrlParam({
         datasource: 'loki',
-        queries: [{ refId: 'A' }],
+        queries: [{ refId: 'A', datasource: { type: 'logs', uid: 'loki' } }],
         range: { from: 'now-1h', to: 'now' },
       }),
     });
@@ -144,7 +143,7 @@ describe('Wrapper', () => {
       orgId: '1',
       left: serializeStateToUrlParam({
         datasource: 'elastic',
-        queries: [{ refId: 'A' }],
+        queries: [{ refId: 'A', datasource: { type: 'logs', uid: 'elastic' } }],
         range: { from: 'now-1h', to: 'now' },
       }),
     });
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/spec/helper/setup.tsx b/public/app/features/explore/spec/helper/setup.tsx
index 1e9566e9614..99c6041675a 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/spec/helper/setup.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/spec/helper/setup.tsx
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ type SetupOptions = {
 };
 
 export function setupExplore(options?: SetupOptions): {
-  datasources: { [name: string]: DataSourceApi };
+  datasources: { [uid: string]: DataSourceApi };
   store: ReturnType<typeof configureStore>;
   unmount: () => void;
   container: HTMLElement;
@@ -58,15 +58,19 @@ export function setupExplore(options?: SetupOptions): {
     getInstanceSettings(ref: DataSourceRef) {
       return dsSettings.map((d) => d.settings).find((x) => x.name === ref || x.uid === ref || x.uid === ref.uid);
     },
-    get(datasource?: string | DataSourceRef | null, scopedVars?: ScopedVars): Promise<DataSourceApi> {
-      const datasourceStr = typeof datasource === 'string';
-      return Promise.resolve(
-        (datasource
-          ? dsSettings.find((d) =>
-              datasourceStr ? d.api.name === datasource || d.api.uid === datasource : d.api.uid === datasource?.uid
-            )
-          : dsSettings[0])!.api
-      );
+    get(datasource?: string | DataSourceRef | null, scopedVars?: ScopedVars): Promise<DataSourceApi | undefined> {
+      if (dsSettings.length === 0) {
+        return Promise.resolve(undefined);
+      } else {
+        const datasourceStr = typeof datasource === 'string';
+        return Promise.resolve(
+          (datasource
+            ? dsSettings.find((d) =>
+                datasourceStr ? d.api.name === datasource || d.api.uid === datasource : d.api.uid === datasource?.uid
+              )
+            : dsSettings[0])!.api
+        );
+      }
     },
   } as any);
 
@@ -149,7 +153,7 @@ function makeDatasourceSetup({ name = 'loki', id = 1 }: { name?: string; id?: nu
       name: name,
       uid: name,
       query: jest.fn(),
-      getRef: jest.fn().mockReturnValue(name),
+      getRef: jest.fn().mockReturnValue({ type: 'logs', uid: name }),
       meta,
     } as any,
   };
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/datasource.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/datasource.ts
index d06e675ff2a..eb67e44f75b 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/state/datasource.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/datasource.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import { AnyAction, createAction } from '@reduxjs/toolkit';
 
 import { DataSourceApi, HistoryItem } from '@grafana/data';
+import { reportInteraction } from '@grafana/runtime';
 import { RefreshPicker } from '@grafana/ui';
 import { stopQueryState } from 'app/core/utils/explore';
 import { ExploreItemState, ThunkResult } from 'app/types';
@@ -44,6 +45,11 @@ export function changeDatasource(
     const { history, instance } = await loadAndInitDatasource(orgId, { uid: datasourceUid });
     const currentDataSourceInstance = getState().explore[exploreId]!.datasourceInstance;
 
+    reportInteraction('explore_change_ds', {
+      from: (currentDataSourceInstance?.meta?.mixed ? 'mixed' : currentDataSourceInstance?.type) || 'unknown',
+      to: instance.meta.mixed ? 'mixed' : instance.type,
+      exploreId,
+    });
     dispatch(
       updateDatasourceInstanceAction({
         exploreId,
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/explorePane.test.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/explorePane.test.ts
index 70b957d17d6..478708e8ea6 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/state/explorePane.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/explorePane.test.ts
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ function setup(state?: any) {
               testDatasource: jest.fn(),
               init: jest.fn(),
               name: 'default',
+              getRef() {
+                return { type: 'default', uid: 'default' };
+              },
             }
       );
     },
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/explorePane.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/explorePane.ts
index fc066dd1d07..74e2456b9c0 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/state/explorePane.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/explorePane.ts
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ export function refreshExplore(exploreId: ExploreId, newUrlQuery: string): Thunk
     // commit changes based on the diff of new url vs old url
 
     if (update.datasource) {
-      const initialQueries = ensureQueries(queries);
+      const initialQueries = await ensureQueries(queries);
       await dispatch(
         initializeExplore(exploreId, datasource, initialQueries, range, containerWidth, eventBridge, panelsState)
       );
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ export const paneReducer = (state: ExploreItemState = makeExplorePaneState(), ac
       range,
       queries,
       initialized: true,
-      queryKeys: getQueryKeys(queries, datasourceInstance),
+      queryKeys: getQueryKeys(queries),
       datasourceInstance,
       history,
       datasourceMissing: !datasourceInstance,
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/query.test.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/query.test.ts
index 7a8b85aa51f..a21c1307238 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/state/query.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/query.test.ts
@@ -154,12 +154,31 @@ describe('running queries', () => {
 describe('importing queries', () => {
   describe('when importing queries between the same type of data source', () => {
     it('remove datasource property from all of the queries', async () => {
+      const datasources: DataSourceApi[] = [
+        {
+          name: 'testDs',
+          type: 'postgres',
+          uid: 'ds1',
+          getRef: () => {
+            return { type: 'postgres', uid: 'ds1' };
+          },
+        } as DataSourceApi<DataQuery, DataSourceJsonData, {}>,
+        {
+          name: 'testDs2',
+          type: 'postgres',
+          uid: 'ds2',
+          getRef: () => {
+            return { type: 'postgres', uid: 'ds2' };
+          },
+        } as DataSourceApi<DataQuery, DataSourceJsonData, {}>,
+      ];
+
       const { dispatch, getState }: { dispatch: ThunkDispatch; getState: () => StoreState } = configureStore({
         ...(defaultInitialState as any),
         explore: {
           [ExploreId.left]: {
             ...defaultInitialState.explore[ExploreId.left],
-            datasourceInstance: { name: 'testDs', type: 'postgres' },
+            datasourceInstance: datasources[0],
           },
         },
       });
@@ -168,18 +187,18 @@ describe('importing queries', () => {
         importQueries(
           ExploreId.left,
           [
-            { datasource: { type: 'postgresql' }, refId: 'refId_A' },
-            { datasource: { type: 'postgresql' }, refId: 'refId_B' },
+            { datasource: { type: 'postgresql', uid: 'ds1' }, refId: 'refId_A' },
+            { datasource: { type: 'postgresql', uid: 'ds1' }, refId: 'refId_B' },
           ],
-          { name: 'Postgres1', type: 'postgres' } as DataSourceApi<DataQuery, DataSourceJsonData, {}>,
-          { name: 'Postgres2', type: 'postgres' } as DataSourceApi<DataQuery, DataSourceJsonData, {}>
+          datasources[0],
+          datasources[1]
         )
       );
 
       expect(getState().explore[ExploreId.left].queries[0]).toHaveProperty('refId', 'refId_A');
       expect(getState().explore[ExploreId.left].queries[1]).toHaveProperty('refId', 'refId_B');
-      expect(getState().explore[ExploreId.left].queries[0]).not.toHaveProperty('datasource');
-      expect(getState().explore[ExploreId.left].queries[1]).not.toHaveProperty('datasource');
+      expect(getState().explore[ExploreId.left].queries[0]).toHaveProperty('datasource.uid', 'ds2');
+      expect(getState().explore[ExploreId.left].queries[1]).toHaveProperty('datasource.uid', 'ds2');
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/query.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/query.ts
index bcb3fbfa34b..98d996b7745 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/state/query.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/query.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import { AnyAction, createAction, PayloadAction } from '@reduxjs/toolkit';
 import deepEqual from 'fast-deep-equal';
+import { flatten, groupBy } from 'lodash';
 import { identity, Observable, of, SubscriptionLike, Unsubscribable } from 'rxjs';
 import { mergeMap, throttleTime } from 'rxjs/operators';
 
 import {
   AbsoluteTimeRange,
-  CoreApp,
   DataQuery,
   DataQueryErrorType,
   DataQueryResponse,
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import {
   QueryFixAction,
   toLegacyResponseData,
 } from '@grafana/data';
-import { config, reportInteraction } from '@grafana/runtime';
+import { config, getDataSourceSrv, reportInteraction } from '@grafana/runtime';
 import {
   buildQueryTransaction,
   ensureQueries,
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import {
 } from 'app/core/utils/explore';
 import { getShiftedTimeRange } from 'app/core/utils/timePicker';
 import { getTimeZone } from 'app/features/profile/state/selectors';
+import { MIXED_DATASOURCE_NAME } from 'app/plugins/datasource/mixed/MixedDataSource';
 import { ExploreItemState, ExplorePanelData, ThunkDispatch, ThunkResult } from 'app/types';
 import { ExploreId, ExploreState, QueryOptions } from 'app/types/explore';
 
@@ -214,17 +215,10 @@ export const clearCacheAction = createAction<ClearCachePayload>('explore/clearCa
 /**
  * Adds a query row after the row with the given index.
  */
-export function addQueryRow(
-  exploreId: ExploreId,
-  index: number,
-  datasource: DataSourceApi | undefined | null
-): ThunkResult<void> {
-  return (dispatch, getState) => {
+export function addQueryRow(exploreId: ExploreId, index: number): ThunkResult<void> {
+  return async (dispatch, getState) => {
     const queries = getState().explore[exploreId]!.queries;
-    const query = {
-      ...datasource?.getDefaultQuery?.(CoreApp.Explore),
-      ...generateEmptyQuery(queries, index),
-    };
+    const query = await generateEmptyQuery(queries, index);
 
     dispatch(addQueryRowAction({ exploreId, index, query }));
   };
@@ -251,6 +245,32 @@ export function cancelQueries(exploreId: ExploreId): ThunkResult<void> {
   };
 }
 
+const addDatasourceToQueries = (datasource: DataSourceApi, queries: DataQuery[]) => {
+  const dataSourceRef = datasource.getRef();
+  return queries.map((query: DataQuery) => {
+    return { ...query, datasource: dataSourceRef };
+  });
+};
+
+const getImportableQueries = async (
+  targetDataSource: DataSourceApi,
+  sourceDataSource: DataSourceApi,
+  queries: DataQuery[]
+): Promise<DataQuery[]> => {
+  let queriesOut: DataQuery[] = [];
+  if (sourceDataSource.meta?.id === targetDataSource.meta?.id) {
+    queriesOut = queries;
+  } else if (hasQueryExportSupport(sourceDataSource) && hasQueryImportSupport(targetDataSource)) {
+    const abstractQueries = await sourceDataSource.exportToAbstractQueries(queries);
+    queriesOut = await targetDataSource.importFromAbstractQueries(abstractQueries);
+  } else if (targetDataSource.importQueries) {
+    // Datasource-specific importers
+    queriesOut = await targetDataSource.importQueries(queries, sourceDataSource);
+  }
+  // add new datasource to queries before returning
+  return addDatasourceToQueries(targetDataSource, queriesOut);
+};
+
 /**
  * Import queries from previous datasource if possible eg Loki and Prometheus have similar query language so the
  * labels part can be reused to get similar data.
@@ -273,23 +293,27 @@ export const importQueries = (
     }
 
     let importedQueries = queries;
-    // Check if queries can be imported from previously selected datasource
-    if (sourceDataSource.meta?.id === targetDataSource.meta?.id) {
-      // Keep same queries if same type of datasource, but delete datasource query property to prevent mismatch of new and old data source instance
-      importedQueries = queries.map(({ datasource, ...query }) => query);
-    } else if (hasQueryExportSupport(sourceDataSource) && hasQueryImportSupport(targetDataSource)) {
-      const abstractQueries = await sourceDataSource.exportToAbstractQueries(queries);
-      importedQueries = await targetDataSource.importFromAbstractQueries(abstractQueries);
-    } else if (targetDataSource.importQueries) {
-      // Datasource-specific importers
-      importedQueries = await targetDataSource.importQueries(queries, sourceDataSource);
+    // If going to mixed, keep queries with source datasource
+    if (targetDataSource.name === MIXED_DATASOURCE_NAME) {
+      importedQueries = queries.map((query) => {
+        return { ...query, datasource: sourceDataSource.getRef() };
+      });
+    }
+    // If going from mixed, see what queries you keep by their individual datasources
+    else if (sourceDataSource.name === MIXED_DATASOURCE_NAME) {
+      const groupedQueries = groupBy(queries, (query) => query.datasource?.uid);
+      const groupedImportableQueries = await Promise.all(
+        Object.keys(groupedQueries).map(async (key: string) => {
+          const queryDatasource = await getDataSourceSrv().get({ uid: key });
+          return await getImportableQueries(targetDataSource, queryDatasource, groupedQueries[key]);
+        })
+      );
+      importedQueries = flatten(groupedImportableQueries.filter((arr) => arr.length > 0));
     } else {
-      // Default is blank queries
-      importedQueries = ensureQueries();
+      importedQueries = await getImportableQueries(targetDataSource, sourceDataSource, queries);
     }
 
-    const nextQueries = ensureQueries(importedQueries);
-
+    const nextQueries = await ensureQueries(importedQueries, targetDataSource.getRef());
     dispatch(queriesImportedAction({ exploreId, queries: nextQueries }));
   };
 };
@@ -639,7 +663,7 @@ export const queryReducer = (state: ExploreItemState, action: AnyAction): Explor
     return {
       ...state,
       queries: nextQueries,
-      queryKeys: getQueryKeys(nextQueries, state.datasourceInstance),
+      queryKeys: getQueryKeys(nextQueries),
     };
   }
 
@@ -685,7 +709,7 @@ export const queryReducer = (state: ExploreItemState, action: AnyAction): Explor
     return {
       ...state,
       queries: nextQueries,
-      queryKeys: getQueryKeys(nextQueries, state.datasourceInstance),
+      queryKeys: getQueryKeys(nextQueries),
     };
   }
 
@@ -694,7 +718,7 @@ export const queryReducer = (state: ExploreItemState, action: AnyAction): Explor
     return {
       ...state,
       queries: queries.slice(),
-      queryKeys: getQueryKeys(queries, state.datasourceInstance),
+      queryKeys: getQueryKeys(queries),
     };
   }
 
@@ -703,7 +727,7 @@ export const queryReducer = (state: ExploreItemState, action: AnyAction): Explor
     return {
       ...state,
       queries,
-      queryKeys: getQueryKeys(queries, state.datasourceInstance),
+      queryKeys: getQueryKeys(queries),
     };
   }
 
@@ -760,7 +784,7 @@ export const queryReducer = (state: ExploreItemState, action: AnyAction): Explor
     return {
       ...state,
       queries,
-      queryKeys: getQueryKeys(queries, state.datasourceInstance),
+      queryKeys: getQueryKeys(queries),
     };
   }
 
diff --git a/public/app/plugins/datasource/mixed/MixedDataSource.ts b/public/app/plugins/datasource/mixed/MixedDataSource.ts
index a266215149c..b9d3761c273 100644
--- a/public/app/plugins/datasource/mixed/MixedDataSource.ts
+++ b/public/app/plugins/datasource/mixed/MixedDataSource.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { cloneDeep, groupBy } from 'lodash';
+import { cloneDeep, groupBy, omit } from 'lodash';
 import { forkJoin, from, Observable, of, OperatorFunction } from 'rxjs';
 import { catchError, map, mergeAll, mergeMap, reduce, toArray } from 'rxjs/operators';
 
@@ -98,6 +98,13 @@ export class MixedDatasource extends DataSourceApi<DataQuery> {
     return Promise.resolve({});
   }
 
+  getQueryDisplayText(query: DataQuery) {
+    const strippedQuery = omit(query, ['key', 'refId', 'datasource']);
+    const strippedQueryJSON = JSON.stringify(strippedQuery);
+    const prefix = query.datasource?.type ? `${query.datasource?.type}: ` : '';
+    return `${prefix}${strippedQueryJSON}`;
+  }
+
   private isQueryable(query: BatchedQueries): boolean {
     return query && Array.isArray(query.targets) && query.targets.length > 0;
   }