Create and manage synced blocks
A synced block lets teams maintain a single authoritative version of important content and reuse it across Jira, Confluence, and other Atlassian apps. Instead of copying and pasting, you edit once at the source and every instance stays up to date, reducing rework and errors. This keeps shared messaging consistent wherever people see it. Read how to create use synced blocks in Confluence
Use synced blocks to turn a piece of content in a Jira work item description into a reusable block. Every copied instance stays in sync with the original, so you only edit it in one place while viewers on other pages always see the latest version. Edits to the source flow automatically to the destinations in near real time. It's ideal for content that repeats and changes over time, such as a project statuses, an on-call rotations, or a set of release steps.
Permissions and security
Synced blocks respect permissions. The destination block inherits the content permissions from the Confluence source. The destination only renders the block to users who have view access to the source.
If someone lacks access, they will see an option to request access from the source's owner or their admin.
Create a synced block
You can create a source block in Jira work item description. You can add this block to other work items, or Confluence live docs and pages as a view-only element.
Synced blocks support text, layouts, tables, images, cards, and just about any other editor element.
Create an empty block and add content
While editing within a work item description, type
/syncor select + on the toolbar.Select Create synced block.
Enter anything you want to reuse elsewhere.
Turn existing content into a synced block
You can select any existing content (text, tables, images, and other elements) and create a synced block around it.
Select your content.
For text, you can select and drag, highlighting the text you want to use.
For other elements such as tables, layouts, or images, select the element.
Select Sync block from the editor’s main menu.
Pro tip: You can use the shift key to select more than one element or multiple paragraphs of text. Select one element then hold shift, and select somewhere else. Everything in between those two points will be selected.
Copy and use synced blocks
You can copy a synced block from the description in one Jira work item and paste it to another. The synced block is added as view-only content. Unlike typical copy/paste actions, the content is view-only everywhere you paste it.
Anyone with access to view the source content will be able to see the synced block’s content at the new destination. It will update in near real time.
Go to the source and select a synced block to see the floating toolbar.
Select Copy synced block.
Open a Jira work item.
Paste the synced block into the description.
Manage synced blocks
Select the synced block to see the the floating toolbar. If your block has other elements such as tables, you may need to select the edge of the block to activate the block’s toolbar.
Select Synced locations to show a drop-down list of everywhere the block is used. The place you can edit is marked as “This work item Source”.
To remove the block from all other locations, select Unsync from the toolbar. This will change the block to an empty unsynced block at every other location but you can still keep the content at the source.
To add the block elsewhere, select Copy synced block. Then paste it into another live doc, page, or into a Jira work item. Unlike typical copy/paste actions, the content is view-only wherever you paste it.
To delete the block, select Delete. This will result in an empty unsynced block at every other location and the block and its content will be removed from the source work item.
Edit a synced block at the source
You can only edit a synced block by editing the source content item. Only people with edit permission for the source can edit the block.
From a synced location, select the block to see the floating toolbar.
Select Edit synced content at source location. If you don’t have edit permission at the source, you won’t see this option.
The source work item opens in a new browser tab, and you can edit.
Unsync a block at the destination
To turn the synced block into normal unsynced content, go to the destination and select the block.
From the floating toolbar, select Unsync. This will remove the synced connection and make the content editable at the destination. It will no longer receive updates when the source is updated, but you’ll be able to make changes at the destination.
When you unsync a block, the content will be visible at the destination to anyone with view access. It will no longer be tied to the permissions of the source.
Delete a synced block
Deleting a synced block is permanent and cannot be undone.
To delete a synced block from all of the work item descriptions in which it appears:
Go to the source location.
Select the synced block, then Delete.
In the confirmation message, select Delete.
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