Manage subtasks in team-managed projects

In Jira, an issue can have subtasks that can be assigned and tracked individually. This allows you to break down the work in your project to smaller, more manageable pieces.

Learn more about converting issues into subtasks or subtasks back into issues.

Add a subtask issue type

Subtask issue types are different from regular issue types. By default, team-managed projects have subtask issue types enabled. If your project doesn’t have the subtask issue type, you’ll need to add it:

1. Navigate to your team-managed software project.

2. Go to Project Settings > Issue types.

3. Select Add issue type.

4. Select Subtask.

Create subtasks

You can create subtasks under any standard issues, like stories, bugs, or tasks. Note that you cannot create subtasks under epics or other subtasks.

When viewing an issue

1. On the board or backlog, select an issue.

2. Select Add then Child issue.

3. Enter a description for the subtask and select Create.

On the board

1. On the board of your team-managed project, next to Group by, select Subtask (project admins only).

2. Select Create issue (+) to create a subtask under that issue.

View subtasks on the board

Note that only the project admin can access this setting.

1. Navigate to the board in your team-managed project.

2. In the Group by dropdown, select Subtasks. The headers for each swimlane will be your regular issues, and the cards underneath each header represent your project's subtasks. You can then move those subtasks between columns like you would any other issue.