Change the default issue type displayed on the Create Issue screen in Jira

Platform Notice: Data Center Only - This article only applies to Atlassian products on the Data Center platform.

Note that this KB was created for the Data Center version of the product. Data Center KBs for non-Data-Center-specific features may also work for Server versions of the product, however they have not been tested. Support for Server* products ended on February 15th 2024. If you are running a Server product, you can visit the Atlassian Server end of support announcement to review your migration options.

*Except Fisheye and Crucible

Summary

The first time a user creates an issue in a Jira project, the default issue type will be used. This is a setting that can be controlled on the project level, and can be adjusted to suit your requirements.

⚠️ Please note that the default issue type setting only takes effect on the first time an issue is created in a Jira project

The next time the same user creates a new issue, the last issue type used will be displayed in the Create issue screen. That issue type will overwrite the default issue type configured in any project.

  • This behavior exists due to the bug JRASERVER-65439 and is fixed in Jira 9.10.0 and later.

Environment

Jira Data Center on 8.0.0 or any higher version

Set default issue type in a project

In this example, we will be setting the default issue type to "Story."

  1. Log into the Jira application as a Jira administrator

  2. Select Projects from the Top Bar menu and choose the appropriate project

  3. Select the ⚙cog icon at the bottom left corner, to show the Administration panel for the project

  4. Select Issue Types from the Administration panel

  5. Select Actions > Edit Issue Types

  6. Locate the Default Issue Type field > Select the appropriate Issue type you would like to display as default

    1. In this example, we will pick "Story."

  7. Re-order the Issue Types for Current Scheme to place the Issue type you would like to display as default right on top of the order

    1. You can drag and drop the boxes to re-order them

      Jira issue types editor with Story as the default type
  8. Select Save

Updated on April 21, 2025

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