Automatically Added as a Watcher in Jira Issues: How to Prevent It

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

For every new issue you create or work on, you are automatically added to the watcher's list.

The autowatch feature is enabled by default.

Environment

Jira Data Center.

Solution

Easily disable the autowatch feature for your Jira account by following these steps.

  1. Navigate to your Profile by selecting your user icon.

    A Jira user profile menu: The Profile option is highlighted with a red arrow, indicating it's the selected item. Other menu options include Accessibility, Atlassian Marketplace, My JIRA HOME,and Log Out.

  2. Scroll down to Preferences and select the 'Edit' option next to Preferences.

    Your user preferences page, highlighting the edit option on the same hight as header on the right.

  3. Disable the autowatch setting by selecting 'Disabled':

Jira's Update User Preferences page. The Autowatch setting is highlighted and set to Enabled, meaning the user will automatically watch issues they create or interact with. Other settings shown include Email Type (HTML), and more

As a Jira System Administrator, disable the autowatch option by default for all Jira users

Autowatch can be enabled or disabled in Jira Administration > System > User Interface > Default User Preferences:

Jira's Administration - User Default Settings page. The settings displayed include Default outgoing email format (html), Number of issues displayed per Issue Navigator page (50), Default sharing for filters and dashboards (Private) and more

Updated on June 2, 2025
Platform
Data Center only
Products
Jira Software Data Center
Jira Service Management Data Center
Jira Core Data Center
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