JQL Queries search for issues that do not contain text
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
It is not possible to search for issues that don't contain text "ABC" using JQL queries like text !~ "ABC" or text not in "ABC".
Solution
Environment
8.5.5
Workaround
Perform the following JQL search to find all the issues containing the text first.
1text ~ 'ABC'Save this search as a filter. Let's say the filter name is FILTER.
Navigate away from the filter page and go back to the issue search page. Type the following filter.
1filter != FILTER
Once you filter out the issues that do contain the text, you can use the "!=" with the filter to find out all the issues that don't contain the text.
⚠️ Note: This doesn't apply when indicating Summary, rather than text. For example, both the following will work:
1
NOT(Summary ~"ABC*")1
!(Summary ~ "ABC*")Was this helpful?