How to create Jira linked issues: a step-by-step guide

Jira is a powerful tool for issue tracking and project management, widely used by software development teams, IT service desks, and business teams. One of its essential How to create Jira linked issues: a step-by-step guide

Jira is a powerful tool for issue tracking and project management, widely used by software development teams, IT service desks, and business teams. One of its essential features is the ability to link issues together, allowing users to establish relationships between different tasks, track dependencies, and improve collaboration.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to manage Jira linked issues using native features. Then, we’ll explore a more efficient way to do this using Elements Copy & Sync, an app that simplifies and automates issue linking across projects.

Creating linked issues in Jira natively

Jira allows users to link issues manually, providing better visibility into dependencies, blockers, or related tasks. You can establish links between tickets in different projects or within the same project. Managing Jira issues is crucial for ensuring smooth project execution and helping teams work efficiently. By using this feature effectively, your team can make their daily work easier and avoid unnecessary delays.

Step 1: Open the issue you want to link

• Log in to Jira and navigate to your project.
• Open the issue that you want to link to another issue.

Step 2: Select “link issue”

• In the issue view, look for the “link” option. This is usually found in the issue’s action menu or under the “more” dropdown, depending on your Jira version.
• Click “link”, and a dialog box will appear.

Step 3: Choose the link type

Jira provides different types of issue links to specify relationships. Some common link types include:

• clones: the issue is a clone of another.

• blocks: the linked issue prevents work from proceeding.

• is blocked by: the issue cannot be completed until another issue is resolved.

• relates to: the issue is connected but does not have a dependency.

• duplicates: the issue is a duplicate of another.

By carefully choosing the correct link type, you ensure that your Jira issues are properly categorized for better tracking and collaboration. When teams know whether an issue blocks another, they can better prioritize their work and coordinate across projects.

Step 4: Enter the issue key or search for the issue

If you know the issue key (e.g., “PROJ-123”), enter it directly.
Alternatively, use the search function to find the issue you want to link.

Step 5: Confirm and save

Once you’ve selected the correct issue and link type, click “link” to save the relationship. The Jira issues will now appear in the issue view under the “issue links” section, making it easy to track connections between tasks and work dependencies.

Read more on how to link work items natively

A smarter way to create linked issues: Elements Copy & Sync

While Jira’s native issue linking works well, it often requires multiple manual steps, especially when dealing with complex workflows or repetitive tasks. This is where Elements Copy & Sync comes in.

It’s a Jira app that streamlines issue creation and linking by allowing users to:

• create and link issues in one action
• automatically copy issue data to new issues
• sync field updates between parent and child issues
• apply predefined templates for consistency

This feature-rich app makes daily work more efficient and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

How to create and link issues in Jira with Elements Copy & Sync

Step 1: Install and configure Elements Copy & Sync

• Go to Jira administration > apps and install the app from the Atlassian Marketplace.
• Configure the app by setting up copy rules and linking rules based on your use case.

Step 2: Trigger the recipe in the issue action menu

• Open the source issue.
• Select Elements Copy & Sync in the issue actions menu.

Read documentation to guide you through the steps

Step 3: Select the target project and issue type

Choose whether you want to copy the issue within the same project or to a different project.
Select the issue type (e.g., task, bug, story).

Step 4: Define what data to clone

Elements Copy & Sync allows you to automatically clone:

• summary and description
• custom fields
• assignee and reporter
• attachments and comments

This eliminates the need for manual data entry and ensures consistency across Jira issues. The feature saves valuable time, especially when teams need to duplicate work for multiple projects.

Step 5: Enable synchronization (optional)

If you need the Jira issues to remain updated in real-time, enable sync rules. This ensures that changes to the original issue (e.g., status updates, field changes) are reflected in the linked issue.

Step 6: Click “create linked issue”

The new issue is created instantly with the link already established.

Synchronize issues automatically with Elements Copy & Sync

Another powerful feature of the app is its ability to synchronize Jira issues automatically using synchronization recipes. When creating links, you can define specific synchronization rules that ensure updates in one issue are reflected in the related issue(s). You can also choose which type of link to synchronize, whether it’s “blocks”, “is blocked by”, “relates to”, or any other custom link type in Jira.

With synchronization recipes, you can configure which fields should stay in sync between Jira issues, such as status, assignee, priority, or custom fields. If you need to find which issues have been synchronized, you can use Jira’s search function to filter issues based on their link type and status.

Learn more about how to synchronize Jira issues

Display issues in the Jira customer portal

One of the unique advantages of Elements Copy & Sync is its ability to display Jira issues directly in the Jira Service Management (JSM) customer portal. This provides customers with real-time visibility into related tickets, such as escalated support tickets, feature requests, or bug fixes.

Learn more about how to display issues in the customer portal.

Why use Elements Copy & Sync for Jira linked issues?

Here are some key benefits of using the app over Jira’s native linking system:

• Faster issue creation: no need to manually enter details for issues, data is copied automatically.
• Reduced errors and inconsistencies: by automating data transfer, Elements Copy & Sync ensures that Jira issues contain accurate information.
• Synchronization between issues: updates in one issue can be automatically reflected in its related issue(s), preventing communication gaps and improving team workflows.
• Simplified workflows: instead of manually linking issues each time, users can rely on pre-configured automation to handle repetitive tasks across multiple projects.

This feature provides teams with the ability to manage dependencies and coordinate their work more effectively across Jira.

Conclusion

Creating Jira issues is essential for managing dependencies and improving issue tracking. While Jira offers a built-in way to link issues, the manual process can be time-consuming.

For teams that need a faster and more automated approach, Elements Copy & Sync provides a powerful solution. With its ability to automate issue creation, copy data, and sync updates, it simplifies workflows and enhances collaboration.

If your team frequently works with linked issues, try the app to save time and improve efficiency. 🚀