Beginner
How to create your first project on Jira
Quick Answer
Creating your first Jira project involves navigating to the Projects section, selecting a template that matches your workflow, and configuring basic settings like name, key, and permissions. The process typically takes 5-10 minutes and immediately provides you with a workspace to start tracking issues and managing tasks.
Prerequisites
- Active Jira account with project creation permissions
- Access to your organization's Jira workspace
- Basic understanding of project management concepts
- Administrator or project lead role in your Jira instance
1
Access the Projects section
Log into your Jira instance and click on Projects in the top navigation bar. Then select Create project from the dropdown menu or click the Create project button if you're on the projects overview page.
Tip
If you don't see the Create project option, contact your Jira administrator to verify you have the necessary permissions.
2
Choose a project template
Select from the available templates:
- Scrum - For agile software development with sprints
- Kanban - For continuous workflow management
- Bug tracking - For issue and defect management
- Task management - For general project tasks
Tip
Choose Kanban if you're unsure - it's the most flexible template for beginners.
3
Configure project details
Fill in the required fields:
- Name - Enter your project name (e.g., "Website Redesign")
- Key - This auto-generates but can be customized (e.g., "WR")
- Project type - Choose between Team-managed or Company-managed
Tip
Keep the project key short and memorable - it will prefix all issue numbers in this project.
4
Set up project access and permissions
Configure who can access your project:
- Select Open to allow all users in your organization to view
- Select Private to restrict access to specific users
- Add team members by typing their names in the Add people field
Tip
You can always modify permissions later, so start with your core team and expand access as needed.
5
Review and create the project
Review all your settings on the summary page:
- Verify the project name and key are correct
- Confirm the selected template matches your needs
- Check that team members are properly added
6
Explore your new project dashboard
Once created, you'll be redirected to your project dashboard. Take time to familiarize yourself with:
- Board view - Your main workflow interface
- Backlog - Where you'll manage upcoming work
- Project settings - Access via the gear icon
Tip
Bookmark your project URL for quick access in the future.
7
Create your first issue
Start using your project by creating an issue:
- Click the Create button (+ icon) in the top navigation
- Select your project from the dropdown
- Choose an issue type (Story, Task, Bug, etc.)
- Add a Summary and Description
- Click Create
Tip
Use clear, descriptive summaries for issues to make them easy to understand at a glance.
Troubleshooting
Can't see the Create project button
You likely don't have project creation permissions. Contact your Jira administrator to request Create Projects global permission or ask them to create the project for you.
Project key already exists error
The project key must be unique across your Jira instance. Try a different abbreviation or add numbers (e.g., change
WEB to WEB2 or WEBR).Team members can't access the project
Check the project permissions in Project settings > Permissions. Ensure users have the Browse Projects permission and are added to the appropriate project role.
Wrong template selected after creation
You cannot change the template after creation, but you can modify workflows and issue types in Project settings > Issue types or create a new project with the correct template and migrate issues.
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