How to copy the Primary Tab field layout for other projects created from the API

[Jona Carolyn Dupitas]

We have a Salesforce to Jira Integration where Epic issues are pushed into Jira. I have configured a screen layout to be used and it's working however the Primary Tab does not have the fields in the correct order from what we actually want it to look like. I've been using a filter to check all epic issues created weekly so I can update them using the Copy Issue Layout function but we want this to be automated. 

According to Jira support this feature is not available yet.   Has anyone else solved this or are experiencing this? 

[Trisha Griffis]

Currently, Jira doesn’t support automating this via the API but here’s what you can do, and the best workaround for now:

What’s Possible Today

You can manually copy work item layouts (which include field order on the Primary Tab) between company-managed projects via the Jira UI:

1. Navigate to Project settings → Work items → Layout
2. Click Copy work item layout
3. Choose another project that uses the same screen
4. Apply the layout

This works but is only manual and UI-based, available to Jira administrators.

What You can’t do yet

• No REST endpoint exists to automate copying layouts or screen schemes across projects.
• You can create, update, or delete screen schemes via the REST API (via /rest/api/2/screenscheme or /rest/api/3/screenscheme), but there’s no direct “copy” operation.
• Community feedback confirms this limitation and currently sees no workaround for automation.

Hope that helps!