Adding sub tasks to issues

[Kobus Myburgh]

Hi guys,

I am highly frustrated being unable to add sub tasks in Jira. Maybe I am just inexperienced, but I have tried everything I can, checked every document I can find, but no luck.

People talk about going to "Administration" then "Issues". I do not see that menu item "Issues". I have permissions to do this kind of thing, because in other projects I do see the "Create subtask" option on an issue raised. I have changed the issue type to be the same as the one where it does work, but still no luck.

I do not know what information you need from me to enable assistance, except that:

• I am using Cloud version
• Both issues in question are "service requests" but in different projects, which are both "service projects".
• I checked these links too (none of them getting me anywhere near a solution):
  • https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Jira-questions/Sub-tasks/qaq-p/978380
  • https://support.atlassian.com/jira-software-cloud/docs/create-an-issue-and-a-sub-task/
  • https://confluence.atlassian.com/adminjiraserver/configuring-sub-tasks-938847874.html

Please assist if you can?

[Ioana · Accepted solution]

Hi Kobus,

Does the issue type scheme associated with your project include the Sub-Task issue type?

You can go to the Project Settings -> Issue Types to check that.

If Sub-Task is not in the issue type scheme that is associated with your project you have to add it. For this you need to be a Jira administrator to access the Administration section.  To do this:

1. Select the settings cog on the top right corner (Administration) > Issues
2. Select Issuetype Schemes
3. Identify the scheme associated with your project
4. Click Edit next to the issue type scheme
5. Drag and Drop Sub-Task from the available Issue Types to Issue Types for Current Scheme.
6. Save

[Kobus Myburgh]

Thanks, Ioana. I could not even find the "Issues" item under "Administration" but I did manage to find the Issue Types and enabled "Sub tasks" there, so the issue is now resolved. Thank you very much!

[Callum Carlile _Automation Consultants_]

Hi @Kobus Myburgh 

You need to be a Jira admin to see Issues in the Jira settings cog, but you don't need to be a Jira admin to create a sub-task. It might be that sub-tasks aren't an available issue type within your project, so you might need to ask a Jira admin to check this in your project's permission scheme.

[Kobus Myburgh]

Thanks, Callum. I am an administrator (added to all groups) but not sure why I could not see the "Issues" item under "Administration". I did manage to see that under "Issue types" as Ioana indicated in the accepted answer, that I can add Sub-tasks over there, and it now works. Thanks!

[Naresh S V]

Hi Kobus, 

Under your Jira Software, go to the settings and under that visit Sub-tasks. In this section, you would be able to configure the way Sub-tasks to perform. 

Other option is on the right corner, click on settings icon and you can find "Issues". Click on that and you will find Sub-task menu to manage.

[Kobus Myburgh]

Thank you for your answer, Naresh. Ioana's answer above solved the issues for me. I do not see "Issues" under administration, and I am an administrator, so very confusing for me to find where the settings are in Jira :-)

[Naresh S V]

That's pretty great Kobus. You managed to figure out and solve it. Thanks.