Jira filters: Create, share, and manage for project insights

One of Jira’s primary attractions is its ability to sort through project data to locate the exact information users need. But this functionality doesn’t end with the search results page. Users can save their search queries as filters and use them again and again.

Jira filters ensure you get the most out of the platform, boosting productivity and efficiency. Here, you’ll learn how to add filters in Jira and when to apply them.

What are filters in Jira?

Whether you’re working in Jira Cloud or another Atlassian platform, the filter feature helps you sort through vast troves of data by creating a reusable search query based on complex criteria. Jira filters enable more efficient task management by allowing you to locate and organize information faster than manual searches allow.

Filters can also connect to and , creating a centralized location to display real-time information based on common search queries.

When should you use filters in Jira?

A project’s success rests on the development team’s decisions. They need a complete picture of the challenges they face. A comprehensive set of filters allows teams to sort through epics, stories, tasks, and issues, tracking down crucial data to inform choices.

Jira filters are flexible tools that adapt to various information sorting and segmentation use cases. Users can broaden or limit search results to deliver precisely the information they need. Here are some examples of use cases for Jira filters:

User-assigned issues: Filter issues according to the current user to track tasks and workloads.
Open issues: Monitor issue completion based on assignments to specific team members or groups, facilitating workload management.
Bugs: Squash programming bugs according to priority or version, ensuring users complete high-priority updates first.
Unresolved issues: Uncover roadblocks or missed tasks by filtering unresolved issues.
Epics and stories: Generate a high-level view of progress by sorting for data on a project’s big picture.
Due soon: Ensure an assignee sticks to schedule by identifying issues with approaching deadlines.
Updates: Monitor team activity and adjustments by filtering for updated issues.
Component or version: Analyze work on specific project areas by sorting according to component or fix issues.
QA: Assign issues for quality assurance testing based on status.
Reports: Create period-based filters to generate reports on sprint progress, velocity, cycle time, or other metrics.

With this level of data access, users are well-informed and up-to-date on team progress, allowing them to manage their workflows, address challenges, and meet individual timelines.

Basic vs. advanced search in Jira: What’s the difference?

Jira has two search modes: basic and advanced. Basic search is the default, using keyword-based queries across fields like issue summaries or descriptions. This method is fast and easy to learn, but results are limited in granularity and personalization.

Advanced search uses (JQL) to conduct customized searches based on precise criteria, including:

Project assignees
Date ranges
Custom fields
Priority
Labels

Advanced search allows users to find the exact data they need, making JQL a crucial requirement for building Jira filters that are reusable and sharable across workflows.

Using filters in Jira

Jira’s search function allows users to better navigate and manage project data by building and implementing customized filters based on specific query criteria.

How to create a filter in Jira

Here’s how users in Jira can create new filters:

Open the Search Issues page by clicking the “Issues” option from the Jira menu.
Define query parameters by using either the Basic or Advanced Search option.
Search and refine the query until it returns the desired results.
Click “Save Filter” and give the filter a meaningful name and description for easy reference.
Select “Issues” and navigate “View All Filters” to access and manage saved filters.

How to edit and update Jira filters

Managing filters in Jira is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to edit or update a filter:

From the Issues menu, click “Filters.”
Select the name of the filter you wish to edit.
To refine the criteria, click the “+” or “-” button next to each field.
To change the field order, click and drag it up and down.
Click “Save.”

Here’s how to delete a Jira filter:

Click ”Filters” > “View all filters” from the navigation bar.
Select the filter you wish to delete.
Click “•••” > “Delete filter.”

Filters can only be deleted by their owners or the Jira administrator.

Sharing filters with your team in Jira

Good things are better when shared – including Jira filters. Jira allows users to share filters among groups, projects, or roles, improving collaboration and streamlining workflows.

To share a Jira filter, follow these steps:

Click on “Issues” > “Manage filters.”
Select the “My” tab.
Choose a filter to share.
Click “Details.”
Select “Edit permissions” to open the “Edit current filter” dropdown.
Click “Add shares” to open the dialogue box, and then select “Everyone,” “Group,” or “Project.”
Click the “Add” button to open a dropdown and select filter recipients.
Save your changes.

How to subscribe to Jira filters

Users can keep up with changes to a specific filter by subscribing to notifications whenever an owner updates its query. Here’s how:

Select “Filters” from the navigation bar.
Click on “View all filters.”
Choose “New subscriptions” to open a configuration dropdown.
Identify subscribers, delivery frequency, intervals, and delivery method.
Click “Save.”

While useful, the subscription system doesn’t automatically notify users of changes. If someone modifies the search after Jira sends out the report, users won’t know until the next update.

Best practices for managing filters in Jira

Here are some tips for Jira filters to streamline the search process and capture the correct data:

Avoid complexity

Users shouldn’t create additional filters if the query is trivial or if they don’t regularly require updates on that search result. Too many filters clutter the system and make it hard to track essential queries.

Use project-specific filters

Create custom filters for each project to quickly access and track issues without becoming distracted by unrelated items.

Leverage keywords

Label your filters using relevant keywords and a consistent naming convention so you can locate queries and secure fast access to relevant data. Clear names make filters more accessible for other team members and help them avoid creating duplicates.

Take advantage of quick filters

Jira’s quick filters sort issues on Scrum or Kanban boards, displaying a specific issue type or presenting a custom view of the backlog tailored to the team’s needs.

Consider other team members before editing queries

Jira allows users to plug filters into gadgets and export them to dashboards for real-time monitoring. Before updating a query, consider the impact on other users across the project or organization.

Enhance Jira filters with Tempo

Tempo tools fully integrate with the Jira platform, allowing users to expand their data pool and enhance search query effectiveness. Users of can apply Jira filters to structures so they can focus on a specific subset of issues – without the changes applying to other users. is a flexible and customizable reporting app that builds charts and dashboards to evaluate team delivery, capacity, and speed across multiple projects using JQL queries.

Tempo works hand in hand with Jira filters to optimize workflows and streamline processes, taking your productivity to the next level.