Jira Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete List (2026)
Jira keyboard shortcuts let you navigate boards, create work items, and triage issues without touching your mouse turning repetitive clicks into single keystrokes. Whether you’re running sprints in Jira Cloud or managing projects in Jira Data Center, learning even a handful of these shortcuts can noticeably speed up your daily workflow.
This guide lists every Jira keyboard shortcut, organized by category, with the differences between Mac and Windows and between Cloud and Data Center. You can also download the full cheat sheet as a free PDF.
To see all available Jira keyboard shortcuts, press ? (Shift + /) from any page in Jira. Jira groups its shortcuts into five categories: Global, Navigation, Board, Backlog, and Work Item actions. The most-used shortcuts are C (create a work item), / (quick search), E (edit), A (assign), and M (comment).
What Are Jira Keyboard Shortcuts?
Jira keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that perform actions in Jira without a mouse such as creating a work item, jumping to your boards, assigning a task, or moving between issues in a list. They reduce repetitive clicks, speed up issue triage, and let you keep your hands on the keyboard during sprint planning and daily work.
Shortcuts work across both Jira Cloud and Jira Data Center, though a few depend on the features and apps installed in your environment.
How to Open the Keyboard Shortcuts Menu in Jira
You don’t need to memorize every shortcut Jira has a built-in cheat sheet. To open it:
- From any page in Jira, press ? (which is Shift + / on most keyboards).
- The Keyboard shortcuts dialog opens, showing every shortcut available in your current context.
- You can also open it from the menu: select Help → Keyboard shortcuts.
The dialog adapts to where you are you’ll see board and backlog shortcuts when viewing a board, and global shortcuts everywhere. The shortcuts shown depend on the operating system and browser you’re using.
Global / Essential Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open keyboard shortcuts dialog | ? (Shift + /) |
| Create work item (issue) | C |
| Quick search | / |
| Go to Dashboard | G then D |
| Go to Boards / Agile boards | G then A |
| Go to your work items | G then I |
| Browse to a project | G then P |
| Administration quick search | G then G |
| Quick operations / actions | . (period) |
| Submit form | Ctrl + Enter (Win) / Cmd + Enter (Mac) |
Navigation Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open selected work item | O |
| Next item (down) | J |
| Previous item (up) | K |
| Next activity | N |
| Previous activity | P |
| Focus search field | F |
| Toggle fullscreen | Z |
| Escape / cancel field | Esc |
Board & Backlog Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Backlog | 1 |
| Active sprint / Kanban board | 2 |
| Reports | 3 |
| Next column | N |
| Previous column | P |
| Toggle detail view | T |
| Send to top of column | S then T |
| Send to bottom of column | S then B |
| Submit changes | Enter |
| Cancel changes | Esc |
Work Item (Issue) Action Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Edit work item | E |
| Assign work item | A |
| Assign to me | I |
| Comment | M |
| Edit labels | L |
| Jump to a field to edit | , (comma) |
Jira Keyboard Shortcuts: Mac vs Windows
Most Jira keyboard shortcuts are single-letter keys like C to create or E to edit and these work identically on Mac and Windows. The differences only appear in shortcuts that use a modifier key. On Windows you’ll use Ctrl, while on Mac you’ll typically use Cmd (⌘) for the equivalent action.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Submit a form / comment | Ctrl + Enter | Cmd (⌘) + Enter |
| Open shortcut menu | Shift + / (?) | Shift + / (?) |
| Single-key shortcuts (C, E, J, K, etc.) | Same | Same |
If a shortcut isn’t working, check that your cursor isn’t inside a text field single-key shortcuts are disabled while you’re typing.
How to Customize or Disable Jira Keyboard Shortcuts
If single-key shortcuts get in your way for example, if you keep triggering actions by accident you can turn them off:
- Open your profile menu (your avatar, top right).
- Go to Personal settings.
- Find the Keyboard shortcuts option and toggle it off.
When disabled, single-key shortcuts stop firing, but you can still open the shortcut dialog with ?. This is useful if you spend most of your time typing in fields and don’t want stray keystrokes changing your work items.
On Jira Data Center, administrators and plugin developers can also define or override shortcuts at the system level handy for teams that want consistent custom shortcuts across the instance.
Jira Shortcuts Cheat Sheet (Free PDF Download)
Want the full list in one place? Download the complete Jira keyboard shortcuts cheat sheet as a free, printable PDF and keep it next to your desk.
➜ Download the Jira Shortcuts Cheat Sheet PDF
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the shortcut to create an issue in Jira?
Press C from almost any screen in Jira to create a new work item (issue). The create dialog opens instantly, where you can set the project, type, and details. This works in both Jira Cloud and Data Center.
How do I see all keyboard shortcuts in Jira?
Press ? (Shift + /) from any page to open the Keyboard shortcuts dialog. It shows every shortcut available in your current context, adapted to your operating system and browser. You can also open it from Help → Keyboard shortcuts.
Why are my Jira keyboard shortcuts not working?
The most common reason is that your cursor is inside a text field single-key shortcuts are disabled while you’re typing so they don’t interfere with your input. Click outside the field first. Shortcuts may also be turned off in your personal settings, or a third-party app may have overridden them.
Do Jira keyboard shortcuts work on Mac and Windows?
Yes. Single-key shortcuts like C, E, J, and K are identical on both. The only differences are modifier shortcuts: Windows uses Ctrl where Mac uses Cmd (⌘) for example, Ctrl + Enter on Windows versus Cmd + Enter on Mac to submit a form.
Can I disable keyboard shortcuts in Jira?
Yes. Open your profile menu, go to Personal settings, and toggle off keyboard shortcuts. Single-key shortcuts will stop firing, but you can still open the shortcut dialog with ?.
What does the J and K shortcut do in Jira?
J moves to the next work item and K moves to the previous one when viewing a list. These are the same navigation keys used by Gmail and Slack, dating back to early UNIX conventions.
Conclusion
Mastering even a few Jira keyboard shortcuts can save you hundreds of clicks a week. Start with the essentials ? to open the shortcut menu, C to create a work item, and J/K to move between issues then layer in the board and backlog shortcuts as they become second nature.
Bookmark this page or download the free cheat sheet PDF above so the full list is always one keystroke away. Shortcuts work in both Jira Cloud and Data Center, so your muscle memory carries over wherever you work.
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