Top 10 Jira Keyboard Shortcuts to Boost Your Productivity

Let’s face it, the life of a Jira user often feels like being in a high-stakes, time-bound relay race, where every tick of the clock matters. Now, imagine sprinting in this race with a pair of heavy boots; that’s what maneuvering through Jira with a mouse feels like.

Every extra click is a delayed step, every drag of the mouse is a stalling moment. But what if you could trade those heavy boots for a pair of swift sneakers? That’s precisely what mastering Jira’s keyboard shortcuts offers—a chance to sprint through your task list with a breeze, leaving the cumbersome clicks and drags behind.

Top 10 Jira Keyboard Shortcuts

1. Quick Operations Dialog (.):
   • Press . (dot) to open the quick operations dialog box.
   • Example: Imagine you’re in a team meeting and need to quickly transition several issues to a different status. Instead of navigating through menus, simply hit . and type the transition name to expedite the process.
2. Create Issue (c):
   • Press c to create a new issue.
   • Example: During a brainstorming session, new tasks emerge. Press c to instantly create new issues for these tasks without losing the flow of the discussion.
3. Edit Issue (e):
   • Press e to edit the current issue.
   • Example: Upon reviewing, you notice a typo in an issue’s description. Press e to swiftly correct the typo and maintain the accuracy of your project documentation.
4. Assign Issue (a):
   • Press a to open the assign dialog for the current issue.
   • Example: A team member is ready to take on a new task. Press a to assign the issue to them promptly, keeping the momentum going.
5. Comment on Issue (m):
   • Press m to add a comment to the current issue.
   • Example: After a client call, you have updates to share on an issue. Press m to quickly add your comments, ensuring timely communication with your team.
6. Dashboard (d):
   • Press d to navigate to the dashboard.
   • Example: As you start your day, press d to land on the dashboard and get a quick overview of the project’s progress and your team’s workload.
7. Browse Projects (p):
   • Press p to browse through projects.
   • Example: When managing multiple projects, switch between them seamlessly by pressing p, thus maintaining a smooth workflow.
8. Find Issues (/):
   • Press / to place your cursor in the search issues box.
   • Example: A stakeholder inquires about the status of a particular issue. Press / and type the issue key or summary to find and provide the needed information swiftly.
9. Go to Agile Board (g + a):
   • Press g followed by a to navigate to the agile board.
   • Example: During your sprint review, quickly navigate to the agile board by pressing g + a to showcase the completed tasks and plan the next sprint.
10. Issue Navigator (i):
    • Press i to open the issue navigator.
    • Example: You need to review all issues assigned to you. Press i to open the issue navigator and filter the issues by assignee, making your review process efficient.

Exercises and Tips for handling Jira keyboard shortcuts

Before we delve into the shortcuts galore, let’s glance through some preparatory tips:

• Tip 1: Customize Your Shortcuts: Jira allows you to tailor keyboard shortcuts to your liking. Venture into the personal settings and tweak the shortcuts to suit your workflow.
• Tip 2: Practice Makes Perfect: Like mastering a musical instrument, becoming proficient with keyboard shortcuts takes practice. Dedicate a few minutes each day to practice, and you’ll soon be playing symphonies of efficiency on Jira!
• Tip 3: Cheat Sheet: Create a cheat sheet of the most frequently used shortcuts and keep it handy. Over time, you’ll memorize the shortcuts, making your interaction with Jira smoother and faster.
• Tip 4: Opting Out of Keyboard Shortcuts: If you find that the keyboard shortcuts are not your cup of tea, fret not. Jira allows you to disable them. Simply navigate to Help > Keyboard Shortcuts and toggle the “Keyboard shortcuts are enabled” option.
• Tip 5: Mastering Modifier Keys: Depending on your operating system and browser, certain keyboard shortcuts require a tango with modifier keys. Here’s a quick rundown:
• Chrome:
  • Windows: Alt + Shift
  • macOS: Ctrl + Alt/Option
  • Linux/Solaris: Alt + Shift
• Firefox:
  • Windows: Alt + Shift
  • macOS: Ctrl
  • Linux/Solaris: Alt + Shift
  • (You can customize ‘Modifier key shortcuts’ in Firefox; delve into Mozilla’s documentation for more insights.)
• Safari:
  • Windows: Ctrl
  • macOS:Ctrl + Alt/Option
• Internet Explorer:
  • Windows: Alt
• For shortcuts leading to a link, press ‘Enter’ to complete the action post the ‘Modifier key shortcut’.

These Jira keyboard shortcuts are more than just keys; they are a pathway to enhancing your productivity and project management prowess. By incorporating these shortcuts into your daily Jira interactions, you’re not just saving time, but elevating your project management efficiency to a new pinnacle.