How to Create Labels in Jira

Updated on:

May 11, 2026

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Use this interactive demo to learn how to add and manage labels on Jira issues.

Quick summary

Labels in Jira let teams categorize and filter issues quickly, improving visibility across service desk queues. You can apply existing labels or create new ones directly from the issue detail panel without leaving your workflow.

Steps

Create a new item on your queue to start the labeling process.
Or open an existing issue you wish to label.
Provide relevant information like Summary and Issue Type to your issue.
Locate the Labels field within the issue detail section — select an existing label or type in the box to create a new one.
Hit Create to save your issue with the applied label.

📌 Why this matters

Labels in Jira Service Management give teams a fast, flexible way to categorize issues beyond default fields like priority or issue type. By applying labels, agents and project managers can filter queues, track recurring themes, and surface related issues at a glance — reducing time spent searching and improving response accuracy. Creating custom labels on the fly, directly from the issue panel, means teams can adapt their taxonomy without admin overhead. This makes label management a key habit for any team running structured, scalable Jira service desk workflows.

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