How to Create Sub-Issues in Linear

Updated on:

May 12, 2026

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Use this interactive demo to learn how to break down issues into trackable sub-issues in Linear.

Quick summary

Linear allows you to create sub-issues under a parent issue, enabling teams to break complex tasks into smaller, trackable units. This step-by-step walkthrough shows exactly how to add and submit sub-issues directly from an issue detail view in Linear.

Steps

Open the parent issue you want to add sub-issues to.
Select '+Add sub-issues' from within the issue detail view.
Enter the sub-issue details such as title and description.
Click 'Create' to submit the sub-issue.
Confirm that the sub-issues are listed under the parent issue for easy tracking.

📌 Why this matters

Sub-issues in Linear allow engineering and product teams to break large, complex issues into smaller, actionable tasks without losing the context of the parent issue. This hierarchical issue structure improves sprint planning, progress visibility, and team accountability — all within a single streamlined interface. For teams managing multi-step projects, the ability to create and track sub-issues directly in Linear reduces context-switching and keeps work organized at every level of granularity.

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