How to Create Subtasks in Jira

Updated on:

May 11, 2026

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Use this interactive demo to learn how to add and manage subtasks inside a Jira issue.

Quick summary

Creating a subtask in Jira lets you break a parent issue into smaller, trackable child issues directly from the issue detail view. Once added, subtasks can be named, assigned a type, and displayed on your project board for full visibility.

Steps

Open the issue for which you'd like to create subtasks.
Click on Add a child issue.
Name your subtask in the input field provided.
Define the subtask type to categorize the child issue correctly.
View the option to display subtasks on the board from the issue panel.
Click on it to make your subtasks visible on the board.

📌 Why this matters

Creating subtasks in Jira allows teams to break complex issues into smaller, actionable child issues, making sprint planning and task tracking more precise. Subtasks can be individually assigned, typed, and tracked on the project board, giving every team member clear visibility into granular work items. This feature is essential for agile teams that need to manage dependencies and workload distribution without losing sight of the parent issue. By using Jira subtasks effectively, teams can improve delivery speed and maintain a cleaner, more organized backlog.

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