Create a custom status and add it to a Jira board column

Company-managed space

Company-managed workflows can be shared across spaces, so creating or changing a workflow status may need a Jira admin. Board administrators then map statuses from the workflow to visual columns.

1. Check whether the status exists in the workflow

   Open a work item's status menu and select View workflow, or ask a Jira admin to inspect the workflow. A status cannot be mapped to a board if its workflow does not use it.

2. Create or add the status to the workflow

   For a simplified workflow, a space admin can add a status from Board settings. For a shared or complex workflow, a Jira admin adds the status and valid transitions in the workflow editor.

3. Open Board settings → Columns

   From the board, select More actions (•••) → Board settings, then Layout → Columns.

4. Drag the status from Unmapped statuses

   Drag the new status into the column that represents its stage, then save. Put completed statuses in the right-most column so Jira treats them as done for sprint reporting.

Team-managed space

Team-managed space admins can manage their own board configuration. A status created in the workflow editor starts unassigned by default, which is the usual reason it appears to disappear after creation.

1. Open Space settings → Board

   Go to Space settings, then Board to open the Columns and statuses configuration.

2. Create the status in the workflow when needed

   Add the custom status and choose its category: To do, In progress, or Done. Keep the category true to the work state because it affects reporting and how the board behaves.

3. Find it under Unassigned statuses

   A status created in the workflow editor sits in the left-side unassigned area. It is not automatically shown on the board or backlog.

4. Drag it into a column and save

   Drag the status to an existing column, or create a column if the team needs a distinct stage. Select Save changes to apply the mapping.

Good to know

A status is workflow logic; a column is its visual home on one board:

• Adding a column on the board in a team-managed space is the shortcut. Select + Add column (called Create column in some Jira layouts), name it, and Jira creates and maps a matching status in one move. Its category follows the column's position: first is To do, last is Done, and a column in between is In progress.
• Unmapped means hidden. Work items in an unassigned status do not appear on that board or backlog.
• Several statuses can share one column. This is useful for variations such as In review and Ready for QA without turning the board into a dozen narrow columns.
• Only map completed statuses to the last column. Jira uses the final column to decide what is complete in a sprint.
• Company-managed configuration may be shared. Check the workflow's other users before changing a shared status or transition.