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Log time from a Jira board

By Jens Schumacher, former Head of Product for Jira · Updated

In native Jira, open a work item from the board and use Log work. In BetterBoard, you can start a timer or enter time from a card. In both cases, check the work item, duration, and remaining estimate before saving the entry.

Log time

Jira time tracking must be configured, and you need permission to browse the work and log time against it.

  1. Open the correct work item

    Select the card from the board. Check its key, especially when several cards have similar summaries. Log against the item where the work belongs rather than recording the same duration on both a parent and its child.

  2. Choose Log work

    In the work item’s More actions menu, choose Log work, or select the Time tracking field. If it is unavailable, ask an admin to check time tracking and your permissions.

  3. Enter a specific duration

    Use an explicit unit, such as 1h 30m, and a useful description such as “Investigated failing checkout test.” Check the entry’s start time and remaining-estimate choice before saving.

  4. Review the saved entry

    Open the activity area’s Work log and confirm the entry. If you make a mistake, edit the original log where permitted rather than adding a compensating duplicate.

  5. Use a card timer when it fits your workflow

    In BetterBoard, add Time tracking under Display → Fields and save. Start the card timer; stop it and confirm Log time to write the work log. Manual entry is available through Log time too.

Record time directly on cards

Use BetterBoard’s Time tracking control for a timer or manual entry, and confirm the log when the work is recorded.

Learn how

Good to know

Example: spending 90 minutes does not always reduce the estimate by 90 minutes.

  • If investigation reveals more work, the remaining estimate may need to increase. Record actual time separately from your forecast.
  • BetterBoard keeps one timer at a time in the current browser. It is not a timer you can resume on another device.
  • Elapsed timer time is written to Jira only when you confirm the log.
  • In BetterBoard, the Time tracking control is for recording work; use separate Time spent or estimate fields for supported filtering and color conditions.

Record time directly on cards

Use BetterBoard’s Time tracking control for a timer or manual entry, and confirm the log when the work is recorded.

Try BetterBoard free

FAQ

Why should I include a unit?
Without a unit, Jira uses the administrator’s default. Writing 2h avoids ambiguity between hours and another configured unit.
Can I correct a BetterBoard time entry?
Open the Jira work item’s Work log and edit or delete the entry there, subject to your work-log permissions.

Sources