How to create your first project on Jira

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Creating your first Jira project involves navigating to the Projects section, selecting a template that matches your workflow, and configuring basic settings like name, key, and permissions. The process typically takes 5-10 minutes and immediately provides you with a workspace to start tracking issues and managing tasks.

Try Jira Full Jira Review

Prerequisites

Active Jira account with project creation permissions
Access to your organization's Jira workspace
Basic understanding of project management concepts
Administrator or project lead role in your Jira instance

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access the Projects section

Log into your Jira instance and click on Projects in the top navigation bar. Then select Create project from the dropdown menu or click the Create project button if you're on the projects overview page.

If you don't see the Create project option, contact your Jira administrator to verify you have the necessary permissions.

Choose a project template

Select from the available templates:

Scrum - For agile software development with sprints
Kanban - For continuous workflow management
Bug tracking - For issue and defect management
Task management - For general project tasks

Click Select on your preferred template.

Choose Kanban if you're unsure - it's the most flexible template for beginners.

Configure project details

Fill in the required fields:

Name - Enter your project name (e.g., "Website Redesign")
Key - This auto-generates but can be customized (e.g., "WR")
Project type - Choose between Team-managed or Company-managed

For beginners, select Team-managed as it offers simpler administration.

Keep the project key short and memorable - it will prefix all issue numbers in this project.

Set up project access and permissions

Configure who can access your project:

Select Open to allow all users in your organization to view
Select Private to restrict access to specific users
Add team members by typing their names in the Add people field

Click Add for each team member you want to include.

You can always modify permissions later, so start with your core team and expand access as needed.

Review and create the project

Review all your settings on the summary page:

Verify the project name and key are correct
Confirm the selected template matches your needs
Check that team members are properly added

Click Create project to finalize the setup.

Explore your new project dashboard

Once created, you'll be redirected to your project dashboard. Take time to familiarize yourself with:

Board view - Your main workflow interface
Backlog - Where you'll manage upcoming work
Project settings - Access via the gear icon

The sidebar shows navigation options for different project views.

Bookmark your project URL for quick access in the future.

Create your first issue

Start using your project by creating an issue:

Click the Create button (+ icon) in the top navigation
Select your project from the dropdown
Choose an issue type (Story, Task, Bug, etc.)
Add a Summary and Description
Click Create

Your first issue will appear on your project board.

Use clear, descriptive summaries for issues to make them easy to understand at a glance.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Can't see the Create project button

You likely don't have project creation permissions. Contact your Jira administrator to request Create Projects global permission or ask them to create the project for you.

Project key already exists error

The project key must be unique across your Jira instance. Try a different abbreviation or add numbers (e.g., change WEB to WEB2 or WEBR).

Team members can't access the project

Check the project permissions in Project settings > Permissions. Ensure users have the Browse Projects permission and are added to the appropriate project role.

Wrong template selected after creation

You cannot change the template after creation, but you can modify workflows and issue types in Project settings > Issue types or create a new project with the correct template and migrate issues.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official Jira website before purchasing.

Visit Jira View Jira Pricing