How to customize agile board swimlanes on Jira

intermediate 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Customize Jira agile board swimlanes by accessing the board settings, selecting swimlane configuration, and choosing to group by queries, assignee, or epic. Use JQL queries for advanced customization or select predefined grouping options.

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Prerequisites

Jira project administrator or board administrator permissions
Active Jira project with an agile board
Understanding of JQL (Jira Query Language) basics
Familiarity with Jira issue types and fields

Step-by-Step Instructions

Navigate to your agile board

Open your Jira project and click on the Boards menu in the left sidebar. Select your desired agile board (Scrum or Kanban) from the dropdown list. Ensure you're viewing the board in its main view, not the backlog.

If you don't see the board you need, check that you have the correct permissions and that the board hasn't been deleted or renamed.

Access board configuration

Click on the Board settings option, typically found in the board's dropdown menu (three dots icon) in the top-right corner of the board. Alternatively, you can access it via Board → Configure from the top navigation menu.

Only users with board administrator permissions can access and modify board settings.

Open swimlanes configuration

In the board configuration sidebar, locate and click on Swimlanes. This will display the current swimlane configuration and available options for customization.

Choose swimlane grouping method

Select your preferred swimlane grouping option:

None - No swimlanes, all issues in one lane
Assignee - Group by issue assignee
Epic - Group by parent epic
Queries - Create custom JQL-based swimlanes

Click on your chosen option to proceed with configuration.

Start with 'Assignee' or 'Epic' for simpler setups before moving to custom queries.

Configure custom query swimlanes (if selected)

If you chose Queries, click Add Swimlane to create a new lane. Enter a Name for the swimlane and input your JQL query in the JQL field. Example queries:

assignee = currentUser()
priority = High
labels = urgent

You can add multiple swimlanes by repeating this process.

Test your JQL queries in the issue navigator before adding them to swimlanes to ensure they return the expected results.

Set swimlane ordering and colors

Use the drag-and-drop functionality to reorder your swimlanes by clicking and dragging the six-dot handle next to each swimlane name. Click on the color picker next to each swimlane to assign distinctive colors for better visual organization.

Place your most important or frequently used swimlanes at the top for better visibility.

Configure swimlane display options

Scroll down to find additional display options:

Toggle Show issues that don't match any swimlane query to display unmatched issues
Set the Default swimlane name for unmatched issues
Choose whether to Hide empty swimlanes

Keeping unmatched issues visible helps ensure no tasks are overlooked during sprint planning.

Save and verify changes

Click Save at the bottom of the configuration panel. Navigate back to your board view to see the updated swimlane configuration. Verify that issues are grouped correctly according to your settings and that all expected swimlanes are visible.

If changes don't appear immediately, refresh your browser or wait a few moments for Jira to update the board cache.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Swimlanes are not showing any issues

Check your JQL queries for syntax errors and verify that the query returns results in the Issue Navigator. Ensure your project filter includes the issues you want to display.

Cannot access board configuration

Verify you have Board Administrator or Project Administrator permissions. Contact your Jira administrator to grant the necessary permissions if needed.

Custom swimlanes showing duplicate issues

Review your JQL queries to ensure they don't overlap. Issues matching multiple queries will appear in multiple swimlanes. Make your queries more specific using AND and NOT operators.

Swimlane changes not reflecting on the board

Clear your browser cache and refresh the page. If the issue persists, try logging out and back into Jira, or check if there are any ongoing Jira system issues affecting board updates.

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