Keeping both your code and your tasks in check? Then you’ll adore this: linking Jira and GitHub can completely automate your workflow. With it installed, you can monitor changes to the code directly from your Jira issues — no more tab-switching or wondering what’s been accomplished. Let’s go over exactly how to install it.
✅ What You’ll Need First
Before you start, ensure you have:
A GitHub account that has access to your repositories → Sign up if you don’t have one
A Jira Software account → Begin here
Admin privileges on both sites
⚙️ Step 1: Install the GitHub for Jira Integration
- 1. Go to the GitHub for Jira integration page
- 2. Select the Jira workspace that you’d like to connect
- 3. Click on Get it now or Add to Jira
- 4. Approve the permissions it asks for — this allows the integration to work properly
⚙️ Step 2: Give GitHub Permission
After redirecting:
- Choose which GitHub organization or repos to connect
- Authorize access — this just allows Jira to see activity from your codebase
Once done, you’ll be able to see the list of repositories connected in Jira.
⚙️ Step 3: Link Jira Issues to GitHub Commits & PRs
This is where the magic happens!
When you commit code or open a pull request, just put your Jira issue key (e.g., PROJ-101) in the message like this:
git commit -m "PROJ-101: Fix login bug"Or in the title of your PR:
PROJ-101: Add login validation
Jira will then automatically associate the commit or PR with the associated issue, and you can see updates in the Development panel on the issue itself.
⚙️ Step 4: Set Up Automation (Optional, But Awesome)
Want to bring it to the next level? You can automatically perform actions within Jira using GitHub activity as a trigger. Some suggestions:
- Transition an issue to In Progress when someone pushes a new branch
- Transition to Done when a PR is merged
- To enable this, go to Project Settings > Automation within Jira and create custom rules based on GitHub events.
???? Final Thoughts
Connecting Jira with GitHub closes the gap between coding and planning — and really, it’s one of the simplest ways to reduce context-switching. You’ll save time, be better organized, and your entire team will appreciate it.
Having trouble getting it set up or configuring things further? Comment or get in touch — more than happy to assist!