Adding values to Category field in Business projects

[Trudy Claspill]

Previously I was able to add new values to the Category field in Business projects (both team-managed and company-managed) by going to the List view, typing the value into the field of an existing issue, and selecting the value from the drop down where it was shown with the suffix "(new category)". I described this process in an answer I posted in Nov. 2025.

https://community.atlassian.com/forums/Jira-questions/Jira-Business-Unable-to-edit-quot-Category-quot-field-options-as/qaq-p/3075062

Today I tried to do that again, and it no longer works.

I've tried in both a TM and a CM project.

I read in another post that one must be an Administrator for the project. I am on a Free subscription so I am the Org admin, App admin, have the Jira User role, and I have not customized the permissions or users for the project while using a trial of Standard. Here the Permission Scheme for the above project shows that Any Logged In User has Administer Projects permission.

I don't see anything in the weekly release notes blog on this topic.

https://confluence.atlassian.com/cloud/blog/2026/01/atlassian-cloud-changes-jan-19-to-jan-26-2026

Are other folks still able to add Category values in your Business projects?

[Bill Sheboy · Accepted solution]

Hi, @Trudy Claspill 

I observe the same thing, and...

It appears the UX for business / work management projects have changed to use the Jira Product Discovery (JPD) metaphor for field edits:

• on the column heading for Category, select the ... at the right side
• select Edit Field
• add / update your options

Kind regards,
Bill

[Trudy Claspill]

Ah, yes! Now that you say that I remember reading that somewhere. I think I even provided that same answer to somebody. Silly me!

[Arkadiusz Wroblewski]

@Trudy Claspill 

People which providing help to other sometimes need help too.

Who never asked for help should throw a stone.

So..... Nobody can throw 😅

[Lacy Saute · Accepted solution]

Hi @Trudy Claspill , I noticed this recently too! To add a new option for Category, from the List view, I had to click ... (More options for Category) > Edit field. Then was able to add a new option.

(Edit to add: Company-managed business project)

[Laura Campbell]

Just tested in a TM Business project and I can create new Category.

But while I'm here, I'll also complain that this field is such a weird outlier in custom field management. It's like they created it as a trick question X-D