How to write JQL that checks if a linked issue (e.g. "blocks") is in a specific status?

[Duong Nguyen Hong]

Hi Jira Community,

I'm trying to build a JQL filter that helps my team identify issues that are blocked by another issue still in progress.

Specifically, I want to find all issues where:

The issue has a "is blocked by" or "blocks" link to another issue
AND that linked issue is currently in a specific status (e.g. "In Progress" or "In Review")

Ideally something like:

linkedIssue("blocks").status = "In Progress"

Is this a known limitation of Jira Cloud JQL? And if so, what's the recommended workaround for teams that need this kind of visibility?

Any help appreciated!

[Trudy Claspill]

Hello @Duong Nguyen Hong 

Native JQL does not include support for filtering issues based on applying criteria to the issues linked to them. You would need a third party app for that, or to develop a custom solution using the REST API.

Are you willing to consider a third party app?

[Bartek Szajkowski _ Orbiscend OU]

Hello @Duong Nguyen Hong 

Thanks for your question — and yes, this is a known limitation of native Jira Cloud JQL.

If you are open for third-party app, I would like to recommend to check JQL Argon app from Marketplace.

Native Jira JQL doesn't support filtering by linked issue status, but JQL Argon app solves this exactly.

JQL Argon (Powerful Search)  is a Jira Cloud app that indexes issue relationships in real time and exposes them as JQL keywords and functions. It solves this problem directly.

Option 1 — linkedByStatus keyword (fast, indexed)

-    linkedByStatus = "In Progress"

-    issue in linkedByQuery("status in ('In Progress', 'In Review')")

Option 2 — linkedByQuery function (more control)

-    issue in linkedByQuery("status in ('In Progress', 'In Review')")

Combined with your own project filter:

-    project = MYPROJECT AND issue in linkedByQuery("status in ('In Progress', 'In Review')")

-    project = MYPROJECT AND issue in linkedByQuery("status in ('In Progress', 'In Review')") AND status != Done

This gives you all open issues in MYPROJECT that are linked to by something still active — essentially your blocked-by-in-progress board view.

I hope my answer will help you and give some option to solve your request.

Greetings

Bartek from Orbiscend OU (JQL Argon app provider)