No tickets showing on board or backlog

[Keith Nisbet]

I am having an issue where tickets exist but do not show in the backlog page in either backlog or sprint so I cannot build and start a new sprint. Even when I manually assign tickets to the sprint they do not show. 

Summary: Team-managed Scrum board renders zero work items in the backlog and sprint, even though the issues exist and are returned by JQL. 

Environment:
- Site: bubblingsearch.atlassian.net
- Team-managed software project, key: AVS
- Board: "AVS board"

Symptom:
- The Backlog list and the future sprint "AVS Sprint 9" both display 0 work items.
- The Start sprint button is greyed out because no items render in the sprint.
- This began immediately after I released a version on 30th June.

Evidence the issues exist and should be visible:
- `project = AVS AND status = "To Do"` returns multiple stories/bugs — none render on the backlog.
- `project = AVS AND status = "To Do" AND fixVersion is EMPTY` returns the same tickets (so fix version is not the cause).
- `project = AVS AND Sprint = "AVS Sprint 9"` returns 7 work items, yet the sprint shows 0.
- I created a brand-new work item directly in the Backlog (key: [AVS-XXX]). It saved successfully and is fully accessible via its direct URL, but it does NOT appear in the backlog view.

Configuration already verified as correct (so this is not a setup issue):
- No version filter, quick filter, or any other filter is applied on the backlog.
- Column/status mapping is correct: To Do and In Progress are mapped to columns well to the left of the rightmost column; the Done (rightmost) column has a status mapped to it; there are no unmapped statuses.
- The board belongs to project AVS.

[Viswanathan Ramachandran]

hi @Keith Nisbet 

If the issues exist but don’t appear in the backlog or active sprint, even after you’ve assigned them to the sprint, it’s almost always caused by board configuration, filters, permissions, issue fields, or hierarchy settings rather than the sprint itself.

Are you certain the filter query is correct?

A systematic troubleshooting approach:

1. Confirm the issues appear in Issue Search.
2. Run the board’s JQL filter in Issue Search and verify the issues are returned.
3. Disable all Quick Filters, Epic, Version, and Component filters.
4. Check Board settings → Columns to ensure all workflow statuses are mapped.
5. Verify the sprint belongs to the same board.
6. Check the issue’s History to see whether Sprint or Rank values are being changed automatically.
7. Test by creating a brand-new Story directly from the board. If it appears but existing issues do not, the problem is likely with the board filter or issue fields. If even the new Story doesn’t appear, focus on board configuration and permissions.

If you have already fixed, happy to hear the solution. 

Regards

Viswa

[Keith Nisbet]

I have been through most of what you suggest here. I did just open a ticket that is in the sprint and then clicked on the sprint to open it. This actually showed me the sprint with tickets in it and now when i go back to backlog i see the sprint contents but still don't see any tickets in backlog. 

[Marc -Devoteam-]

Hi @Keith Nisbet 

Welcome to the community.

Is there a filter active on the board on the TM (team managed) space?

[Keith Nisbet]

I have added some screenshots here - there are no filters on the backlog page active-

[Marc -Devoteam-]

Hi @Keith Nisbet 

How is the board config, are statuses mapped to the columns, can you show the config of the board

[Keith Nisbet]

I think it is all correct ? Certainly it has always worked up until now 

[Keith Nisbet]

[Keith Nisbet]

I did just open a ticket that is in the sprint and then clicked on the sprint to open it. This actually showed me the sprint with tickets in it and now when i go back to backlog i see the sprint contents but still don't see any tickets in backlog. I guess I can at least now add tickets to sprint from the list view rather than the backlog view so at least we can continue