Project key showing as in use — no active, archived, or trashed project holds it

[Shane Garvey]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to rename our project key on our Jira cloud instance (free plan), but I'm getting the error: "Project 'Test' uses this project key."

I've done the following to investigate:

• Checked all active projects in Manage Spaces — none use the target key
• Checked Trash — several projects present, none with the target key
• Checked Archive — empty
• Ran a JQL query against the target key — returned the error "The value does not exist for the field 'project'", confirming no live project holds it

It appears the key is being held at system level, likely from a project that has already been permanently deleted.

We need this specific key as we have automations with char limits that will be impacted by a longer key.

Has anyone experienced this and found a resolution? Is there any way to release a reserved project key on a free plan without raising a support ticket?

Thanks

[Trudy Claspill · Accepted solution]

Hello @Shane Garvey 

This could be the case if a project's key was changed from the "in use" key to a different key. Atlassian records that in the database so that any links that use the original key will automatically redirect to use the new project key. You would not see that key change recorded in any UI screens.

This key change activity would normally be recorded in the Jira Audit Log, but viewing the Audit Log is a feature that is not available in the Free Jira subscription.

You could test the theory by trying to access an issue with the old key, manually constructing the URL, to see if it redirects you to a current project. i.e.

<yourBaseUrl>/browse/{inUseProjectKey}-10

To remove a key that is being retained for this purpose, refer to:

https://support.atlassian.com/jira-software-cloud/docs/edit-a-projects-details/#Delete-a-previous-space-key

[Trudy Claspill]

@Shane Garvey 

Hi Shalini,

Thanks for getting back to me. I appear not to have access/visibility of the field - is this another limitation of the free plan?

The field shows only if the key for the space has been changed, and the former key is being retained. You will have to check all the Spaces in your Jira instance to see if any of then show the field containing the key you want to reuse.

[Shalini Pradhan · Accepted solution]

Hello @Shane Garvey ,

Good day! Welcome to Atlassian Community :)

As @Trudy Claspill rightly mentioned, to release your old keys, you can refer to the steps

1. Next to your space’s name in the sidebar, select More actions (•••), then Space settings.

2. Select Details.

3. In the Previous space keys field, delete the relevant space key.
   

4. Select Save.

[Shane Garvey]

Hi Shalini,

Thanks for getting back to me. I appear not to have access/visibility of the field - is this another limitation of the free plan?

 

[John Funk]

Hi Shane,

Stuff like that can happen, though it is rare. Might be elated to being on a Free subscription. 

Let me see if someone from Atlassian can take a look. 

[Shane Garvey]

Hi all,

Thank you for your responses.

To update @Trudy Claspill , @Shalini Pradhan ; we were able to find the space this related to. It was within an old space that was deleted. The confusion came from the fact that this space in the Trash did not have the desired key, and so at a glance we didn't suspect it.

However, for that space in Trash, that did in fact have Previous space key field. Lo and behold, the Previous space key for that space was the desired key!

Many thanks for all your help,

Shane