How can I set up a field to enable adding a second "Assignee" to an issue?

[Ann Ortega]

My team requires to have two assignees. I dont seem to find the way to set up the field under the issue layout. 

Thanks

[Jack Brickey · Accepted solution]

Hi Ann, welcome to the Community.

by default there is only a single Assignee field. If you wish you can create a custom field of type user picker. I have done this on one project adding “Alternate Assignee”. Once you have this created then you can turn to the issue layout to add to the screen as desired.

[Ann Ortega]

Thanks Jack! Very helpful! Trying to find the administrator to set it up... 

[John Funk · Accepted solution]

Hi Ann - Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

Create a new custom field of the User Picker (multiple users) type. Then you can place multiple users in that field. 

However, you cannot have the issue actually assigned to more than one person in the Assignee field. That's not going to change anytime soon, if ever, so you will need to make alternative plans as in the new custom field. 

[G subramanyam · Accepted solution]

Hi @Ann Ortega welcome to the Atlassian community. Please be informed adding a secondary assignee will not give a clear cut details as to who is working, progressing, efforts spent. Instead, to address this requirement, Jira have provided "watch", "tag"(mention) the person option in all Jira issue types to be notifying the end user in the project or management.

Stay safe and stay healthy.

[Ann Ortega]

Thank you! I think this is the easier way! Thank you so much! 

[Fabian Lim · Accepted solution]

Hi @Ann Ortega

You will have to create a new user picker customfield and then add it to the issues screen.

Link: https://support.atlassian.com/jira-cloud-administration/docs/create-a-custom-field/

Regards 

[IanJones]

Clone the existing issue then assign it to the other assignee. Adjust the summary title / description being clear what the task is about. You'll then get all the goodness from individual progress and efforts spent. 

[Jack Brickey]

Alternative…

Create a single task and then add subtasks assigning the subtasks to each specific assignee.

[Ann Ortega]

Hi everyone, 

After reading all your answers and a little bit of research, I will say that the easiest way is to add another person as a watcher and you can add as many watchers as required (Benefit: any watcher gets updated on the issues)

Secondly, the option of creating a new user using "custom field" option, and then add it to the issues screen. Important to mention that only administrators will be able to do this. 
 https://support.atlassian.com/jira-cloud-administration/docs/create-a-custom-field/

Regards, 

[Anush Chatikyan]

@Ann Ortega , hey can  you tell me please as per your expectance as if use "custom field" option, how we can get notification after assigning to that collaborator custom field 

[Jack Brickey]

You should use Automation to ensure they are notified. Here is what I would do...

Trigger: field value changed for '2nd assignee'

Condition: any conditions that meet your needs (or none if not needed)

Action: add '2nd assignee' to watcher list (this ensures they get notified going forward

Action: email '2nd assignee' informing them they are assigned to the issue

[Danno]

@Ann Ortegabe advised that adding a second user picker field to an issue doesn't automatically notify the other people you choose. You would have to add them to the watcher list manually or use automation rules to do that so they get notified.

I use this as a custom field that we call Internal Support to add a person of note, say the responsible engineer so that the assignee knows who to go to for information.