Unable to bulk update work items

[Joshua Stokes]

Hello everyone,

I have recently been able to bulk upload into Jira via - Settings Cog > System > External System Import > Switch to the old experience > CSV

This has been working for months, no issues at all and always end up with a outcome like the below line in the 'detailed log'

2026-08-07 00:06:04,995 INFO - 416 work items successfully updated

I have tried to do the same task today, using the same method and I am getting stuck with the below messages - 

2026-09-07 05:08:38,549 WARN - 270 of 316 work items have been skipped because they already exist in destination projects.
2026-09-07 05:08:38,557 INFO - 0 out of 316 work items successfully created
2026-09-07 05:08:38,558 INFO - 46 out of 316 work items successfully updated

 The comment 'they already exist in destination projects' is odd, as the previous uploads have already existed as well.

I also noticed the below line, which I personally have not noticed in previous uploads, but none have ever failed - 

2026-09-07 05:08:11,128 INFO - Only new items will be imported

I have tried this upload 3 times, and triple checked the .csv and the method I am using, and I can confirm nothing on my end has changed.

New .csv file - 

Previous .csv file - 

Noting that both the .csv files had 2 different project keys within.

Has anything changed with the bulk uploads with Jira/Atlassian?

Appreciate the help and support on this one.

[Carlos Garcia Navarro]

Hi @Joshua Stokes ,

This article may be helpful:

https://support.atlassian.com/jira/kb/csv-import-error-issues-have-been-skipped-because-they-already-exist-in-destination-projects/