Adding fields to work item layout with shared screen

Christian Lipski

When editing a work item layout, if I choose a field from the Fields sidebar and add it to the layout, that field is added to the screen associated with the layout.

But if that screen is used by multiple spaces, and I do not have admin permission in the other space, is that field added to the shared screen?

I assume I would not be able to add the field to the layout, since that would add the field to the screen, and I don't have the permission to edit a screen shared by a space I am not the admin of.

I can't find a definitive answer in the documentation for this.

Christian Lipski

The answer is "no". 

In Jira Cloud, your ability to edit a work item layout depends on whether the underlying screen is shared with other projects.

Shared Screen Permissions

If a screen is shared across multiple projects, you cannot modify the layout unless you have the Administer Jira global permission. This restriction exists to prevent changes in one project from unexpectedly affecting other projects that use the same screen configuration.

Manage Work Item Layouts Permission

The Manage work item layouts permission allows project administrators to change which fields appear in their project's layout. However, this permission is only effective if the screens used in that layout are not shared with any other projects.

Key Constraints

• Shared Configurations: When a screen is shared, only a Jira administrator can add, remove, or reorder fields.
• Field Addition: If you attempt to add a field to a layout that uses a shared screen and you do not have site-level administrator rights, the system will typically prevent the action to protect the integrity of the other projects.
• Project Admin Limits: Project admins can generally only configure the layout for their specific project, and these settings do not automatically share across projects unless they share the same underlying screen scheme.

If you need to add a field to a shared screen but lack the necessary permissions, you must contact a Jira administrator to either make the change globally or provide your project with a unique, non-shared screen.