Ever trying to find that one specific task you swear you saw just a moment ago? Yeah, we've all been there. But Jira Quick Filters are here to save the day. Think of them as your magical shortcuts through the chaos, helping you narrow down exactly what you need with a couple of clicks. Let’s break it down in an easy, breezy way and throw in a few tips, because who doesn’t love a good productivity hack?
In simple terms, Jira Quick Filters are those nifty buttons at the top of your Jira board that let you customize which issues you're looking at. Want to see only your tasks? Done. Curious about what’s blocking your progress? You got it. They’re like a quick sort button for the brain, cutting through the noise to show you exactly what matters.
They work by filtering Jira issues based on JQL (Jira Query Language) behind the scenes. But don’t worry, you don’t need to become a coding ninja to use them (though learning a bit of JQL might give you some serious Jira street cred).
Let’s get hands-on — creating a Quick Filter in Jira is no rocket science. Here’s how you do it:
Hop on to your Jira Board where you want the filter to appear.
Hit the “Configure Board” option in the top-right corner (three dots). You’ll see a cool menu of settings, but we’re focusing on “Quick Filters.”
Click on “Custom Filters”. This is where the magic happens.
Give it a name (something that makes sense, like “My Tasks” or “This Week's Goals”).
Enter a JQL query to filter the issues (e.g., assignee = currentUser() for tasks assigned to you).
Save it! Boom, you now have your own Quick Filter.
And just like that, you’ve got yourself a little button of clarity.
Now that you know how to create them, let's dive into some sweet tricks to get the most out of your Quick Filters:
Filter by assignee to see only tasks assigned to you. Type assignee = currentUser() — perfect for when you want to avoid surprise tasks in your queue.
Track due dates like a pro with due <= endOfDay(). It helps you see what’s due today, and that keeps the procrastination monster at bay.
Focus on high-priority issues with priority = High. Because who wants to get sidetracked by minor issues when the fire’s burning elsewhere?
Monitor blockers with status = Blocked. Get a quick view of what’s stopping your progress so you can take action.
Group tasks by Epic with epicLink = [Epic Name]. Perfect when you want to see how your work fits into the bigger picture.
Use keywords to sift through those massive backlogs, like summary ~ "Bug". It’s like Ctrl+F for Jira.
Combine filters using AND/OR in JQL. Something like assignee = currentUser() AND status != Done keeps it neat and focused.
Keep it simple — don’t over-complicate with too many filters. Stick to the essentials, and your board will thank you.
Color-code your Quick Filters by adding emojis or icons to their names. It’s not necessary, but it adds a nice touch of personality. 👀💡
Share your filters with teammates to keep everyone on the same page. You can share the JQL, or just have everyone use the same board filters.
Now, you might be asking, “Why should I even bother with Quick Filters?” Well, imagine this: you’re a project manager juggling a dozen tasks, different teams, and constantly shifting deadlines. Quick Filters help you focus on what matters, whether it’s checking your team’s progress, spotting blockers, or reviewing high-priority tasks.
They save you from getting lost in the weeds, reduce unnecessary clicking, and keep you on track. It’s like having a superpower in Jira — minus the cape (but you can wear one if it helps).
If you’re the type of person who likes to get things organized visually, you’ll love the idea of Planyway for Jira. Planyway shines in giving you a clean, visual way to look at your Jira boards. It transforms your issues into easy-to-read views like calendars, timelines, and even roadmaps.
It’s all about taking your workflow from a bunch of lists to a visually digestible format. Want to see how tasks overlap? Or how your team is tracking against deadlines? Planyway offers that “all-in-one” experience that turns your Jira board into an efficient, visual planning tool — no extra clicks or filters needed. If you’re all about seeing the bigger picture, Planyway is the way to go!
So, that’s the scoop! Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by the task jungle, remember: Jira Quick Filters are your secret weapon. Take a few minutes to set them up, and you’ll wonder how you ever survived without them. Happy filtering! 🎉
Mary from Planyway
Customer Support Manager at Planyway
Planyway
Kazakhstan
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