Step-by-Step Guide to Cloning a Project in Jira for Enhanced Project Management

About the Author: This article was created to you by the Planyway team. At Planyway, we enhance your experience with Jira through easy-to-use roadmaps, workload capabilities, calendar, time tracking and reporting — all in one tool. We'd be delighted if you try Planyway and discover how it can transform your project management journey.


Cloning a project in Jira can be particularly useful for replicating project settings, workflows, and structures without starting from scratch. This process can save time and ensure consistency across projects. In this article, we'll guide you through the steps to clone a project in Jira, highlighting tips and best practices along the way.

Cloning projects with built-in CSV export (Jira Cloud only)

  • Create a new Project with the shared settings and choose the project from which you want to clone. It will allow you to copy all the configurations. Then,  you can export all the issues from the original project and import it to the new one. Learn more details here.

Use a Project Cloning Add-On

The Atlassian Marketplace offers several add-ons that enable project cloning. These add-ons, such as "Project Configurator" , "Elements" or "Deep Clone for Jira," can simplify the cloning process.

Project Configurator

Project Configurator is designed for comprehensive project and configuration cloning within Jira. It's particularly useful for migrating configurations from one instance to another or duplicating projects within the same instance. Key features include:

  • Selective Cloning: Allows you to choose which configurations to clone, including workflows, screens, custom fields, and more. This ensures that only the necessary elements are replicated, keeping the new project lean.
  • Validation Mechanisms: Before committing any changes, Project Configurator performs validations to identify potential issues, such as missing custom fields or workflow errors. This helps ensure a smooth transition to the new project.
  • Automation and Scripting: For teams with complex needs, Project Configurator supports automation and scripting to streamline cloning operations across multiple projects or instances.

Elements Copy & Sync

Elements Copy & Sync offers a flexible approach to duplicating issues and configurations across projects. It's particularly well-suited for teams that need to replicate specific issues or workflows regularly. Features include:

  • Issue Cloning and Synchronization: Beyond project configurations, Elements allows for the cloning and syncing of issues between projects. This is ideal for maintaining consistency across projects or teams.
  • Customizable Templates: Users can create templates for issues that include predefined fields, attachments, and links. These templates can be reused, making it easy to set up new projects or tasks that follow a standard format.
  • Advanced Mapping Capabilities: When cloning issues or projects, Elements provides advanced mapping options for fields, statuses, and more, ensuring that the cloned items fit seamlessly into the new project's context.

Deep Clone for Jira

Deep Clone for Jira focuses on simplifying the cloning process for both issues and projects. It's a versatile tool for teams that require deep customization and flexibility. Highlights include:

  • Bulk Cloning: Deep Clone excels in cloning multiple issues at once, saving time for project managers and team members alike. This feature is invaluable for large-scale projects or when setting up a new project with similar tasks.
  • Custom Field Cloning: It supports cloning of all standard and custom fields, attachments, comments, and even issue links. This ensures a comprehensive replication of issues, maintaining all relevant information in the new project.
  • Post-Cloning Automation: After cloning, Deep Clone allows for the automatic application of specific actions, such as changing statuses or assigning users. This reduces manual post-cloning adjustments and helps teams get up to speed quickly.

8 comments

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Kelsey LaMastres _Appfire_
Atlassian Partner
February 20, 2024

Thanks for the nod to Appfire's app, Project Configurator, Maria! That app is great for moving configurations and projects between Jira server/data center instances. We have a similar app that's also available on Cloud (Project Configurator is only available on prem), called Configuration Manager for Jira (CMJ). I highly recommend CMJ for server/data center customers as well.

The other app that I would suggest for project cloning is Delegated Project Creator for Jira. With that app, Jira admins can create predefined project templates with commonly requested settings for issues, notifications, roles, components, etc. Then, the admin delegates permission to specific users and groups to create or request projects based on those templates. So it frees up valuable admin time while also offering up project standardization & custom templates!

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Clara Belin-Brosseau_Elements
Atlassian Partner
May 29, 2024

Hello @Mary from Planyway

Thank you for mentioning Elements Copy & Sync

Indeed, our app allows you to copy issues with all their content (summary, description, custom fields, comments, attachments, etc.) and their child issues. 

You can also synchronize the linked issues together very easily.

Our app is free during 30 days and stays free under 10 users.

Kind regards,

Clara

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Luka Hummel - codefortynine
Atlassian Partner
July 4, 2024
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James Atkins
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September 20, 2024

this is not a step by step guide. 

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Vinnie Chhabra
Contributor
November 10, 2024

Does Deep Clone for Jira work for Jira Datacenter on prem?      

Copying/cloning projects for us has always been a challenge.  Proj Configurator seems to work,

but is very expensive.

Is there any simple way to just copy a project in Jira Datacenter?

Thanks

VInnie

Luka Hummel - codefortynine
Atlassian Partner
November 10, 2024

Hi @Vinnie Chhabra

Unfortunately Deep Clone for Jira is for Jira Cloud only.

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Victoria Bak January 22, 2025

As James says below, "this is not a step by step guide" it is in fact an advertisement.

It's disappointing when you are looking to do something, and the answer is (and often is) buy an add-on.

Ugh!

Clara Belin-Brosseau_Elements
Atlassian Partner
February 7, 2025

Hello @Vinnie Chhabra

I can suggest trying our app Elements Copy & Sync to easily copy a project in Jira Data Center.

Don’t hesitate to try the app for yourself, it’s free for 30 days.

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