How to delete an issue from JIRA

[Frans Leijdekkers]

I want to delete an issue from JIRA (so, not hide it). I have site administrator role, another user has administrator role, but we both can not delete an issue. The command "Delete" is available, but when we click on the issue, but after clicking we get a message we don't have the rights to do it.

[Jack Brickey · Accepted solution]

First - bad idea to delete but that is just an experienced opinion. :-)

Second - it is odd that you cannot delete if you are indeed a jira admin. go to the project > project settings > permissions and look at the Delete permission to ensure the permissions include your role.

[Aaron Held]

In my cloud account you have to be assigned directly to the project.  This was the only fix that worked (in addition to delete permissions mentioned above)
https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Jira-questions/Re-How-to-delete-an-issue-from-JIRA/qaq-p/1870976/comment-id/509670#M509670

[Rob]

Is it always a bad idea?  My experience is that computers are binary but humans usually are not. :-)

[Jack Brickey]

No it is not always. Scenarios where I have done so:

• To demonstrate the process for a client
• Remove test issues as requested by client

[Rob]

Yes, that matches my understanding.  I happened across this post because I'm setting up a new project and testing new ways to manage it.  I didn't want those test cases clogging up the actual work.  Its true that they can be closed and essentially "disappear" for most purposes, but I was concerned that those "fake" cases might skew stats when the project is in operation.  It was easier to delete than to research the the other implications.  Thanks for your reply.

[Jeremy Hill]

Jack's process above worked for me. However, the admin permission was selected (I am an admin) but it would not allow me to delete the task.

To correct the issue for me, I updated the permissions in the "Delete Issues" field and added my user (single user) to have permissions. That solved the issue. 

[Octavian Popescu]

None of the answers above is answering the actual question. So does Jira allow deleting of issues or not?

[Jack Brickey]

@Octavian Popescu , absolutely you can delete an issue if you have the permissions it’s a simple process.

[Henrik Edström]

Still no answer. "How to delete an issue from JIRA?"

[Jack Brickey]

@Henrik Edström , See if this helps…

TMP

CMP

basically, if you have the necessary permissions then in the detailed issue view click on ellipses in upper right and select Delete.

[Henrik Edström]

Thanks! That makes it very clear that I was looking in the right place but without the needed permissions.

[Robert Randolph]

I have all the permissions, this is still not an option for me. I am somewhat embarrassed to say that I have take 45 minutes of my day to try to figure out what should be an easily accessible basic functionality. 
Still can't do it. 
Ugh. 

[Martin Hibdon]

I'm not embarrassed to say it. I'm having the same experience. I an an administrator, and according to my project, administrators have delete permission.
I'm sure there's some setting somewhere that I need to change, but I don't feel like I'm stupid for not being able to find it.

[Jack Brickey]

Please feel free to share more details. What type of project are you using? share a screenshot showing where you believe you have delete permission issues. Are you just simply not seeing the option to delete?

[jira_test]

I had the same issue - checked the permission scheme and could see that Administrators role had delete permissions, checked the people page and confirmed that I was assigned Admin role via a group I was a member in. But still couldn't see the Delete in the list.

However, when I added myself to the Administrator role directly, I was able to see the delete option. Maybe this is the issue you are having?

[Carlo Babini]

Hi, 

Go On project Settings--> People, and check that you have your name and role there. If not add it, this worked for me

Good luck

[Armando Gonzalez]

This was the solution to the issue, even though your global user across many products has the jira-adminstrator and administrator role, it will not let you delete until you do what Carlo suggested. Thanks Carlo !

[Jonne Harja]

I had the same problem! Thanks Carlo! Really obscure UX again... You have a talent for these things I have to say!

[Katharina Frohs]

@Carlo Babini: Thank you, that was very helpful!!!

[michael_glenn_williams]

We are on the free Jira version. Even though Im an administrator and site admin, I cannot add myself to the People list. It tells me I have to go to to site admin, which is a circular rats maze with no cheese and no way out.

By the way permissions and roles are two very different things, Atlassian should understand that.

[Jack Brickey]

@michael_glenn_williams , in the free plan all users or site Admins by default.

[michael_glenn_williams]

Thanks Jack! I don't have the Delete item on the menu.

[Jack Brickey]

@michael_glenn_williams , hopefully the rest of this thread helps isolate the cause. However, it may be that your issue falls into the scenario discussed in this post. Angelica explains the issue and the solution - How-do-you-delete-issues-on-Jira-Free-plan 

[mshaikh]

Settings > Projects > Project Settings > People > Add People (This is the part where you add yourself and declare you are an admin) 

Once done. You will be able to select issues on the existing board and delete them 

[Md Mahmudur Rahman]

this is the correct answer. 

[John Matt]

Does not work for free accounts, I have one user, me and am the org admin.  I should by default have delete perms.  Stupid that I have to jump through hoops and still the delete option is not there.

[Bruno Marcandella]

Go On project Settings--> People, and check that you have your name and role there. If not add it, this worked for me

That's the right answer in my case

Thanks a lot for this (at last) pragmatical answer.

[Sławomir Lech]

In my Jira I don't have a delete option, but I do have a "move" option. You can try to create a new project like "Trash" and try to move the task you want to delete to another project (Trash)

[John Matt]

Not an answer here but this does not work for free accounts.  Delete is not an option even if you are the only user and are org admin.  Its says I should have access to all administrative tasks.  But alas delete is not an option.  

See, no delete option

[Henry Dean]

bit late to the party but the only situation I can see deleting a ticket to be valid is if its been created mistakenly and has no content on. 

This is something that has just happened to me and I'm relatively new to the platform, I have added myself onto the project's people list as a PM but I am still unable to see the delete option as shown in the screenshot.

Could someone advise me on the best way to get rid of this irrelevant ticket that has zero info on for our devs? Be much appreciated!

[Jack Brickey]

You will need to have a Jira admin give you delete permissions.

[Joe Pitt]

likde @Jack Brickey said: Do not delete issues. When you delete it is GONE. Hardly a week goes by without someone wanting to restore an issue. Deleting issues will come back and bite you when it is the most inconvenient. I suggest closing with a resolution value of Deleted anything you want to delete. I implement a special transition only the project lead can execute and it requires filling in a reason field from a select list (such as entered in error, OBE, Duplicate, Other) and explanation text.

Deleting issues destroys historical data. Missing issue numbers will eventually cause a question about what it was and why was it deleted even if it was done properly. Missing data always brings in the question of people hiding something that may have looked bad.

The only viable way to restore an issue is to create a new instance of JIRA and restore a backup that has the issues. Then export them to a csv file and import them to your production instance. You will lose the history.

[Martin Hibdon]

Oops, well it turns out I actually was the stupid one. I didn't actually have admin permission, everyone else on my team did.

A little odd since I created the project, workflow and kanban board, all without being an admin. But still, that was the problem.