What jira actions automatically add a user to Watchers?

[Trudy Claspill]

Is there a document that lists which actions on a JIRA issue will automatically add the actor as a Watcher on the issue?

[Cody Stevens · Accepted solution]

I wasn't able to find any documentation on what automatically adds a user as a watcher but as far as I know, only commenting will automatically add a user as a watcher. I tested the following and non of them added the user who tested as a watcher.

• Transitioning the issue
• Editing the issue
• Linking the issue
• Assigning the issue (to someone else and themselves)

[Tuncay Senturk]

Hi @Trudy Claspill 

For every new issue a user creates or works on, they are automatically added to the watcher's list.

Here is the article that describes why and how to disable this property.

https://confluence.atlassian.com/jirakb/how-to-stop-being-automatically-added-to-the-watcher-s-list-when-working-on-issues-298975297.html

[Trudy Claspill]

Hello @Tuncay Senturk 

Thank you for your reply.

We are using JIRA Cloud. The user preference setting is not available in JIRA Cloud, and the other options disables it across the board for all users, which we are not yet choosing to do.

That also does not answer my question which is what actions cause a user to be automatically added as a watcher. I know creating an issue and adding a comment does it. Are there any other actions that will automatically add the user as a watcher? 

[Tuncay Senturk]

Sorry, I missed cloud part.

Anyway, I also could not find particular documentation but, the link I mentioned above  says "a user creates or works on". So, any activity on issue might add user as a watcher.

Some are mentioned by @Cody Stevens  but there may be more e.g. work log, comment, ..