How can I convert a task into a subtask?

[Atle Haugan]

Is it possible to convert a task to a subtask (child issue) under another task/story? I have a list of tasks, but want to group them into tasks and stories instead. I cannot find a way to do this. Is it possible without completely rewriting the tasks?

[Danny · Accepted solution]

Hello @Atle Haugan

You can use the Move function accessible in the top right corner of the issue screen. You will need to select a Parent issue to connect your Sub-task to during this conversion process.

Hope this helps,

Danny

[Atle Haugan]

Thank you for your answer. Can I also move several tasks in one go? Like select multiple issues and move them all to the same parent? The move operation involves many clicks and moving several tasks is a bit cumbersome.

[Danny]

Hi @Atle Haugan

Yes, you can. It is a bulk move operation. Follow the advice in a similar answer here: https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Jira-Core-questions/How-can-I-bulk-move-issues-in-Jira-Cloud-with-next-gen-projects/qaq-p/1177926 

Hope this helps,

Danny

[Atle Haugan]

Thank you. The link was not properly formatted, but I found the article anyway. As I understand, the feature enables me to bulk move the complete result of a issue search, i.e. I have to create a search filter/query that matches the list of issues I want to move. Or can I pick them one by one?

[Danny]

Once you get a filter that is close you can then check box some issues or select all issues to have the bulk action applied. 

[Kennedy Nyagah]

Correct link to @Danny above https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Jira-Core-questions/How-can-I-bulk-move-issues-in-Jira-Cloud-with-next-gen-projects/qaq-p/1177926

[Eli Szus]

I am very happy that this is possible.

But are you serious? If I made the unforgivable mistake of wanting to switch a task to have a parent task, I need to use a migration tool to make it into a child?!

I hope we're clear that this is ridiculous.

[Robert Prickett]

Agree - this is terrible UX.

All they need to do is allow for 'Change Parent' feature to include selection of Tasks, not just Epics. If Task is selected as new parent, then convert the child task to a subtask.

[Caroline Moyer]

Agreed, this is completely absurd. I have a batch of tasks I want to make subtasks under another task. For each task, it takes me about 5 clicks, including finding the right parent task from a list of poorly numbered tasks, from the roadmap view, and then I can't see the subtasks on the roadmap, so I have to go to the advanced roadmap to see if it was done correctly, and I have to do this for EACH task > subtask conversion. Really?? If there is a better way please let me know.

[Jesus Octavio Gutierrez Villegas]

Have you found a solution to this?

[William Chi]

This is outright terrible UX.

[Bill Miller]

I'm using Jira Cloud.  Not sure when this changed from "Move", but now we have "Convert to Sub-task".

[Veronica Cox]

This worked best for me, thank you!

[Pablo Botas]

For those coming to this issue more recently, there is a specific menu option next to Move that allows you to Convert to Subtask. You should use this approach