Why Integration Matters
Integrating Jira with Confluence helps teams bridge the gap between project tracking and documentation. By linking these two powerful Atlassian tools, teams create a unified workspace where information flows freely—connecting planning, execution, and reporting.
The result is streamlined documentation, real-time visibility into progress, and significantly reduced context switching.
Whether you’re preparing for a release, resolving bugs, or conducting a retrospective, in this article I’ll walk you through using Jira and Confluence together to keep everyone aligned and informed.
Key Insights on How to Connect Jira to Confluence
- Integrating Jira with Confluence connects issue tracking with documentation, enabling a unified workspace. Teams benefit from real-time visibility, streamlined documentation, and reduced context switching.
- Users can embed Jira issues and dynamic filters directly into Confluence pages using JQL and macros, create issues from Confluence via multiple intuitive methods, and visualize issue data with built-in chart macros.
- Jira automation rules and third-party apps like AutoPage allow teams to generate Confluence pages automatically based on issue triggers, ensuring timely and consistent documentation.
- Tools like Viable Issues and AutoPage can enhance structure, consistency, and automation across documentation.
What to Do Before You Start Your Jira and Confluence Integration
Before setting up the integration, ensure you have the right permissions. To create application links between Jira and Confluence, system administrator global permissions are required in both tools.
Also, confirm that your Jira and Confluence instances are compatible and accessible to each other over your network or cloud environment. This step is crucial for enabling the full range of integration features.
Step-by-Step: Linking Jira and Confluence
- To begin, navigate to the admin area in Jira Software and go to Application Links.
- Enter the URL of your Confluence instance and click Create New Link.
- Follow the prompts in the Application Link wizard.
- Make sure to enable the automatic link-back from Confluence, which completes the two-way connection and allows for full integration features like page mentions, macros, and gadgets.
Displaying Jira Issues in Confluence
Before using any of these display options, ensure that your Jira and Confluence instances are properly connected via Application Links. This setup enables full integration, including smart linking, macro functionality, and bidirectional visibility between tools.
Embed a Single Jira Issue (Smart Link or Macro)
You can display a single Jira issue by simply pasting a Jira issue URL (e.g., https://yourjirasite.com/browse/PROJECT-123) into a Confluence page. It will auto-convert into a smart link, showing key issue details such as status and assignee.
Alternatively, use the Jira Issue/Filter macro:
- Select “+” → Jira Issue/Filter.
- Search for the issue key (e.g., PROJECT-123) or paste the URL.
- Choose your preferred display format (e.g., inline text, full details, or a card view).
- Customize columns and fields shown.
✅ Pro: No more “Is this ticket done?” chats.
❌ Con: Searching for a specific Issue can be tricky
Embed a List or Table of Jira Issues
Use the Jira Issue/Filter macro to display a list of issues:
- Access it via the “+” menu or by typing /jira.
- Select a saved filter or manually search for multiple issues.
- Or choose “Advanced” and enter a JQL query.
JQL Example:
This query generates a live-updating table based on dynamic conditions—ideal for reports, dashboards, or tracking personal work.
Display Options Include:
- Columns: Pick which fields to display (e.g., status, priority, assignee).
- Sorting: Sort by due date, priority, etc.
- Filters: Apply conditional logic to tailor the view.
✅ Pro: Excel-like customization. Auto-refreshes with real-time Jira data.
❌ Con: More advanced filters may require knowledge of JQL.
Display a Jira Timeline (Roadmap View)
The Jira Timeline macro lets you embed a visual project timeline:
- Type /jira timeline or use the “+” menu → Jira Timeline.
- Paste your project or board URL.
- Select display options (day, week, month, quarter).
Customize views using the filter icon (top right), where you can adjust:
- Time ranges
- Epic-level visibility
- Date markers for launch or milestone planning
✅ Pro: Great for tracking milestones and progress visually.
❌ Con: Requires access to the Jira instance; For advanced planning features like cross-project views or capacity planning, you’ll need Jira Premium or Enterprise.
Display Jira Charts
Use the Jira Chart macro to create visual representations of issue data:
- While in the Confluence editor, insert via “+” → Jira Chart.
- Choose chart type: Pie Chart, Created vs Resolved, or 2D Charts and your Jira server.
- Input a JQL query or use a saved filter.
- Configure visual settings in Display Options.
- Click Insert
Available Charts:
- Pie Chart – Segment by assignee, priority, status, etc.
- Created vs Resolved – Track issue flow over time.
- Two-Dimensional – Visualize issues in a grid (e.g., status vs assignee).
✅ Pro: Instantly communicate project health to stakeholders.
❌ Con: Customization options are limited; requires basic JQL skill.
Display a Jira Dashboard
You can embed a full Jira dashboard via smart linking:
- Copy your Jira dashboard URL.
- Paste it into Confluence → auto-converts into a rich smart link.
- Optionally use the “Insert Link” tool for labeled hyperlinks.
This lets you showcase a team’s entire status overview, sprint board, or workload in a single glance.
✅ Pro: Centralized view of metrics.
❌ Con: May load slowly; setup can be a time-consuming activity.
Create Jira Issue from Confluence via Rovo AI
You can now easily create Jira issues directly from Confluence with the help of Rovo AI!
To get started, simply highlight the relevant text in your Confluence page and click ‘Create Jira Issue.’ The ticket will automatically pre-fill with the selected snippet, whether it’s meeting notes, a description, or a summary. Optionally, you can enable AI assistance to generate a concise summary and description for the issue.
If you are working with a table in Confluence, format the header with columns labeled Summary and Description. Then, click ‘Create Jira Issues.’ Rovo AI will instantly generate Jira tickets for each row in the table, pre-filling them with the corresponding content. It’s that easy!
✅ Pro: No need for switching apps.
❌ Con: Field mappings may need tweaking. AI is still error prone, especially for creating multiple issues. And, Rovo is limited to premium plan.
Creating Jira Issues from Confluence
Integration isn’t just about bringing Jira data into Confluence, it also enables Confluence to drive work in Jira. Here’s how to create Jira issues without ever leaving your documentation workspace.
- Edit mode: While editing a Confluence page, type /jira and select “Create Jira issue” to open a dialog with access to all project fields, including custom fields, attachments, and advanced settings.
- Live mode: On any published page, highlight text and click “+ Jira issue” to create tickets with pre-filled summaries and descriptions. Teams using Confluence Premium+ or Jira Premium+ can also use Atlassian Intelligence to automatically generate content for the ticket or identify multiple actionable items for bulk creation.
- Table Conversion: Select any table on a Confluence page to create multiple Jira work items. You’ll have to decide on column mappings to populate the different Jira fields—useful for converting requirement lists, bug reports, or action item tables into tracked work items.
These native approaches work well for quick, flexible issue creation.
Automated Issue Creation via Action Items
For teams using Confluence Premium, action items can be automatically converted into Jira issues without switching tools.
Here’s how:
- In Confluence automation, create a rule with the trigger “Task created.”
- Set the destination project and issue type in Jira.
- Once activated, any new action item will result in a linked Jira issue—keeping your docs and tracking perfectly aligned.
✅ Pro: No manual entry—issues appear as you write tasks.
❌ Con: Requires admin setup and might be error-prone for bulk actions.
Create standardized Jira Issues with Viable Issues
Teams requiring consistent field population and standardized ticket routing may benefit from complementary tools like Viable Issues, which allows you to place predefined “Create Issue” buttons with preset fields (project, issue type, labels) anywhere on pages. This ensures tickets automatically route to the correct projects and starts off with the right information. It also provides easy, page-level reporting to track all issues created from a specific Confluence page.
Visualizing Jira Data with Charts
To go beyond issue tables, use the Jira Chart Macro in Confluence to add visual insights into your project’s health:
- Pie Charts categorize issues by type, priority, assignee, or status.
- Created vs Resolved Charts compare new and closed issues over time.
- Two-Dimensional Charts display grouped stats across two variables (e.g., by status and assignee).
Insert a Jira Chart by selecting Insert → Jira Chart in the editor. Choose your Jira server, input a JQL query or URL, and configure display options. This is especially helpful for stakeholders who prefer visual progress tracking over raw tables.
Automating Documentation from Jira
Manual Page Creation from Jira
Need to document directly from a Jira issue? Atlassian makes this easy:
- Inside a Jira issue, click Create Confluence Page or Whiteboard.
- A blank Confluence page opens without leaving Jira.
- Start writing meeting notes, release summaries, or feature specs—fully linked to the issue context.
✅ Pro: Keeps context intact without switching apps.
❌ Con: Manual step; not scalable for frequent documentation needs.
Jira automation can trigger Confluence page creation automatically based on project activity—saving time and reducing errors. For example, you can set up a rule that creates a Confluence page when a new task is opened, or when a specific label is added.
Here’s how:
- Go to Project Settings → Automation in Jira.
- Choose a trigger (e.g., “Issue Created”).
- Set optional conditions (e.g., issue type = “Bug”).
- As an action, choose Send Web Request to your Confluence API.
- Use smart values like {{issue.key}} or {{issue.summary}} to populate the page title or content dynamically.
This kind of automation ensures documentation is created consistently and on time—without requiring manual effort from your team.
Using AutoPage for Automated Documentation
For more advanced documentation needs, consider using AutoPage, an app that creates Confluence pages populated with real-time Jira issue data using customizable templates.
Set Up Your Template
Create a Confluence page as a template. Within this template, insert AutoPage macros to pull in Jira fields:
- Inline Macro for short, text-only fields like “Reporter”.
- Rich Text Macro for multi-line fields like “Description” or comments.
- Card Macro for a visual block of issue metadata.
Configure Sync Mode
- Live Sync: The page pulls fresh Jira data every time it loads.
- On Page Update: The page content is saved as-is when created—ideal for performance or snapshot documentation.
Create the AutoPage Rule
In Jira, go to the AutoPage settings under your project. Set up a rule by defining:
- Trigger (e.g., new issue or webhook)
- Condition (e.g., issue type = Bug)
- Action (generate page using your template)
AutoPage makes it easy to scale documentation across teams without repetitive setup.
Pro Tips for a Seamless Workflow
To get even more out of your integration, take advantage of a side-by-side view. When you display Jira issue data in Confluence with Autopage, Confluence is automatically mentioned in the Jira ticket, creating a visible reference. Similarly, use the Confluence Page Gadget in Jira to view relevant documentation right from the issue view.
Once you’re done with the configuration, Confluence pages will be created automatically from Jira.
Want to scale your documentation without scaling your manual effort? Download AutoPage on Atlassian Marketplace to automate Confluence content from Jira issues and streamline your team’s knowledge sharing.
Troubleshooting Common Issues When Integrating Confluence and Jira
If something isn’t working, here are common pitfalls to check:
- Application Link Failures: Double-check URLs and firewall/network settings if Jira and Confluence can’t communicate.
- Permission Errors: Make sure the user performing the integration has system admin privileges.
- Macro Misconfiguration: If Jira issues or charts aren’t displaying, verify that the Jira connection is active and the macro settings (JQL, filters) are correctly formatted.
Bottom Line
Integrating Jira and Confluence brings your team’s planning, execution, and documentation into one seamless ecosystem. From live issue tracking and visual reporting to automated page creation and scalable knowledge sharing, this integration reduces friction and increases productivity.
If you’re ready to unlock the full power of your Atlassian tools, reach out to our experts at Seibert to help you implement a tailored, scalable Jira-Confluence setup.