How to set a reminder on a Jira issue
Pick the method by who needs the reminder and when. Use a reminder app for a follow-up on one issue at a time you choose. Use Jira automation for the same rule across many issues, a filter subscription for a regular list, and the due date digest for deadlines.
Atlassian’s public request for reminders on issues at a specific date and time, JSDCLOUD-12377, was still under review on 14 September 2026. This page is written by the developer of Follow-up Steward, a reminder app for Jira.
Compare the methods
| Method | Best for | Who is notified | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reminder app | A follow-up on one issue at a date and time you choose | You, chosen colleagues or the assignee, depending on the app | An administrator installs the app once |
| Scheduled automation rule | The same reminder rule across many issues | The people or fields the rule emails | A rule with a schedule, JQL and an email action |
| Filter subscription | A regular email list of matching issues | You, or a group you belong to | A saved filter and a schedule |
| Due or overdue digest | Deadlines on assigned issues | Assignees of issues due today or overdue | Built in; each person can turn it off |
Set a reminder with an app
A reminder app adds a panel to the issue where you choose recipients, a date and a note. Apps differ in recipients, repeat options, channels and price; see Jira reminder apps compared. In Follow-up Steward:
- Open the issue, choose Apps under the issue title and select Follow-up reminders.
- Select Add reminder.
- Choose Me, named colleagues or Current assignee.
- Pick a date and time at least five minutes ahead and check the time zone.
- Optionally select Repeat and add a note, then select Save.
Jira sends the email when the reminder is due, and the issue’s Due Date stays unchanged. The user guide explains schedules, personal snooze and email statuses.
Create a scheduled automation rule
Jira automation suits a reminder that applies to many issues in the same way. A project or site administrator usually sets it up.
- Create an automation rule with the Scheduled trigger and choose how often it runs.
- Add JQL that finds the issues, for example
status = "Waiting for customer" AND updated <= -3d. - Add a Send email action addressed to the assignee or another person field.
- Turn on the rule and check its audit log after the first run.
Reminders go out when the rule runs, for every issue the JQL finds. Rules use your site’s automation allowance. Atlassian publishes an example rule that reminds assignees to log work, updated 25 September 2025, and explains how automation usage is calculated.
Subscribe to a filter
A filter subscription emails the issues that match a saved filter on a schedule. It suits a regular review rather than one follow-up.
- Search with JQL, for example
assignee = currentUser() AND duedate <= endOfWeek() AND statusCategory != Done, and save the filter. - Run the filter, select Details next to its name and create a new subscription.
- Choose the recipient and schedule, then select Subscribe.
You can subscribe yourself or a group you belong to; group subscriptions need the Manage Group Filter Subscriptions global permission. Each email includes up to the first 200 results. Source: Atlassian, filter subscriptions, checked 14 September 2026.
Check the due or overdue digest
Jira Cloud sends a daily digest to the assignees of work items that are due today or overdue, at around 8–9 am local time, by email and in the notification drawer. Each person can turn it off under Personal settings › Digests.
If the reminder you need is the issue’s deadline, the digest may be enough. It does not notify other people or remind anyone on a separate follow-up date. Source: JRACLOUD-91990, checked 14 September 2026.
Before you rely on an email reminder
- Outgoing email must be turned on for the Jira site. Jira sends no notification email while it is off.
- In Follow-up Steward, the reminder owner and each recipient need access to the issue when the reminder is due.
- Jira accepting an email does not confirm that it reached an inbox or was read.
Comparing apps? See reminder apps for Jira Cloud or Follow-up Steward pricing.