Migrating from Jira to OpenProject

Last edited on: September 30, 2026.

The OpenProject team is actively developing the Jira Migrator, an import tool for Jira Data Center. This feature is under active development. We add new features with each release. Information on this page may change as new migration options become available.

Take a look at this video introducing the Jira Migrator.

Purpose of the Jira Migrator

With the end of life for Jira Data Center, many organizations are evaluating OpenProject as a secure, open-source, and self-hosted alternative for project management and collaboration.

Warning

This feature is under active development. Please only use it in test setups. We inform you about our progress and our recommendations when you can use it in production setups.

For concise answers to common questions, see the Jira migration FAQ.

Data covered by the Jira Migrator

The Jira Migrator is currently in beta and supports the following data:

  • Projects
  • Project identifiers
  • Project versions
  • Issues
  • Issue identifiers
  • Issue descriptions, history, comments, and attachments
  • A subset of custom fields (see Custom fields migration)
  • Involved users and groups
  • Statuses
  • Types

See the field mapping reference for details.

Data not yet covered by the Migrator

Coming soon

  • Relations between issues
  • Sprint assignments

Coming later

  • Project-level workflows
  • Permissions
  • Schemas

See the field mapping reference for details.

Supported Jira versions

  • We currently only support Jira Data Center versions 10.x and 11.x.
  • Cloud instances are not supported at this time.

Import preparation

Prepare a backup

Imports change your OpenProject configuration. After the import you will have the opportunity to review the changes. While in review, you have the option to revert or approve the import. After approving the import, reverting will no longer be possible. Therefore, please make sure that you have a backup of your OpenProject instance before proceeding.

Set up the API connection

Navigate to Administration → Import. To create a new import configuration, click the + Jira configuration button.

Jira importer settings under OpenProject administration

Important

To activate the configuration, you need to activate project-based semantic identifiers on the OpenProject side first. If not yet active, you will see a warning banner.

Jira importer settings under OpenProject administration

Provide the following details:

  • A name for the import configuration
  • Your Jira URL
  • A Personal Access Token. The migration tool requires a token with admin permissions. Otherwise, you will get a 403 error during the import process.

Test configuration

Click Test configuration to verify the connection.

Define new Jira import in OpenProject administration If the connection is successful, a confirmation banner will appear.

Important

If your Jira instance is hosted on a private or internal network (e.g., a corporate intranet), the connection test may fail because OpenProject blocks outbound requests to non-public IP addresses by default. This is a security measure to prevent SSRF attacks. To allow connections to internal IP addresses, configure the OPENPROJECT_SSRF__PROTECTION__IP__ALLOWLIST environment variable. See SSRF protection for details.

Successful connection message for Jira import

Click Add configuration to proceed to the import runs overview. Initially, no import runs will be listed.

Import run

You can import different sets of data with each import run. It is possible to undo an import run while it is in review mode, but not after approving.

Empty import runs overview after creating a Jira import configuration

Click Import run to start a new import.

Check available data

In the Get base data section, click Check available data to retrieve metadata from your Jira instance.

Checking available Jira data for import

Once fetched, you will see which data can and cannot be imported. Click Continue.

Configure import

Overview of available and unavailable Jira data for import

Select scope

Next, select the projects you want to import. Click the Continue to scope selection button.

In the modal dialog that appears, choose one or more projects and confirm by clicking Continue.

Project selection modal showing available Jira projects

Click Continue to carry on with the import process or add more projects to the scope.

Project scope defined in the Jira import workflow

Data to be imported will be listed.

Start import

Click Start import to begin the import process.

Start import button in Jira import workflow

A warning dialog will appear. Confirm that you understand the limitations (e.g., incomplete feature coverage, recommendation to avoid production use, and the need for backups). Select I understand and click Start import.

Warning dialog before starting Jira import

During import, Jira wiki markup is automatically converted to OpenProject’s Markdown format. The import progress will be visible.

Import progress shown during data import from Jira to OpenProject using Jira Migrator

Tip

If a user already exists in OpenProject from a previous import, they will not be duplicated.

Review import

After the import completes, the data is available in review mode. You can:

  • Inspect imported projects and work packages
  • Validate data integrity
  • Decide whether to approve or revert the import

Example of an imported work package in review mode

Approve or revert the import

To proceed, choose one of the following actions: Approve or Revert the import. To leave the import in review mode, click Close. You can return to the import at a later point.

Approve or revert import buttons in review mode

Approve import

  • Activates newly created users
  • Makes imported data permanent
  • Disables the option to revert the import

A confirmation warning will be shown before proceeding.

Confirmation dialog for approving import

Revert import

  • Removes all data created during the current import run
  • Does not affect data from previous import runs

A confirmation warning will also be shown.

Confirmation dialog for reverting import

Note

During review mode, any newly created users remain locked until the import is approved.

Close an import in review mode

You do not need to approve or revert an import immediately after reviewing it.

Click Close to leave the import in review mode and return to it later. Closing the view does not approve, revert, or otherwise change the imported data.

The import remains listed with the In review status. You can reopen it from the import runs overview at any time and continue the review.

Note

Newly created users remain locked for as long as the import is in review mode. They are activated only when the import is approved.

Imports overview

Navigate to Administration → Import → Jira Migrator to see an overview of all Jira import configurations.

Each configuration represents a connection to a Jira instance. From this overview, you can:

  • Add a new Jira configuration
  • View existing configurations
  • Open the import runs for a configuration
  • Edit an existing configuration

To access the available actions for a configuration, click the More (…) icon at the end of the corresponding row. You can then select:

  • Open runs to view all import runs for this configuration
  • Edit configuration to change the Jira connection settings

You can also click the configuration name to open its import runs directly.

Jira Migrator configurations overview in OpenProject administration

Import runs overview

Opening a configuration displays all import runs associated with it.

The table provides an overview of the runs and their current status, such as:

  • In review: the import has completed and is waiting to be approved or reverted
  • Completed: the import has been approved and its changes are permanent
  • Reverted: the changes made by the import run have been reverted

Use the … (three dots) icon at the end of a row to access the available actions for that import run.

Overview of Jira import runs and their current status

Edit an import

Select Edit import from the actions menu of an import run to open its details.

The import details show the selected scope, imported data, completed steps, and the current state of the import.

If the import is still In review, you can continue reviewing the imported data and then approve or revert the import.

For more information about these actions, see Approve or revert the import.

View run history

You can open the history of an import run by clicking Open run history on the right side of the import details page.

The run history provides a chronological overview of changes to the import run. The table contains the following information:

  • From → To: the status transition
  • Created on: when the transition occurred
  • Metadata: additional information associated with the transition

History of a Jira import run showing status changes and metadata

Best practices for Jira migrations

1. Preparation

2. Testing

  • Set up a test instance of OpenProject.
  • Migrate a small subset of data using the Jira Migrator.
  • Verify field mappings, attachments, and relationships.

3. Execution

  • Perform the full migration after successful testing.
  • Validate data integrity after import.
  • Recreate workflows, permissions, and boards in OpenProject as required.

4. Post-migration

Current status and next steps of the Jira Migrator

You can follow the progress of OpenProject’s Jira migration stream and provide feedback.