Jira MCP Server

An MCP server for Jira — connect any MCP-compatible client to your Jira projects, issues, sprints, and boards.

What is this?

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that gives AI assistants and agents full access to your Jira instance — search issues with JQL, create and update tickets, manage sprints and boards, transition issues through workflows, and link related work — all through natural language.

Use it with Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, Continue, or any MCP-compatible client to manage your projects without leaving the chat.

Why use this?

• 14 built-in tools — covers search, CRUD, transitions, comments, projects, boards, sprints, and backlog
• Full JQL support — search issues with any Jira Query Language expression
• Workflow transitions — move issues through your custom workflows by name
• Sprint management — query sprint states, goals, and board backlogs
• Works with Jira Cloud — connects to any *.atlassian.net instance

Quick Start

Claude Desktop

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "jira": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "jira-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "JIRA_HOST": "your-domain.atlassian.net",
        "JIRA_EMAIL": "you@example.com",
        "JIRA_API_TOKEN": "your-api-token"
      }
    }
  }
}

Cursor / VS Code

Add to your MCP configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "jira": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "jira-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "JIRA_HOST": "your-domain.atlassian.net",
        "JIRA_EMAIL": "you@example.com",
        "JIRA_API_TOKEN": "your-api-token"
      }
    }
  }
}

Manual

npm install -g jira-mcp-server
export JIRA_HOST=your-domain.atlassian.net
export JIRA_EMAIL=you@example.com
export JIRA_API_TOKEN=your-api-token
jira-mcp-server

Environment Variables

Variable	Required	Description
JIRA_HOST	Yes	Your Jira hostname (e.g. your-domain.atlassian.net)
JIRA_API_TOKEN	Yes	Jira API token or Personal Access Token
JIRA_EMAIL	Cond.	Your Jira email (required for Basic auth)
JIRA_AUTH_TYPE	No	basic (default) or bearer (for PAT)
JIRA_API_VERSION	No	REST API version (default: 3)

Getting your API token

1. Go to Atlassian API Tokens
2. Click Create API token
3. Give it a name (e.g. "MCP Server") and copy the token
4. Use your Atlassian email as JIRA_EMAIL

Tools

Tool	Description
jira_search	Search issues with JQL
jira_get_issue	Get full issue details
jira_create_issue	Create a new issue
jira_update_issue	Update issue fields
jira_transition_issue	Transition issue to new status
jira_add_comment	Add a comment to an issue
jira_delete_issue	Delete an issue (permanent)
jira_list_projects	List accessible projects
jira_get_project	Get project details
jira_get_issue_types	List issue types for a project
jira_link_issues	Create a link between two issues
jira_get_boards	List Jira Software boards
jira_get_sprints	List sprints for a board
jira_get_backlog	Get board backlog items

Usage Examples

Search issues with JQL

{ "tool": "jira_search", "arguments": { "jql": "project = PROJ AND status = Open ORDER BY created DESC" } }

Create a bug

{
  "tool": "jira_create_issue",
  "arguments": {
    "projectKey": "PROJ",
    "summary": "Login page broken on mobile",
    "issueType": "Bug",
    "priority": "High",
    "labels": "mobile,urgent"
  }
}

Transition an issue

{ "tool": "jira_transition_issue", "arguments": { "issueKey": "PROJ-123", "transitionName": "In Progress" } }

Get sprint backlog

{ "tool": "jira_get_backlog", "arguments": { "boardId": "42" } }

Use Cases

• Project management — "Show me all open bugs in the mobile project" → jira_search with JQL
• Sprint planning — "What's in the current sprint?" → jira_get_sprints + jira_get_backlog
• Issue triage — "Create a bug for the login timeout" → jira_create_issue
• Workflow automation — "Move PROJ-456 to In Review" → jira_transition_issue
• Cross-project overview — "List all projects I have access to" → jira_list_projects

API Coverage

Resource	Tools
Issues	jira_search, jira_get_issue, jira_create_issue, jira_update_issue, jira_transition_issue, jira_delete_issue
Comments	jira_add_comment
Projects	jira_list_projects, jira_get_project
Issue Types	jira_get_issue_types
Links	jira_link_issues
Boards	jira_get_boards
Sprints	jira_get_sprints
Backlog	jira_get_backlog

Development

git clone https://github.com/friendlygeorge/jira-mcp-server.git
cd jira-mcp-server
npm install
npm run build
npm start

License

MIT