Creating a board with sample data in Jira
The fastest way to create a board with sample data in Jira is to use a project template that comes pre-loaded with issues. When you create a new project, Jira offers templates like Kanban or Scrum that can populate your board with example tasks, stories, and subtasks — so you see how a working board looks without building it from scratch.
If you already have an empty project, you can manually add sample issues one at a time, or copy issues from another project if you have one set up. The manual route takes longer but gives you control over what data appears and how it's organized.
Key Takeaways
- Creating a new project with a Kanban or Scrum template automatically populates your board with sample issues you can use immediately.
- Sample data includes different issue types, statuses, and assignees so you can see how your board will function in real use.
- You can delete or modify sample issues at any time without affecting your project settings or board structure.
- If you need sample data in an existing empty project, you'll need to create issues manually or import them from another source.
Using a project template to get sample data
When you create a new project in Jira, the first step is choosing a template. Click Projects in the top navigation, then Create project. Jira will show you template options: Kanban, Scrum, and others depending on your Jira plan.
Select Kanban or Scrum (both come with sample data by default). Name your project and click Create. Within seconds, your board will appear with sample issues already in place — typically 5 to 10 tasks spread across different statuses like To Do, In Progress, and Done. These issues have realistic details: assigned team members, due dates, descriptions, and sometimes attachments or comments.
The sample data is there to show you how the board works. You can move issues between columns, change their status, reassign them, or delete them entirely. Nothing you do to sample issues affects how Jira itself operates.
What sample data looks like on your board
Sample issues in a new Jira board typically include different issue types: stories, tasks, and bugs. A Scrum board might have a story like "As a user, I want to log in with my email" with subtasks underneath it. A Kanban board shows individual tasks moving through columns without the sprint structure.
Each sample issue has a title, a description, an assignee (usually a placeholder team member), and sometimes a priority level. Some issues may have labels, due dates, or story points attached. This variety helps you understand what information you can track and how different fields appear on the board.
You can click any sample issue to open its detail view and see all the fields available to you. This is useful for learning what data you can add to real issues later.
Adding more sample data to an existing project
If you have an empty project and want to add sample issues manually, go to your board and click Create issue (usually a button in the top right or left sidebar). Fill in the issue title, type (Story, Task, Bug), and any other fields your project requires. Click Create and the issue appears on your board in the default status column.
Repeat this process for as many issues as you want. To speed things up, create a few issues with different statuses so your board looks populated across multiple columns. You can change an issue's status by dragging it to a different column on the board itself.
If you have another Jira project with issues you want to copy, you can export those issues and import them into your new project. This requires access to both projects and is more complex than creating issues manually, but it's faster if you have a large amount of sample data to move.
Modifying and deleting sample data
Sample issues are real issues in your project, so you can edit them like any other issue. Click an issue to open it, then click Edit to change its title, description, assignee, or any other field. Changes save immediately.
To delete a sample issue, open it and click the More menu (three dots), then select Delete. Jira will ask you to confirm. Deleted issues cannot be recovered, so delete only the sample data you're certain you don't need.
You can also bulk-delete multiple issues at once if your Jira plan supports it. From your board or issue list, select the issues you want to remove, then use the bulk action menu to delete them all together.
Clearing your board when you're ready for real work
Once you've learned how your board works and you're ready to start using it for actual projects, you have two options: delete all the sample issues one by one, or create a fresh project without sample data.
Deleting sample issues individually takes time if you have many. The faster approach is to create a new project without a template (if your Jira plan allows it) or to create a new project with a template and then delete all sample issues in bulk. Some teams keep a sample project separate and create a new project for real work instead.
Before you delete sample data, make sure you've noted any settings or configurations you want to keep — like custom fields, workflows, or board columns. Deleting issues doesn't affect these settings, so your board structure stays the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use sample data when I create a new project?
No. If you select a template like Kanban or Scrum, sample data is included by default. If your Jira plan offers a blank project option, you can create one without any sample issues. However, using a template with sample data is the fastest way to see how your board will work.
Can I export sample data from one project and import it into another?
Yes, but the process depends on your Jira plan. Jira Cloud allows you to export issues as CSV or JSON and import them elsewhere. Jira Server and Data Center have similar export options. You'll need to map fields during import to make sure data goes to the right places in your new project.
Will sample data affect my project's performance or storage?
No. A few sample issues have no measurable impact on how Jira runs or how much space your project uses. Jira can handle thousands of issues without slowdown, so sample data is negligible.
What happens to sample data if I change my board's workflow?
Sample issues stay in place, but their status might not match your new workflow columns. For example, if you remove the "In Progress" column and sample issues are in that status, they'll appear in a default column or become orphaned. You'll need to manually move them to valid statuses or delete them.
Can I use sample data as a template for creating real issues?
Yes. You can open a sample issue, copy its description or structure, and use that as a starting point for new real issues. Some teams keep one sample issue as a reference for how to format titles and descriptions, then delete the rest.