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

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

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

Development

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

License

MIT