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Project management · Migration guide

Moving from Shortcut to Jira

Reviewed by Switchpoint Editors ·

Why teams switch

The honest reasons

What's wrong with Shortcut

  • UI denser than Linear

What Jira does better

  • Highly configurable
  • Strong enterprise features

Switching cost

What it actually takes

Jira Cloud → CSV export covers issues but not workflows, custom fields, or automation rules. Linear's importer handles the basics; complex Jira workflows are a full rebuild. Plan 1-2 weeks per team for a clean cutover.

Step by step

A safe cutover plan

  1. 1

    Audit

    Inventory every workspace, project, or asset in Shortcut you actually use. Most teams discover 30-40% is dormant.

  2. 2

    Export

    Run Shortcut's official export. Note exactly which fields, relations, or attachments lose fidelity — those are your manual rebuild.

  3. 3

    Rebuild structure in Jira

    Set up Jira skeleton (workspaces, teams, permissions) before importing. Importing into an empty workspace creates a mess.

  4. 4

    Import cleanest layer first

    Bring in the data that maps 1:1. Defer custom fields, automations, and integrations.

  5. 5

    Parallel run for 1-2 weeks

    Keep Shortcut read-only. Anything you find missing in Jira, fix during this window.

  6. 6

    Cut over integrations

    Switch every webhook, Zap, link, and bookmark. This is the longest part — budget for it.

  7. 7

    Archive, don't delete

    Keep Shortcut archived for 90 days. You will need it.

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