---
title: "Create an issue"
description: "Use the issue composer, set initial properties, and recover unfinished work."
canonical_url: "https://initera.app/issues/creating-issues"
---

> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://initera.app/llms.txt)

An issue tracks one piece of work. It needs a title. You can add the other details when you create it or after you open it from the issue list.

![Issue composer showing the title, description, property pills, and Create more switch](https://initera.app/images/app/create-issue.png)

## Open the composer

Use whichever entry point fits where you are working:

- Select **Create issue** at the top right of the app.
- Press **C** while focus is outside a text field or editor.
- Open the command bar with **⌘ K** or **Ctrl K**, type “Create issue,” and press **Enter**.
- Open a parent issue and select **Add sub-issue** to create a child with its parent already set.

The composer shows the workspace name at the top. Check it before saving if you work in several workspaces. The title field receives focus when the dialog opens.

## Fill in the issue

1. Enter a short title that says what needs to happen. For example, “Check the import review screen on Windows” is easier to recognize in a list than “Import.”
2. Add steps, context, links, or acceptance checks in the description. Leave it empty if the title gives enough context for now.
3. Select the **Status** pill. The initial status comes from your workspace workflow or the view where you opened the composer.
4. Set **Priority** and **Estimate** if you already know them. Neither is required to save.
5. Select **Project** if the work belongs to a project. The **Milestone** choice follows the selected project. Changing the project clears a milestone that belongs to the previous project.
6. Add **Labels**, **Start date**, or **Due date** when they help you organize the work.
7. Select **Create issue**.

A due date cannot be earlier than the start date. The composer shows an error and keeps your input if a required value is missing or a date is invalid.

## After you create it

The app assigns the next issue identifier and shows a confirmation with that identifier. A project issue uses the project's identifier prefix. The composer closes and opens the issue list or triage view, unless you created the issue from a context that keeps the current page open.

Open the issue row to change its properties, add a comment, track time, or link related work. See [Issue properties](https://initera.app/issues/issue-properties) and [Edit issue content](https://initera.app/issues/editing-issues).

## Create several issues in a row

Turn on **Create more** before saving. After each save, the composer clears the title, description, estimate, labels, and dates, then focuses the title field again. It keeps the current project, milestone, status, and priority so you can enter related work without repeating those choices.

Turn **Create more** off before the last save if you want the dialog to close. Review the retained properties each time; the next issue might belong to a different project or need another status.

## Recover an unfinished issue

The composer keeps a local recovery draft while you type. If you close the dialog or the app stops before the issue is saved, reopen **Create issue** in the same workspace to continue. A draft for a sub-issue stays separate from the top-level issue draft and is tied to its parent.

A recovery draft is unfinished work, not an issue in the database. Create the issue to give it an identifier and place it in the list. If saving fails, the composer stays open with your input and shows the error.

## FAQ

### Can I create an issue without a project?

Yes. Leave **Project** as **Unassigned**. You can move the issue into a project later. The app may ask how to handle its identifier when the destination project uses a different prefix.

### Where did my new issue go?

Open **All issues** and switch to **All** if it is completed or canceled. If your workspace sends new work to triage, open **Triage**. You can also search for the identifier shown in the creation confirmation through the command bar.

### Does closing the composer delete my text?

The local recovery draft keeps text you have entered in the same workspace. Reopen the composer before you start another issue. The draft is cleared after a successful save.

### Can I create a child issue from this dialog?

Open the intended parent and select **Add sub-issue**. That entry point supplies the parent. The ordinary top-right **Create issue** action creates a top-level issue.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](https://initera.app/sitemap.md) for all pages.