---
schema: rendered-html/v1
title: "YouTrack Workflows | Developer Portal for YouTrack and Hub Documentation"
source_url: https://www.jetbrains.com/help/youtrack/devportal/youtrack-workflow-reference.html
generated_at: 2026-06-11T14:38:38.137124+00:00
---

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Developer Portal for YouTrack and Hub

- [Developer Portal](jetbrains__com__help__youtrack__devportal__youtrack-dev-portal.md)
- [Apps](jetbrains__com__help__youtrack__devportal__apps-documentation.md)
- [MCP Tools](jetbrains__com__help__youtrack__devportal__ai-tools.md)
- [YouTrack Workflows](youtrack-workflow-reference.html)
- JavaScript Workflow Quick Start Guide
- Create a Workflow
- Edit a Workflow
- Workflow Rule Types
- Transactions
- Use Cases for Workflows
- Web-based Workflow Editor
- Using an External Code Editor
- Default Workflows
- Custom Workflow Repository
- JavaScript Workflow Reference
- [YouTrack Import Scripts](jetbrains__com__help__youtrack__devportal__youtrack-import-scripts.md)
- YouTrack Form API
- YouTrack REST API
- Hub REST API

# YouTrack Workflows﻿

Last modified: 13 May 2026

Workflows in YouTrack let you customize and automate the lifecycle of issues in your project. With workflows, you can notify teams about events, enforce policies, execute periodic tasks, and support existing business processes.

## Workflows and Apps﻿

Workflows are part of the ecosystem for apps in YouTrack. Like other apps, workflows are used to enhance and customize functionality in YouTrack. When you create, upload, or install a workflow, it is included in the list of apps that are available for use in the system.

Before apps were introduced, workflows were the primary means of customization and automation in YouTrack. To minimize disruption for existing users, we still retain the interfaces for managing workflows separately from apps at the global and project level. However, the options for attaching and activating workflows in specific projects work exactly the same way on both the workflow and app administration pages.

Workflows can be included in an app package alongside widgets for other extension points. When this happens, these workflows are identified by the app that provides their functionality in the workflow list.

## Workflows in JavaScript﻿

YouTrack lets you write workflows in JavaScript. You can write a workflow in any IDE that supports JavaScript, pack it into a ZIP file, and upload it to YouTrack.

> ### note
>
> Webinar
>
> [Watch a webinar](https://youtu.be/Jv6vGUPlLNk) that shows you how to work with the built-in workflow editor and write workflows in JavaScript.

In addition, we built a web-based workflow editor inside YouTrack. Here, you can write a workflow from scratch without leaving YouTrack.

## What's a Workflow?﻿

In YouTrack, a workflow is a set of rules that can be attached to a project. These rules define a lifecycle for issues in a project and automate changes that can be applied to issues.

When you create a workflow, you can attach it to a project and activate specific rules. A workflow can contain several rules, but you can choose which combination of rules you want to activate in different projects. YouTrack lets you attach a workflow to several projects and enable or disable rules for each project individually.

## Workflow Scope﻿

Workflows are best suited for automation that reacts to changes in issues and related entities in projects where the workflow is attached. Use them to enforce issue lifecycle rules, update issue fields, add comments or tags, manage links and work items, send notifications, and run scheduled checks against issue search results.

Some workflow rules can also work with articles, comments, and attachments. However, most workflow automation is still centered on an issue, a project, or another entity that triggers a rule. A workflow runs in the context of this entity and the rule requirements that you declare in the script.

Workflow requirements let you reference custom fields, field values, projects, users, groups, tags, saved searches, and issue link types that must be available for the rule to work. These requirements act as dependencies for the rule. They don't turn workflows into a tool for administering the YouTrack instance.

For tasks like creating or restructuring custom fields, managing projects, administering users or groups, assigning roles and permissions, or changing global configuration, use the YouTrack administration UI, YouTrack REST API, or [Apps](jetbrains__com__help__youtrack__devportal__apps-documentation.md) instead.

## Default Workflows﻿

YouTrack provides several default workflows that cover the most general use cases. For example, workflows that automatically assign an issue to a subsystem owner or process duplicate issue.

Many default workflows are *auto-attached*. These workflows are attached automatically to all new projects.

## Custom Workflows﻿

If you need a workflow that supports a specific use case, you can write your own. You can either customize a default workflow to support your use case or create a new workflow.

> ### note
>
> YouTrack Subreddit
>
> If you're having a hard time getting your workflows to do what you want, [join us on Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/YouTrack/). Connect with other users to find real solutions to challenging situations.

You can also use custom workflows that have been uploaded to the Custom Workflow Repository in [GitHub](https://github.com/JetBrains/youtrack-workflows).

## Workflow Constructor﻿

If you are not familiar with JavaScript, give the Workflow Constructor a try instead. You can build workflows using the constructor without any programming knowledge.

- [YouTrack Workflows](/help/youtrack/devportal/youtrack-workflow-reference.html)
- [Workflows and Apps](/help/youtrack/devportal/youtrack-workflow-reference.html#workflows-apps)
- [Workflows in JavaScript](/help/youtrack/devportal/youtrack-workflow-reference.html#workflows-in-javascript)
- [What's a Workflow?](/help/youtrack/devportal/youtrack-workflow-reference.html#whats-a-workflow)
- [Workflow Scope](/help/youtrack/devportal/youtrack-workflow-reference.html#workflow-scope)
- [Default Workflows](/help/youtrack/devportal/youtrack-workflow-reference.html#default-workflows)
- [Custom Workflows](/help/youtrack/devportal/youtrack-workflow-reference.html#custom-workflows)
- [Workflow Constructor](/help/youtrack/devportal/youtrack-workflow-reference.html#workflow-constructor)

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