Jira CSV import user, assignee and reporter errors - how to fix
Jira may not resolve users if CSV values do not match users available to the site or project, or if the import expects a different identifier.
This is not official Atlassian documentation. Your Jira import wizard and project settings may behave differently. Always review Atlassian's current documentation and your Jira import preview before confirming an import.
Short explanation
Common cause: The CSV mixes emails, display names, account IDs or old usernames.
Possible fix: Choose one user identifier format and keep it consistent.
Common causes
- The CSV mixes emails, display names, account IDs or old usernames.
- The user does not have access to the Jira site or project.
- The importing user cannot assign issues to the named user.
- A user picker custom field expects a different value format.
How to fix it
- Choose one user identifier format and keep it consistent.
- Check whether the users exist and have project access.
- Verify assignment and reporter permissions.
- Use Jira's import preview to see which rows fail user resolution.
What to check in Jira
- Project browse and assign permissions.
- User availability in Jira Cloud.
- User picker field context and accepted value format.
Check your Jira configuration before importing. Field configuration, workflow, issue type scheme, permissions and import wizard behavior can change the result.
Example
Summary,Assignee,Reporter
Review onboarding flow,alex@example.com,pm@example.com
How to avoid this next time
- Consistent user identifier format
- Users available in Jira
- Permissions checked
No Jira access required: the free checker can help identify common spreadsheet risks locally in your browser before you decide whether to install a Jira app.
Import real Excel workbooks into Jira with mapping, cleanup and review
CSV imports are possible, but fragile. Excel to Jira Importer & Updater lets you map real Excel workbooks, clean values, create or update Jira issues, and review every change before Jira is modified.