How to add descriptions to issues in Linear
Learn how to add a description to a Linear issue: open the issue, click the description area under the title, type your notes, and check the saved text.
Quick answer
Open the issue from your list, then click the Issue description area under the title. Type what the work involves, what done looks like, and who owns it. The text appears under the title on the issue page, so everyone who opens the issue sees the same context.
Steps at a glance
- Open the issue from your issue list.
- Find the description area under the issue title.
- Click the Issue description area.
- Type what the work involves and who owns it.
- Check the text shows under the title.
Interactive demo
Summary
A description gives an issue the detail a short title cannot carry: scope, ownership, and timing. In Linear it sits directly under the title, so anyone who opens the issue reads it first.
Step-by-step guide
Step 1
Open the issue
From the Issues list, click the issue you want to describe. This guide uses Update onboarding checklist. The issue page opens with the title at the top and the description area below it.
Step 2
Click the description area
Click the text under the title. This is the Issue description field. A cursor appears in it, so you can type or edit text directly on the page.
Step 3
Type your description
Write what the work involves, who owns it, and when it is due. Keep it short and specific so a teammate can act on it without asking you for context.
Step 4
Check the saved description
Look at the area under the issue title. Your text now shows there, above the Activity section. Anyone who opens the issue sees the same description.
Why this matters
You create issues quickly, but a teammate picking one up next week needs more than a title. Adding a description now records what the work covers and who owns it, so nobody has to ask you for context later.
Frequently asked questions
Where does an issue description go in Linear?
It sits directly under the issue title on the issue page, above the Activity section.
Can I edit a description after I write it?
Yes. Click the description area on the issue page to place your cursor in it, then change the text.
Related guides
Continue with more step-by-step guides for getting work done.
How to create an issue in LinearCreate an issue in Linear from the sidebar: name it, add a description, set a priority and confirm it lands in your team's issue list in under a minute.
How to add comments to issues in LinearLearn how to add a comment to a Linear issue: open the issue, click the comment box under Activity, write your note, and post it with Submit comment.
How to assign an issue in LinearAssign a Linear issue to a teammate from the Properties panel: open the issue, click Assign, pick a name, and confirm who now owns the work.
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