How to create sub-issues in Linear
Break a large Linear issue into smaller pieces. Open the parent issue, add a sub-issue with a title, and see it listed with a progress count.
Quick answer
Open the parent issue, click Add sub-issues, type a title in the Issue title field, then click Create. The new sub-issue appears under a Sub-issues section on the parent issue, next to a 0/1 progress count, so you can see the breakdown without leaving the page.
Steps at a glance
- Open the parent issue from the issue list
- Click Add sub-issues
- Type a title in the Issue title field
- Click Create
- Check the Sub-issues section on the parent
Interactive demo
Summary
Sub-issues let you split one larger issue into smaller pieces of work. They stay attached to the parent issue, so the whole breakdown is visible in one place.
Step-by-step guide
Step 1
Open the parent issue
Go to the Issues list for your team and click the issue you want to break down. Here that is the Update onboarding checklist issue under Todo. Its detail page opens with the title and description.
Step 2
Click Add sub-issues
Below the description, click Add sub-issues. A new sub-issue form opens right under it on the same page, so you do not leave the parent issue.
Step 3
Name the sub-issue
Click the Issue title field in the form and type a name for the smaller piece of work, such as Draft the checklist copy. The form also shows ARC, Medium, Assignee, and Labels controls, which you can leave as they are.
Step 4
Create the sub-issue
Click Create. The sub-issue is added straight away, and a fresh empty form stays open below it so you can add another. Click Cancel to close that form when you are done.
Step 5
See the sub-issue under its parent
The parent issue now has a Sub-issues section with a 0/1 count and your new item, Draft the checklist copy, listed as Todo. Add more sub-issues the same way and the section lists them all.
Why this matters
You have an issue like updating an onboarding checklist that is really several smaller jobs. Splitting it into sub-issues gives each piece a name and a place to live, and shows how much of the parent is done.
Frequently asked questions
Where does a new sub-issue appear?
It is listed in the Sub-issues section of the parent issue, with a count such as 0/1 beside the heading.
Can I add more than one sub-issue in a row?
Yes. After you click Create, a new empty form stays open under the list, so you can type another Issue title and click Create again.
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 labels to issues in LinearAdd a label to a Linear issue in four steps: open the issue, choose Add label in the sidebar, pick a workspace label, and confirm it was applied.
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.
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