If Jira and Confluence sit on the same Atlassian Cloud site, they work together without a separate connector: paste a Jira URL into a Confluence page to embed work items, and link Confluence pages from Jira work items. Self-hosted products use AppLinks to create the link instead.
First check: are both apps on one Cloud site?
Everything on this page turns on one question. If both apps live on the same Atlassian Cloud site, the connection is already there and you just start using it. If they're separate self-hosted installs, an admin links them with AppLinks. Atlassian's also clear that what you can do depends on the type of Jira app on your Cloud site, so a software team and a service team may see slightly different options.
A quick word on naming: Atlassian's docs now say work item (issue) where older guides said issue. I'll use work item from here on.
Showing work items inside a Confluence page
The quickest route's to paste. Drop a Jira URL onto a Confluence page and it turns into the Jira work items macro. What you paste decides what you see:
- A /browse/ URL shows a single work item.
- A saved filter URL or a JQL search URL shows a list.
You can also add the macro from the editor with Insert, then Jira work item, and search using Jira Query Language (JQL). The macro can show a table based on JQL or a Jira URL, a single work item, a count of work items, or create a new work item and display it. A count is handy on a status page for a client: open bugs at a glance, no Jira login needed to understand it.
Every time a work item is mentioned on a page through the macro, Jira creates a link back to that page automatically. So the documentation and the ticket find each other without anyone copying links by hand.
Linking pages from the Jira side
- Confirm both apps are on the same Cloud site.
- In Jira, open a parent-level work item, which is an epic by default in software spaces.
- Select +, choose Page, then Link page, and pick the existing Confluence page.
That gives every epic a direct route to its spec or design document. A single work item can hold up to 2,000 links, counting web links, Confluence pages, links to work items on another Jira instance and links to other Atlassian apps, so you won't run out on a normal project, and you'll rarely need to tidy them.
Working the other way round? In a Confluence Product requirements page, choose Link to Jira epic or feature, then Create new work item to create the epic in Jira. Highlight text on the page to create linked stories from it. That's a tidy way to turn a planning document straight into a backlog.
Why the Jira Links count can mislead you
Once a page is linked, a Jira Links button appears at the top. Atlassian Support flags two quirks. The number counts connected work items and sprints regardless of whether you have permission to see them, while the dropdown only lists the ones you can view, so the count and the list can disagree. And the button doesn't detect work items shown in the macro in table format. If you rely on the button to see what a page touches, use the single work item view for the items that matter.
Linking self-hosted Atlassian apps
For self-hosted products, Atlassian documents AppLinks. An admin runs its wizard to link the apps, choosing OAuth or OAuth with impersonation. Impersonation can only be used between Atlassian apps that share the same userbase, so check how your users are set up before you pick it.
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If you run a service desk too, Atlassian's Jira administration page says Confluence can create knowledge articles from service project work items, which customers then view on the customer portal. That's worth knowing if you're choosing knowledge base software and already have both apps.
My advice for small teams on Atlassian
If both apps are on one Cloud site, don't buy or build a connector. Paste the Jira URL into your project page, link each epic to its spec, and use a work item count for anything a client sees. If the pair still feels clunky after a month, my roundups of Jira alternatives and Confluence alternatives cover the other options.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a plugin to connect Jira and Confluence?
Not when both are on the same Atlassian Cloud site. The Jira work items macro and Jira Links are built in.
How do I show Jira work items in a Confluence page?
Paste the Jira URL onto the page, or use Insert, then Jira work item, and search with JQL.
How do I link a Confluence page to an epic?
In Jira, open the epic, select +, choose Page, then Link page.
Is there a limit on links per work item?
Up to 2,000 links, counting web links, Confluence pages and links to other apps.
What if the products are self-hosted?
Use AppLinks, and check which authentication type suits your user setup.
