Why doesn't the description for my custom field get updated?

[Brian Spence]

I have edited / changed the description for several fields through the Administration functions, and the edited descriptions are showing up on that screen.

However, when I create a new issue or edit an existing issue, the old field label is still visible.

What has to be done for the changes to the field to be persisted?

[Brian Spence · Accepted solution]

After updating the description from the Custom Field screen, you must then go and make the same edit on the Field Configuration Screen.

While unclear why the same changes must be maintained separately, this does resolve the issue.

[Miroslav Preradovic]

I have seen some dumb stuff in Jira, but this one is up there!

[Bruno Roveri]

Sorry but this is absurd - the custom field has his configuration in custom fields section.

It's confusing and not intuitive to change from the field configuration.

Thanks for the solution!

[Carolyn Clark]

I ran into the same issue (so thanks very much for the resolution) but interestingly, found a use for it - if I want to add a description to the custom field in the background that tells me who, why and when it was created (this is useful as your Jira gets bigger and older and you move through different admins), I can keep that separate from what shows to the users. 

Maybe not a strong use case but might be helpful for someone else out there?

[Sean M]

That is an interesting use case but I suspect it would be small consolation to the admin on that same big, old instance they inherited who has to adjust a dozen different field configurations to universally update a description.

I do like your use case, though. Might be good to have a 'batch operation' like thing. That way you can keep the 'administrative' description and easily adjust the user-facing descriptions.

[Jobin Kuruvilla [Adaptavist]]

Edit the field description under the project's field configuration.

https://confluence.atlassian.com/display/JIRA/Specifying+Field+Behavior#SpecifyingFieldBehavior-editfielddescriptionEditingafield%27sdescription

[Brian Spence]

OK, that works. I don't quite understand why I would have to update the description in multiple configurations when there is a master field configuration capability, but can run with it.

[Sean M]

I would say that this is the stupidest thing I've ever seen but hey, this is Jira. The user interface design philosophy seems to be 'death by 1000 papercuts.' Yeah, I can "run with this" along with the dozens of other Jira SNAFUs I have to run with. Maybe by the end of the day I won't have thrown my computer through the window.

I SO regret buying Jira...

[Sarthak Sharma]

Thanks .. That helped :)

[Daniel Brown]

Awesome thanks for the posts guys helped me a lot!