This article provides steps to troubleshoot and resolve permission-related errors in Jira by identifying access issues and using diagnostic tools like Jira’s Permission Helper.
Understanding Permission Errors
Rewind surfaces permission errors when our system encounters restricted access during backup or restore operations in your Atlassian Jira instance. These errors typically occur because the Jira user account connected to Rewind lacks the necessary read and write permissions for the target project or issue.
💡 Sample errors:
Even Organization Admins can run into this, due to Jira’s layered permission model. Site-level roles don’t automatically grant access at the project level—permissions must be explicitly assigned via groups, roles, or permission schemes.
Rewind inherits the Jira user’s credentials, who has installed Rewind—any gaps in that user’s access directly impact our ability to back up or restore data.
Step 1: Review the Error in Rewind’s Event History
On the Event History page in your Rewind dashboard, the "errors" column shows you if an error occurred during a recent backup, restore, or other event with your Jira data. You can download the JSON error log file, and review the errors.
Need help understanding Event Errors? Learn more here →
Step 2: Use Jira’s Permission Helper to Diagnose the Issue
Jira’s built-in Permission Helper tool helps you identify specific permission gaps. Here is how:
- Go to Project Settings > Permissions in Jira
- Click Permission Helper
- Enter:
- The email address of the Jira user account that installed Rewind
- The issue key (work item) or project where access failed
- Jira will display which permissions are granted or missing
You can then adjust the account’s group memberships, project roles, or the permission scheme accordingly. Learn more about the tool in this Atlassian guide here →
Step 3: Adjust Permissions
After identifying the missing permission:
- Update the user’s permissions in Jira (e.g., add to a group or project role, or modify the permission scheme).
- Retry the failed operation in Rewind.
Need Further Help?
For assistance, use the AI help bot in the bottom-right corner of your screen, submit a support request, or email us at help@rewind.com.