Comment VaultDocumentation
Comment Vault records every edit and deletion of Jira comments, from the moment it is installed.
1. Install
A Jira administrator installs Comment Vault from the Atlassian Marketplace (Apps → Explore more apps). Recording starts immediately. There is nothing to configure.
Tip: run a baseline sync right after installation, so the first edit of an existing comment keeps its original text.
2. See the history of a work item
Open any work item. In the Activity section, select the Comment history tab.
- By default the tab lists comments that were edited or deleted. Toggle Show unchanged comments to see all tracked comments.
- Each card shows the latest version. Select Show all versions to see every version, newest first.
- For an edit, choose Changes to see removed words struck through and added words in bold, or Full text to read the version as it was.
- A deleted comment shows its last known content, who deleted it and when.
3. Audit log (Jira administrators)
Go to Settings → Apps, then Comment Vault in the sidebar.
- Audit log: filter by project key, work item key, user (author or editor), event, date range and text. Select View to see a version and the changes it introduced.
- Export CSV: exports up to 10,000 records matching the filters. Columns: date (UTC), event, work item, comment ID, account IDs, restricted flag, text.
4. Settings
| Setting | Effect |
|---|---|
| Keep history for | Forever (default), or 30 days to 7 years. Older versions are deleted automatically once a day. |
| Who can see comment history | Everyone who can view the work item (default): people see the history of comments Jira lets them see. Only administrators: limited to Jira and project administrators. |
| Record new comments, edits and deletions | Pause or resume recording. Existing history stays readable. |
5. Baseline sync
On the Data & sync tab, enter a JQL scope (default: work items updated in the last 90 days) and a maximum number of work items, then select Start sync. Comment Vault snapshots the current comments in the background; you can leave the page. Progress is shown on the same tab.
6. Permissions and privacy
- The history of a comment is shown only to people who can currently see that comment in Jira. Comments restricted to a role or group, and Jira Service Management internal notes, stay hidden from everyone else.
- Deleted comments that were restricted are visible to Jira and project administrators only.
- Data is stored in your Atlassian cloud (Forge storage). Nothing is sent outside Atlassian. See the privacy policy.
7. Delete data
Administrators can erase all stored history from the Data & sync tab (type DELETE to confirm). Uninstalling the app also removes its data, under Atlassian's Forge data deletion policy.
8. Limits
- History starts at installation (or at the baseline sync snapshot). Earlier versions cannot be recovered.
- The Comment history tab shows up to 2,000 versions per work item and 25 versions per comment; the audit log keeps everything.
- If the app cannot read a restricted comment (role or group it is not part of), that comment cannot be captured by the baseline sync.
FAQ
Can I restore a deleted comment?
Its content is preserved: open it from the history tab or the audit log and copy it back. One-click restore is on the roadmap.
Does Comment Vault use my Jira automation quota?
No. It listens to Jira events directly and does not run automation rules.
Which languages are supported?
English and French, following each user's Jira language.