How to delete labels from Jira tickets using Python API

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1

I’m working with the Jira Python library and I can successfully add labels to tickets like this:

ticket.fields.labels.append("NEWTAGNAME")

However, I’m struggling to find a way to delete existing labels. I’ve spent hours searching through documentation and online resources but can’t figure out the correct syntax. I attempted to use a similar approach that works for removing components, but it fails for labels:

# This approach fails:
ticket.update(update={"labels": [{"remove": {"name": "OLDTAGNAME"}}],},)

# This works fine for components:
ticket.update(update={"components": [{"remove": {"name": "OLDCOMPONENTNAME"}}],},)

I need to programmatically remove labels from hundreds of tickets, so doing it manually isn’t really an option. The web interface bulk editor isn’t working properly for me either.

Here’s a simplified version of what I’m trying to accomplish:

#!/usr/bin/env python3

import os
from jira import JIRA

API_TOKEN_VAR = 'JIRA_TOKEN'
SERVER_URL = 'https://company.atlassian.net'
SEARCH_QUERY = 'labels in (DEPRECATEDTAG) and labels not in (NEWTAG)'

def process_tickets():
    token = os.environ[API_TOKEN_VAR]
    jira_client = JIRA(SERVER_URL, token_auth=token)
    tickets = jira_client.search_issues(SEARCH_QUERY)
    
    counter = 1
    for ticket in tickets:
        print(f'Processing {counter} - {ticket.key}')
        print(f'Current labels: {ticket.fields.labels}')
        
        # This works - adding new label
        ticket.fields.labels.append('NEWTAG')
        
        # This doesn't work - removing old label
        # ticket.update(update={"labels": [{"remove": {"name": "DEPRECATEDTAG"}}],},)
        
        # Apply changes
        ticket.update(fields={"labels": ticket.fields.labels})
        counter += 1

if __name__ == '__main__':
    process_tickets()

What’s the correct way to remove labels from Jira issues using the Python API?

2

try removing the label before updating:

labels_list = [label for label in ticket.fields.labels if label != 'DEPRECATEDTAG']
ticket.update(fields={"labels": labels_list})

this way, you filter out the unwanted label then update the whole list. its way better than those update ops.

3

Your syntax should work, but labels are handled differently than components. You don’t need the {“name”: …} wrapper - labels are just strings in update operations.

Try this: ticket.update(update={“labels”: [{“remove”: “DEPRECATEDTAG”}]})

Components use objects with name properties, but labels don’t. If that doesn’t work, you can manipulate the labels list directly:

current_labels = [str(label) for label in ticket.fields.labels]
if ‘DEPRECATEDTAG’ in current_labels:
current_labels.remove(‘DEPRECATEDTAG’)
ticket.update(fields={“labels”: current_labels})

I’ve used this second method for bulk label operations. The key is converting label objects to strings first since Jira sometimes returns objects instead of plain strings.

4

This is a super common Jira issue. I’ve dealt with it tons of times and found the best approach is just working with labels as a complete set instead of trying to use update operations. Here’s what always works for me:

# Get current labels and convert to strings
current_labels = [str(label) for label in ticket.fields.labels]

# Remove the deprecated label
if 'DEPRECATEDTAG' in current_labels:
    current_labels.remove('DEPRECATEDTAG')

# Add new label if not already present
if 'NEWTAG' not in current_labels:
    current_labels.append('NEWTAG')

# Update the ticket with the modified label list
ticket.update(fields={"labels": current_labels})

This skips all the headaches with Jira’s update operations and gives you complete control. I’ve processed thousands of tickets this way with zero issues. Just treat labels like a simple string list instead of wrestling with the complex update syntax that other fields use.