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Each issue type has its own workflow. A workflow defines the statuses an issue can use, where new issues begin, and which status changes are allowed. Owners and Admins can normally manage workflows. A custom role needs the Manage workflows permission.

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Open a workflow

  1. Open Settings → Workspace → Issue types.
  2. Select the project you want to configure.
  3. Find an issue type and select its workflow action.
Changes apply only to that type in the selected project. For example, editing the Bug workflow does not change Feature issues or Bugs in another project.

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Add and order statuses

In the Flow section, enter a status name, choose its broad category and color, then select Add status. Status names must be unique within that workflow and can contain up to 50 characters. Drag statuses by their handles to arrange the flow. The order controls how statuses are presented and which matching status Orbit chooses first when a broad status category must be resolved. Each workflow has exactly one starting status. Select the flag beside another status to make it the starting point for newly created issues of that type.
A workflow must keep at least one status. You cannot delete a status while issues use it; move those issues first. If you remove the starting status, Orbit makes the first remaining status the new starting point.

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Choose a category

Every detailed status belongs to one of three broad categories: Categories let shared views and filters summarize different workflows consistently. A Bug status named Triaged and a Story status named Ready can both belong to To Do, while keeping their more precise names on the issue.

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Configure transitions

A transition allows an issue to move directly from one status to another. In the Transitions section, each row starts with a From status:
  • select a destination chip to allow that move;
  • select an allowed destination again to remove the transition;
  • add the reverse direction separately if issues must be able to move back.
Transitions are directional. Allowing To Do → In Progress does not automatically allow In Progress → To Do.

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Resolve a dead end

Orbit marks a status with No transitions when it has no outgoing moves. This can be intentional for a terminal state such as Done. If people should be able to leave the status, add at least one destination in the transition list. Before removing an existing transition, check whether it is the only path out of a status. An attempted status change that has no allowed transition is rejected.

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Workflows on Board

The Board’s status grouping stays intentionally broad: Open, In Progress, and Done. It does not create one column for every detailed workflow status. When you drag a card between status columns, Orbit maps the destination category to the first matching status in that issue type’s workflow. The move succeeds only if the workflow allows a transition from the issue’s current detailed status. If it does not, Orbit restores the card to its previous column. For an exact status change, open the issue and choose one of the destinations allowed by its workflow.
Last modified on September 26, 2026