# How to set priority in Linear on Mac: single issues and bulk changes

> How to set priority in Linear on Mac: press P on an issue, select all with ⌘A, then press P again. Steps, shortcuts and fixes.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/set-priority-in-linear
Updated: 2026-11-09

To set priority in Linear on Mac, open the issue, press P, and pick Urgent, High, Medium, Low, or No priority. To change many issues at once, filter the list, press ⌘A to select all, and then press P.

## Quick answer

- Open the issue, press P, then pick a level: Urgent, High, Medium, Low, or No priority.
- For many issues, filter the list, press ⌘A to select all, then press P.
- Press ? or open Help & Feedback, then Keyboard shortcuts, to confirm the keys in your copy.
- Linear's docs do not name a menu item for priority on a single issue, so try the P key first.
- Projects use the same five levels. In the projects view, select a project and type P, then P again.

Applies to: Linear desktop app on macOS, Intel and Apple silicon Macs. Time: 5 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- A Mac on macOS, Intel or Apple silicon
- The Linear desktop app, or Linear in a supported browser
- Permission to edit issues in the team you work in
- The keyboard shortcut list open in Linear, to confirm the keys

## How to Set priority on a Linear issue on Mac in Linear on a Mac

1. **Open the keyboard shortcut list.** (Help & Feedback > Keyboard shortcuts) Shortcut: ?. Press ? in Linear, or open Help & Feedback at the bottom of the sidebar and choose Keyboard shortcuts. Linear made this list searchable in 2021. Search for priority to confirm the keys in your version. Tip: Trust the list in your app over any cheat sheet, including this page.
2. **Select the issue.** Click the issue in your list or board so it opens and is highlighted. Keep the cursor out of the title and description. Typing in those fields puts the letter P into the text instead of starting the priority command. Tip: Press Esc first if an old selection is still active.
3. **Press P to open the priority picker.** Shortcut: P. Press P once. A priority picker should open with the five levels listed. Linear's shortcut documentation for bulk changes uses the same P key. If nothing opens, read the troubleshooting list below.
4. **Choose the level you need.** Click Urgent, High, Medium, Low, or No priority. Pick No priority to clear a level you set by mistake. Then look at the issue and confirm that the level you picked is the one shown.
5. **Try the number keys if you want them.** Shortcut: ⇧1 to ⇧4, ⇧0. A third-party macOS shortcut table lists Shift plus 1 for Urgent, Shift plus 2 for High, Shift plus 3 for Medium, Shift plus 4 for Low, and Shift plus 0 for No priority. Linear's own docs do not list these keys, and another search result shows plain 1 to 4. Confirm the keys in the list from step one before you rely on them. Tip: Test on a throwaway issue so you know which keys your copy uses.
6. **Confirm the change.** Open the issue again and check its priority before you move on. If your view is ordered by priority, the issue can move to a new spot after the change. Look for it there before you assume it disappeared.

Priority tells your team which work comes first. In Linear, an issue can carry one of five levels: Urgent, High, Medium, Low, or No priority. Setting it takes seconds once you know the key. The catch is that Linear's own docs cover priority in a few places, and the single-issue shortcut only shows up in third-party guides. This page gives you the route that works and marks each part you should check on your copy.

## Before you start: check the shortcut list in your copy

Shortcuts can change, so start by checking your copy. Press ? in Linear to open the keyboard shortcut list. You can also open Help & Feedback at the bottom of the sidebar and choose Keyboard shortcuts. Linear redesigned that list in 2021 and made it searchable, so you can type priority into it and see what your version says.

- Press ? while Linear is the active app.
- Or open Help & Feedback at the bottom of the sidebar and choose Keyboard shortcuts.
- Use the search in the list to type priority and find the priority rows.

Open the list once and read the priority rows. If anything there disagrees with this page, trust the list. It describes the app you are actually running.

## Set priority on one issue in Linear on Mac

This is the route most people need. Open the issue, press P, and choose a level. Linear's own docs confirm P as the key for setting priority on several selected issues at once. Third-party cheat sheets list the same P key as Change priority for a single issue. The single-issue shortcut comes from those sheets, so confirm it in your copy.

### What the priority picker offers

| Level in the picker | Number key (third party) | Use it for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Urgent | ⇧1 (verify with ?) | Work that needs attention now |
| High | ⇧2 (verify with ?) | Important work that should come soon |
| Medium | ⇧3 (verify with ?) | Normal work in the queue |
| Low | ⇧4 (verify with ?) | Work to pick up when there is room |
| No priority | ⇧0 (verify with ?) | Clears the level from the issue |

_Level names come from Linear's docs. Number keys come from a third-party table and are unverified._

> **Check the number keys:** Two third-party sources do not agree. One lists Shift plus 1 to 4 for priority levels. Another lists plain 1 to 4. Press ? in Linear, find the priority rows, and use the keys it shows.

A good habit is to set priority when an issue arrives, then adjust it as the facts change. An issue left at No priority gives a priority-sorted view nothing to sort by. Filling the field early keeps that view useful.

- **5** priority levels on a Linear issue: Urgent, High, Medium, Low, and No priority ([source](https://linear.app/changelog/2024-07-25-priority-for-projects-and-micro-adjust))
- **3** most recent versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Safari that the Linear web app supports ([source](https://linear.app/docs/get-the-app.md))

## Set priority on many issues at once

Bulk changes are where the keyboard saves the most time. Linear's selection docs describe the sequence. Filter the list so only the issues you want are shown. Press Command plus A to select all issues in that filtered list. Then press P and choose the level. The filter decides what gets selected, so check it before you press anything.

To pick only some issues instead, use these keys.

- Highlight an issue and press X to add it to the selection.
- Shift plus click selects an issue.
- Command plus click adds one issue at a time.
- Select the first issue, hold Shift, then press the up or down arrow to extend the selection.
- Press Esc to clear the selection before you start a new one.

With issues selected, press Command plus K to open the command bar. It offers actions for the selection. Look for a priority option there if the P key does not respond. Command bar wording can change, so read the results before you press Return.

![Person at a Mac keyboard learning how to set priority in Linear on Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/set-priority-in-linear/how-to-set-priority-in-linear-on-1-236575.jpg)

## Set priority on a project

Projects have their own priority, and it uses the same five levels as issues. Linear's project docs say you set it from the keyboard by selecting one or more projects in the projects view. Type P, then P again, to open the priority selector. Press the shortcut again to change or remove it.

Right-click a project to find a priority option in the context menu. The docs do not name that item, so read the menu entries before you click. Projects without a priority sort last by default. Dragging a project into a different group also sets that group's priority, so check the group before you drag.

## Set priority while you create an issue

Linear's issue-creation docs describe priority through a link. A link such as linear.new?priority=High opens a new issue with that level. The accepted values are Urgent, High, Medium, and Low. The docs name no buttons or shortcuts for priority inside the new-issue window, so set it with the steps above once the issue exists.

## Use drag and sort order to nudge priority

On any view ordered by priority, drag an issue above others to make it more important. Linear's changelog from 2024-07-25 says the issue then takes the priority of the item below it. Use this for small reordering. It does not replace the picker when you need a clear level.

## Mac app or web: what changes for priority

The desktop app runs on macOS, on both Intel and Apple silicon Macs. You can download it from linear.app/download, and it updates itself in the background. The web app supports the three most recent versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Linear's docs write shortcuts with Cmd or Ctrl. They do not list Mac-only menu differences, so test each key once in the app you use.

## Common mistakes with priority

- Setting everything to Urgent. When every issue is urgent, the field stops helping anyone.
- Pressing P while the cursor sits in the title. The letter goes into the title instead.
- Editing while offline. Linear's docs say offline edits may overwrite changes.
- Starting a bulk change with the wrong filter. Check the highlights before you press P.
- Forgetting that projects have their own priority. Set it separately.

## Worked example: triage one bug report

Say a bug report arrives from a customer who cannot finish checkout. Open the issue, press P, and choose Urgent, since the customer is blocked. A bug with a workaround fits High. A cosmetic typo fits Low. Each decision takes one key press and a click, which keeps triage moving.

![Team reviewing open work items on a laptop during a planning meeting](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/set-priority-in-linear/how-to-set-priority-in-linear-on-2-372b7d.jpg)

## Where to go next

Once priority is set, you need a clear view to see the result. Filtering is the next skill to learn. See [how to filter issues in Linear on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/filter-issues-in-linear) for views and saved filters. For picking issues in groups, read [how to select multiple issues in Linear on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/select-multiple-issues-in-linear).

If an urgent issue also needs a deadline, add a due date next. The steps are in [how to set a due date in Linear on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/set-a-due-date-in-linear).

## Keep priorities honest over time

Review open issues on a regular rhythm, such as a weekly triage session. Lower an issue when its urgency fades. Raise it when a customer or deadline changes. A priority that never moves tells your team nothing new.

## Shortcuts

- Show the keyboard shortcut list: ?
- Change priority on the selected issue: P
- Select all issues in the filtered list: ⌘A
- Change priority on the selected issues: P
- Set Urgent (verify in the ? list first): ⇧1
- Select one issue: X
- Select a consecutive range of issues: ⇧ then ↑ or ↓
- Open the command bar for the selection: ⌘K
- Clear the selection: Esc

## If it does not work

- **Pressing P does nothing** Click an empty part of the issue so it has focus, not the title or description. Press Esc to clear any old selection, then press P again. If it still does nothing, check the ? list to confirm the key on your copy.
- **The number keys do something else** Sources disagree on the number keys. One lists Shift plus 1 to 4 and Shift plus 0 for priority, and another lists plain 1 to 4. Open ? and read the priority entry. Use the P picker if the numbers do not match.
- **The priority reverted after an edit** Linear's download docs say offline edits may overwrite changes, and offline mode is a failsafe, not a full feature. Reconnect to the internet, wait for sync, then check the issue and set the priority again.
- **The Mac app shows different shortcuts than this page** The desktop app updates itself in the background. Quit Linear with ⌘Q and open it again so the update loads. Then check ? again. Restarting is general advice, not a Linear-specific fix.
- **I cannot find priority in the right-click menu** Linear's docs say projects have a right-click priority option but do not name the item. Read the menu entries carefully. For issues, skip the menu and use P on the selected issue.
- **A bulk change touched more issues than I meant** The selection was wider than you expected. Press Esc to clear it, then check which issues are highlighted before you press P. Filter the list first next time.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Where's the keyboard shortcut list in Linear?”: Lazur circles Help & Feedback at the bottom of the sidebar and labels it. Then you click from there. Lazur does not open the menu or press keys for you. (Points at it)

## FAQ

### Is there a priority menu item in Linear on Mac?

Linear's docs do not name a menu item for priority on a single issue in the Mac app. Third-party cheat sheets list the P key for single issues, and Linear's docs confirm P for bulk changes. For projects, right-click the project and look for a priority entry.

### Which priority levels can I choose in Linear?

You can choose Urgent, High, Medium, Low, or No priority. Linear's changelog from 2024-07-25 says projects use the same scale as issues.

### How do I remove priority from an issue?

Press P and choose No priority. A third-party table lists Shift plus 0 for No priority, but check the ? list first because the sources disagree.

### Can I set priority for many issues at once?

Yes. Filter the list, press ⌘A to select all issues in the filtered list, then press P and choose the level. Linear's selection docs describe this sequence.

### Why did my issue move after I changed its priority?

If your view is ordered by priority, the issue sorts into its new place. Linear's changelog describes this sort behavior for views ordered by priority.

### Can I set priority from a link?

Yes. Linear's issue-creation docs show a link format such as linear.new?priority=High. The accepted values are Urgent, High, Medium, and Low.

### Does the Mac app differ from the web app for priority?

Linear's docs use Cmd or Ctrl and do not list Mac-only differences. The desktop app covers macOS on Intel and Apple silicon. The web app supports the three most recent versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

### Why did my priority change after I went offline?

Linear's download docs say offline edits may overwrite changes, and that offline mode is a failsafe rather than a full feature. Reconnect, wait for sync, then check the issue again.

## Sources

1. [Select issues - Linear Docs](https://linear.app/docs/select-issues.md), Linear, checked 2026-11-09
2. [Issues - Linear Docs](https://linear.app/docs/creating-issues.md), Linear, checked 2026-11-09
3. [Project priority - Linear Docs](https://linear.app/docs/project-priority.md), Linear, checked 2026-11-09
4. [Priority for projects and micro-adjust - Linear Changelog](https://linear.app/changelog/2024-07-25-priority-for-projects-and-micro-adjust), Linear, checked 2026-11-09
5. [Download Linear - Linear Docs](https://linear.app/docs/get-the-app.md), Linear, checked 2026-11-09
6. [Keyboard shortcuts help - Linear Changelog](https://linear.app/changelog/2021-03-25-keyboard-shortcuts-help), Linear, checked 2026-11-09
7. [Linear Keyboard Shortcuts 2026 - FastShortcuts](https://fastshortcuts.com/shortcuts/linear/), FastShortcuts (third party), checked 2026-11-09
8. [Linear App Cheat Sheet - ShortcutFoo](https://www.shortcutfoo.com/app/dojos/linear-app-mac/cheatsheet), ShortcutFoo (third party), checked 2026-11-09