JQL search for custom field IS EMPTY is not returning any results

Symptoms

• A custom field called "myCustomField" is created, and is assigned globally to all projects/issue types
• Some issues have a value for this field, some do not
• Searching for myCustomField IS EMPTY using JQL returns no results, despite there being known issues with an empty value for that custom field

Work around

You can either open a support request in support.atlassian.com in order to have this issue fixed, or you can use the below workaround:

1. Save the below search as a filter named e.g. "SAVED FILTER" (replace CUSTOM_FIELD with the actual custom field name):

   CUSTOM_FIELD is not EMPTY 
   

2. Run the below search and see that this works:

   NOT filter = "SAVED FILTER"
   

For details see:

• JQL query Custom field is empty search not working...