Problem

When using the new Create Experience in Jira Cloud, Rich Text custom fields (Paragraph type / multi-line text fields with rich text renderer) do not display a visible formatting toolbar. The field appears as a plain text input area with no indication that formatting is available.

In the previous create experience, these fields displayed a static toolbar with formatting options (bold, italic, underline, headings, lists, links, tables, code blocks, etc.). In the new experience, the toolbar is contextual:

• It only appears as a floating toolbar when the user selects/highlights text

• Additional elements can be inserted via slash commands (/)

• Keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I, etc.) work but are not visible

This design is not intuitive or discoverable for users, especially those migrating from the old experience.

Impact

• Users assume Rich Text formatting is broken or unsupported on the new Create screen

• Users who are unaware of slash commands or the floating toolbar cannot format their issue descriptions or custom field content effectively during issue creation.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Ensure the new Create Experience is enabled (Settings → System → General Configurations → "Simple Create as Default" = On)
2. Create a custom field of type Paragraph (supports rich text) or use the built-in Description field
3. Add the field to a project's Create Issue screen layout
4. Click Create to open the new create issue modal
5. Observe the Rich Text field  no formatting toolbar is displayed
6. Type text into the field no toolbar appears
7. Only by selecting/highlighting text does a floating toolbar appear

Expected Behaviour

A visible, persistent, or clearly indicated formatting toolbar should be available on Rich Text fields in the new Create Experience, similar to the behaviour on the Issue View editor and the previous create experience.

Suggested Solution

One or more of the following:

• A static/persistent toolbar above the Rich Text field (matching the Issue View editor behaviour)

• A visible toolbar icon or affordance (e.g., a formatting icon at the top of the field) that indicates formatting is available and expands the toolbar on click

Workaround

1. Slash commands - Type / inside the field to insert tables, code blocks, headings, quotes, dividers, etc.
2. Floating toolbar - Select/highlight text to reveal bold, italic, link, and other formatting options
3. Revert to legacy create - Site admins can go to Settings → System → General Configurations → set "Simple Create as Default" to Off