Complete Guide: Installing Atlassian Marketplace Apps

This guide covers installing our Forge apps in your Atlassian Cloud environment: the permissions you need, the two installation paths, and what to check when something does not work.

Prerequisites

Before you start, check that you have:

Required Permissions

To install marketplace apps, you must have one of the following permission levels:

• Site Administrator: Full administrative access to your Atlassian organization
• Product Administrator: “Administer Jira” or “Administer Confluence” permissions for the specific product
• Organization Administrator: Admin rights at the organization level (for multi-site setups)

System Requirements

• Atlassian Cloud Instance: Jira Cloud or Confluence Cloud (Server/Data Center installations follow a different process)
• Active License: A valid Atlassian Cloud license with available user seats
• Browser: Modern web browser with JavaScript enabled
• Network Access: Ability to access marketplace.atlassian.com

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Method 1: Install Directly from Your Atlassian Instance

This is the usual way to install a Marketplace app.

For Jira Cloud:

1. Access Settings

   • Log in to your Jira Cloud instance
   • Click the Settings gear icon (⚙️) in the top navigation bar
   • Select Apps from the dropdown menu

2. Navigate to App Management

   • In the left sidebar, click Find new apps
   • This opens the Atlassian Marketplace directly within your Jira instance

3. Search for the App

   • Use the search bar to find the specific app by name
   • You can also browse by categories like “Administrative Tools” or “Content & Communication”
   • Filter results by ratings, pricing, or vendor

4. Install the App

   • Click on the app you want to install
   • Review the app details, permissions, and pricing
   • Click Get it now, Try it free, or Buy now
   • Confirm the installation when prompted

For Confluence Cloud:

1. Access Settings

   • Log in to your Confluence Cloud instance
   • Click the Settings gear icon (⚙️) in the top navigation bar
   • Select Manage apps from the dropdown

2. Find New Apps

   • Click Find new apps in the left sidebar
   • This connects you to the Atlassian Marketplace

3. Search and Install

   • Search for your desired app
   • Review the app information and compatibility
   • Click Get it now, Try it free, or Buy now
   • Confirm the installation

Method 2: Install from the Atlassian Marketplace Website

You can also start the installation process from the marketplace website.

1. Visit the Marketplace

   • Go to marketplace.atlassian.com
   • Search for the app you want to install

2. Select Your Instance

   • Click Get it now or Try it free
   • Sign in to your Atlassian account if prompted
   • Select the Jira or Confluence instance where you want to install the app

3. Complete Installation

   • Review the permissions and pricing
   • Confirm the installation
   • You’ll be redirected to your instance to complete the process

Post-Installation Steps

1. Verify Installation

After installation, verify that the app is working correctly:

• Check App Status: Go to Settings > Manage apps and ensure the app appears in the “User-installed apps” section with an “Enabled” status
• Look for New Features: Check if new menu items, buttons, or macros have appeared in your interface
• Review Permissions: Ensure the app has the necessary permissions to function

2. Configure the App

Most apps require some initial configuration:

• Access App Settings: Look for the app in your Manage apps section and click Configure
• Set Permissions: Configure who can use the app and what actions they can perform
• Customize Features: Adjust settings to match your team’s workflow and preferences

3. User Training

• Notify Your Team: Inform users about the new app and its capabilities
• Provide Documentation: Share user guides and best practices
• Schedule Training: Consider organizing training sessions for complex apps

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Permission Denied Errors

Problem: “You don’t have permission to install apps”

Solution:

• Verify you have Site Admin or Product Admin permissions
• Contact your organization administrator to grant the necessary permissions
• Check if app installation is restricted by organization policies

Installation Timeout

Problem: Installation process hangs or times out

Solution:

• Refresh the page and try again
• Clear your browser cache and cookies
• Try using a different browser or incognito mode
• Check your network connection

App Not Appearing After Installation

Problem: App is installed but features aren’t visible

Solution:

• Hard refresh your browser (Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R)
• Check if the app requires additional configuration
• Verify user permissions for accessing app features
• Wait a few minutes as some apps need time to fully initialize

License Issues

Problem: “License not found” or “Trial expired” messages

Solution:

• Check your license status in Manage apps
• Ensure you have available user licenses
• Purchase a license if the trial period has ended
• Contact the app vendor for license-related issues

Best Practices for App Management

Before Installation

1. Research the App: Read reviews, check ratings, and review the vendor’s reputation
2. Test in Sandbox: If available, test the app in a sandbox environment first
3. Review Permissions: Understand what data and permissions the app requires
4. Check Compatibility: Ensure the app works with your current Atlassian version

After Installation

1. Monitor Performance: Keep an eye on how the app affects your instance performance
2. Regular Updates: Keep apps updated to the latest versions for security and features
3. User Feedback: Collect feedback from users to ensure the app meets expectations
4. Backup Considerations: Understand how app data is handled in backups

Security Considerations

1. Vendor Trust: Only install apps from trusted marketplace partners
2. Permission Review: Regularly review app permissions and access levels
3. Data Handling: Understand where and how your data is processed
4. Compliance: Ensure apps meet your organization’s compliance requirements

App-Specific Installation Notes

Forge Apps (Recommended)

Our apps are built on Atlassian’s Forge platform, which offers several advantages:

• Native integration: the app runs inside Atlassian’s own infrastructure
• Security: Atlassian’s permission model and data protection apply by default
• Automatic updates: apps update without any action from an admin
• No external hosting: nothing to provision, monitor, or pay for separately

Cloud Fortified Apps

Look for the “Cloud Fortified” badge when selecting apps:

• Enhanced Security: Additional security reviews and compliance
• Reliability Standards: Higher uptime and performance guarantees
• Premium Support: Better support response times and quality

Getting Help

If you encounter issues during installation:

Atlassian Support

• Community Forum: community.atlassian.com
• Documentation: Official Atlassian installation guides
• Support Tickets: For licensed products, submit support requests

App Vendor Support

• App Documentation: Check the app’s listing page for user guides
• Vendor Support: Contact the app developer directly
• Marketplace Reviews: Check recent reviews for similar issues

Emergency Contacts

For critical issues:

1. Disable the App: Go to Manage apps and disable the problematic app
2. Uninstall if Necessary: Remove the app completely if it’s causing major issues
3. Contact Support: Reach out to both Atlassian and the app vendor
4. System Restore: Consider restoring from backup in extreme cases

Conclusion

With the right permissions, installing a Marketplace app takes a couple of minutes. Our Forge apps run inside your Atlassian Cloud environment, so there is no external service to configure afterwards.

Where you can, try a new app in a test site first and tell your team what it changes.

For questions about our apps or a failed installation, contact us through the Atlassian Marketplace listing or our support portal.

Last updated: January 6, 2025 For the most current installation procedures, always refer to the official Atlassian documentation and the specific app’s marketplace listing.