---
name: "glab-work-items-update"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "glab"
version: "1.126.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/glab-work-items-update"
---

# glab-work-items-update(1)

Update work items in a project or group. (EXPERIMENTAL)

## NAME

glab-work-items-update - Update work items in a project or group. (EXPERIMENTAL)

## SYNOPSIS

**glab work-items update  \[flags\]**

## DESCRIPTION

The command uses your repository context to detect scope automatically.

Use **--group** to target a group or subgroup. **--group** and **--repo** are mutually exclusive.

**--attach** uploads a file and references it at the end of the description. Repeat the flag for more than one file, or pass **-** to read the file from standard input. Without **--description** the references are added to the description the work item already has, instead of replacing it. Uploads are project-scoped, so **--attach** cannot be combined with **--group**.

This feature is an experiment and is not ready for production use. It might be unstable or removed at any time. For more information, see https://docs.gitlab.com/policy/development\_stages\_support/.

## OPTIONS

**-a**, **--assignee**=\[\]\
 	Update the work item assignee with the supplied GitLab usernames.

**--attach**=\[\]\
 	(EXPERIMENTAL) Upload a file and reference it at the end of the description. Use "-" to read the file from standard input. Repeat the flag to attach multiple files.

**-d**, **--description**=""\
 	Update the description for the work item.

**--description-file**=""\
 	Read the work item description from a file. Use "-" to read from standard input.

**--duedate**=""\
 	Update the due date for the work item.

**-g**, **--group**=""\
 	Update work items for a group or subgroup.

**--iteration**=0\
 	Move the work item to the iteration with this ID.

**--jq**=""\
 	Filter JSON output with a jq expression.

**-m**, **--milestone**=""\
 	Update the work item milestone with the title or ID.

**-F**, **--output**="text"\
 	Format output as: text, json.

**-R**, **--repo**=""\
 	Select another repository. You can use either OWNER/REPO or GROUP/NAMESPACE/REPO. The full URL or Git URL is also accepted.

**--startdate**=""\
 	Update the start date for the work item.

**-t**, **--title**=""\
 	Update the title for the work item.

**-w**, **--weight**=0\
 	Update the weight value for the work item.

## OPTIONS INHERITED FROM PARENT COMMANDS

**-h**, **--help**\[=false\]\
 	Show help for this command.

## EXAMPLE

```
# Update a work item in current project
glab work-items update 42 --description "this issue tracks a new feature"
# Update a work item in a group
glab work-items update 40 --group MYGROUP --description "this epic tracks a new feature"
# Read the description from a file
glab work-items update 42 --description-file description.md
# Read the description from standard input
cat description.md | glab work-items update 42 --description-file -
# Add a screenshot to the existing description
glab work-items update 42 --attach ./screenshot.png
# Move a work item to another iteration
glab work-items update 42 --iteration 123
```

## SEE ALSO

**[glab-work-items(1)](/glab-work-items/1.md)**