> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.walnutai.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.walnutai.ai/test-and-quality-management/test-management/defects/link-existing-defects-to-user-stories.md).

# Link Existing Defects to User Stories

Defects can also be associated directly with user stories or requirements, allowing teams to understand which business requirements are impacted by a particular issue.

**To link a defect to a user story:**

* Open the required **User Story**.

<figure><img src="https://295337183-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F9aroNmDWVJAmMjkdy0hx%2Fuploads%2FgJ6OOSxM7oRjTfR4fP9Q%2FScreenshot%202026-07-28%20at%206.18.52%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=3f348a77-f69d-4eee-bf20-b082fa0d965f" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* From the right-side panel, click **Link Defect**.

<figure><img src="https://295337183-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F9aroNmDWVJAmMjkdy0hx%2Fuploads%2FAJp6zCagCzz8rxryK0FM%2FScreenshot%202026-07-28%20at%206.19.33%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=ddd6edcf-fe58-43ac-9500-d961e59a5133" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Select the appropriate defect from the list.
* Click **Done**.

<figure><img src="https://295337183-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F9aroNmDWVJAmMjkdy0hx%2Fuploads%2F5em6X7fgVuxjvgGCmRWx%2FScreenshot%202026-07-28%20at%206.20.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=99688b85-0944-4a85-80e7-3df85982b5d3" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* The selected defect is now associated with the user story.

<figure><img src="https://295337183-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F9aroNmDWVJAmMjkdy0hx%2Fuploads%2FmCG9V1xsnNJRcKcdBMnU%2FScreenshot%202026-07-28%20at%206.21.08%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=ba798e4b-1ce4-4817-b7da-cb1c0fd0e1b3" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

By linking defects to requirements, product owners, business analysts, QA engineers, and developers can quickly identify all issues affecting a user story, improving requirement traceability and ensuring every impacted requirement is addressed before release.