Say it like this
- We're marking this as won't fix
- This issue is won't fix
- That feature request has been won't fixed
Use it at work
Triaging
- We'll mark this as won't fix. It's expected behavior.
- Closing as won't fix. The old browser isn't supported.
Explaining
- It's won't fix because the cost is too high.
- We marked it won't fix, but we'll document it.
With users
- Sorry, we won't fix this in v1. Here's a workaround.
- This is a won't fix for now.
Don't say this
won't fix is a status label, not an action verb; you mark something as won't fix rather than perform the action of won't fixing
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your team decides not to fix a minor visual glitch. How do you phrase this?
2. The dashboard performance issue has been _______ because it only affects enterprise accounts with millions of records.
3. Which sentence uses won't fix incorrectly?
4. Rewrite this in natural tech English using won't fix: The team decided they are not going to repair the typo in the older documentation because nobody reads it anymore.
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"We're marking this as won't fix"
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More about won't fix
Real examples(3)
- in a standup
"We decided to mark that memory leak as won't fix because it only happens in development environments."
- in a code review
"This typo in the error message is minor, so we can probably won't fix it for this release."
- in a team meeting
"The product manager labeled three old feature requests as won't fix to focus on higher-impact work."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Do not use as a decision to ignore all bugs; it specifically means a low-priority issue will not be fixed in the current or near-future release cycle.
- ✕This issue is completely won't fixed.✓This issue has a won't fix status.
won't fix does not conjugate with -ed; it remains unchanged as a status label
- ✕We should won't fix all the old bugs.✓We should mark all the old bugs as won't fix.
won't fix is not used as the main action; you must use mark, set, or label before it
Other forms(2)
- won't fix noun phrase
"The won't fix status indicates low priority."
- won't-fix (hyphenated when used before noun) adjective (attributive)
"All won't-fix issues will be reviewed next quarter."
Often used with(5)
- mark as won't fix · The standard verb phrase used to assign this status to an issue
- label as won't fix · Alternative phrasing; commonly used in issue tracking systems
- set to won't fix · Used when changing an issue status in tracking software
- won't fix list · A collection or report of all issues assigned this status
- won't fix status · The formal designation given to an issue in the tracking system
Similar words(4)
- wontfix · Single-word variant sometimes used, particularly in older bug tracking systems
- deferred · Implies the fix may happen later; won't fix is more final
- low priority · Related but not identical; an issue can be low priority and still scheduled for fixing
- closed as not a bug · Used when something reported is not actually a defect but expected behavior
Opposites(4)
- fixed
- resolved
- in progress
- open
Questions(5)
- What does won't fix mean in software engineering?
- Won't fix is a status assigned to a bug report or feature request indicating that the development team has decided not to address this issue in the current or near-future release cycle. It communicates a deliberate choice to deprioritize the work rather than an inability to fix it.
- How do you use won't fix in a sentence at work?
- You use it as a status label: We marked this as won't fix, or This issue has a won't fix status. You typically say mark, label, or set to before won't fix. For example: Please mark that minor UI glitch as won't fix and move it to the backlog.
- Is won't fix formal or informal?
- Won't fix is neutral in formality. It is the standard technical term used in both informal team discussions and formal bug tracking systems, making it appropriate in all professional contexts.
- Why do teams use the won't fix status?
- Teams use won't fix to manage priorities, set expectations with users, and communicate why certain issues are not being addressed. It prevents issues from remaining in an ambiguous open state and provides transparency about development decisions.
- Can a won't fix issue be reopened later?
- Yes, an issue marked as won't fix can be reopened if priorities change, new information emerges, or the impact of the issue increases. However, won't fix generally indicates the decision is final unless circumstances change significantly.
