diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/1_feature_request.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/1_feature_request.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e74bd2ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/1_feature_request.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+name: Feature request
+about: Suggest an enhancement or new feature
+title: "[FEATURE] "
+labels: ["enhancement"]
+assignees: []
+body:
+  - type: textarea
+    id: summary
+    attributes:
+      label: Summary
+      description: One-line summary of the requested feature
+      placeholder: Brief description of what you'd like to see added
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: textarea
+    id: motivation
+    attributes:
+      label: Motivation / Use case
+      description: Why is this feature needed? What problem does it solve?
+      placeholder: Describe the problem or use case that this feature would address
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: textarea
+    id: proposal
+    attributes:
+      label: Proposed solution
+      description: Brief implementation idea or API surface
+      placeholder: How do you envision this feature working?
+  - type: dropdown
+    id: impact
+    attributes:
+      label: Impact
+      options:
+        - Low
+        - Medium
+        - High
+      description: Estimated impact on users or project
+
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/2_bug_report.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/2_bug_report.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ab0d0c28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/2_bug_report.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+name: Bug report
+about: Create a report to help us fix a bug
+title: "[BUG] "
+labels: ["bug"]
+assignees: []
+body:
+  - type: textarea
+    id: description
+    attributes:
+      label: Bug Description
+      description: Brief description of what went wrong
+      placeholder: Describe the issue...
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: textarea
+    id: steps
+    attributes:
+      label: Steps to Reproduce
+      description: List the steps to reproduce the bug
+      placeholder: |
+        1. Go to...
+        2. Click on...
+        3. See error...
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: textarea
+    id: expected
+    attributes:
+      label: Expected Behavior
+      description: What should have happened?
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: input
+    id: version
+    attributes:
+      label: Zerobyte version / commit
+      placeholder: e.g., v1.2.3 or commit sha
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: dropdown
+    id: deployment
+    attributes:
+      label: Deployment Method
+      options:
+        - Docker Compose
+        - Docker
+        - Local Development
+        - Other
+  - type: textarea
+    id: backup_context
+    attributes:
+      label: Backup/Repository Context
+      description: If this is related to backup operations, provide details about the repository type, storage backend, etc.
+      placeholder: e.g., S3 repository, local filesystem, specific backup operation that failed
+  - type: textarea
+    id: logs
+    attributes:
+      label: Logs / Error Messages
+      description: Check browser console (F12) or server logs for errors. Remove any sensitive information.
+    validations:
+      required: true
+
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/3_question.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/3_question.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c5e13a5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/3_question.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+name: Question
+about: General questions about usage or implementation
+title: "[QUESTION] "
+labels: ["question"]
+assignees: []
+body:
+  - type: textarea
+    id: question
+    attributes:
+      label: Question
+      description: Provide a clear question and any minimal code samples
+      placeholder: What would you like to know about Zerobyte?
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: textarea
+    id: context
+    attributes:
+      label: Context / what you've tried
+      description: Provide context about what you're trying to accomplish and what you've already tried
+      placeholder: I'm trying to... and I've already tried...
+
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/4_security.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/4_security.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cd5b705c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/4_security.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+name: Security
+about: Report a security vulnerability (do not file public issues)
+title: "[SECURITY] "
+labels: ["security"]
+assignees: []
+body:
+  - type: markdown
+    attributes:
+      value: >-
+        **⚠️ SECURITY VULNERABILITY NOTICE ⚠️**
+
+        If you believe you've found a security vulnerability, **do not open a public issue**.
+
+        Use GitHub's private security advisory feature: [Report a vulnerability](https://github.com/nicotsx/zerobyte/security/advisories/new)
+
+        This helps us address security issues responsibly before they can be exploited.
+
+
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/5_blank.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/5_blank.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..de7d97e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/5_blank.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+name: Blank Issue
+about: Create a blank issue for anything that doesn't fit other templates
+title: ""
+labels: []
+assignees: []
+body:
+  - type: textarea
+    id: content
+    attributes:
+      label: Issue Details
+      description: Describe your issue, question, or request
+      placeholder: |
+        Please provide as much detail as possible about your issue.
+
+        If this is a bug, consider using the Bug Report template instead.
+        If this is a feature request, consider using the Feature Request template instead.
+        If you have a question, consider using the Question template instead.
+    validations:
+      required: true
+