The Tool Desk
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Before syncing, check your fork and upstream
In a typical fork setup, origin refers to your fork and upstream refers to the original repository. Verify the remote names and URLs before changing a branch:
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git remote -vIf upstream is missing, add the original repository as a remote, replacing the example owner and repository with the actual values, then check the list again:
git remote add upstream https://github.com/ORIGINAL-OWNER/ORIGINAL-REPOSITORY.git
git remote -vProtect any uncommitted changes before integrating upstream commits. Commit them, or otherwise save them somewhere safe. Also identify the branch you intend to update; examples below use main, but the upstream and fork may use a different default branch.
#1 Best Overall
Which sync method should you use?
| Method | Where it updates | Useful when | Conflict behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub web interface | Hosted fork branch | You want a quick update with a review of incoming commits | GitHub may prompt you to create a pull request to resolve conflicts |
| GitHub CLI | Hosted fork branch | You prefer a concise command-line operation | Sync stops if upstream changes cause conflicts; --force overwrites the destination branch |
| Local Git | Local branch first; push to update hosted fork | You want explicit control over fetching, branch selection, and integration | A merge may require manual conflict resolution |
Method 1: Sync through GitHub’s web interface
- Open your fork’s main page on GitHub.
- Select Sync fork.
- Review the incoming upstream commits.
- Select Update branch to apply them to the fork.
GitHub identifies write access to the fork as the relevant permission for this route. If the upstream changes conflict with the fork, GitHub may prompt you to create a pull request to resolve them. This method updates the hosted branch; it does not update a separate local checkout on your computer.
Method 2: Sync with GitHub CLI
Use gh repo sync with the fork’s owner, repository, and target branch:
gh repo sync OWNER/FORK -b BRANCHFor example, replace OWNER/FORK with the fork’s GitHub owner and repository name, and BRANCH with the branch to update. The command stops when upstream changes cause conflicts. GitHub documents --force as an option that overwrites the destination branch; it is not a routine conflict-resolution shortcut. Only consider it after checking that the destination work can safely be replaced.
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This route gives you control over the local branch and how upstream changes are integrated. GitHub’s example uses main; substitute the branch that your fork should track.
- Fetch upstream commits:
git fetch upstream - Switch to the branch in your local fork:
git checkout main - Merge the matching upstream branch:
git merge upstream/main - Push the updated branch to your fork, if you want the hosted fork updated too:
git push origin main
Fetching downloads upstream changes without integrating them. The merge step brings the selected upstream branch into your local branch. If the local branch has no unique commits, Git may be able to fast-forward it. If it contains commits not in upstream, Git combines the histories; overlapping edits may require you to resolve conflicts.
Choose merge, fast-forward-only, or rebase
Merge: the straightforward default
git merge upstream/main is the clearest default when you want to preserve the existing local commit history. A merge keeps both lines of development; if Git cannot combine changes automatically, resolve the reported files, stage the resolutions, and complete the merge.
Fast-forward-only: stop rather than integrate divergent histories
If you expect your local branch to have no unique commits, git pull --ff-only is a conservative alternative. Git advances the branch only when that can be done as a fast-forward; if local and remote histories have diverged, the command fails instead of creating a merge commit or rebasing. Use it only when the relevant remote and branch are configured as expected.
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Rebase: useful for private local commits, but rewrites history
Rebase reapplies your local commits on top of upstream and gives them new commit identities. It can be appropriate for commits that have not been published, but avoid casually rebasing work that others already rely on because rewriting published history can disrupt collaborators. Rebase is a local integration choice, not a separate GitHub web or CLI sync method.
Best Value
If a merge or rebase goes wrong
If you need to abandon an in-progress operation, Git provides a corresponding abort command:
- For a merge, run
git merge --abort. - For a rebase, run
git rebase --abort.
These commands are for an operation that is still in progress. After aborting, check the working tree and branch state before trying another integration route.
Quick Recap
Official documentation
- GitHub Docs: Syncing a fork
- GitHub Docs: Managing remote repositories
- Git documentation: git pull
- Git documentation: git rebase
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