> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ade-ac1c6011-dependabot-github-actions-actions-cache-6.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# GitHub

> Connect GitHub so ADE can open, review, and merge pull requests for your lanes — without leaving the app.

Connecting GitHub turns a finished lane into a reviewable, mergeable pull request inside ADE. Once connected, ADE opens PRs from your lanes, pulls in CI status and review comments, and merges — so you never leave for a browser tab.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Open PRs from a lane" icon="code-pull-request" href="/tools/pull-requests">
    Turn a lane's branch into a GitHub PR in a click, with the title and body pre-filled.
  </Card>

  <Card title="CI, comments, merge" icon="circle-check">
    Read checks, reply to review threads, and merge — including auto-merge when the checks go green.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Connect GitHub

Open **Settings → Integrations → GitHub** and authenticate. ADE stores the token in your machine's encrypted credential store — it's never written into project files or committed.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Add a token">
    Authenticate in the GitHub section of Settings. A token that can read and write the repositories you work in is all ADE needs.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Let ADE verify it">
    ADE probes access to the active repository and reports a single connection state (below). Hit **Refresh** after changing permissions on github.com to re-check immediately.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Connection states

ADE reduces GitHub auth to one "is it usable here" signal, shown the same way in Settings and in the app banner.

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Connected" icon="circle-check">
    The token is valid and can reach the active repository. PR creation, CI, comments, and merge are all available.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Limited access" icon="triangle-exclamation">
    The token authenticates, but can't reach the active repo — common with fine-grained tokens missing that repository. Grant it access and refresh.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Not connected" icon="circle-xmark">
    No token, or the token can't identify a user. PR features stay disabled until you connect.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  **Fine-grained tokens** are only considered connected once a repository probe passes — it's the one reliable check that the token can actually act on your repo. If Settings shows Limited access, add the active repository to the token's allowed list.
</Note>

<Tip>
  GitHub is optional. ADE runs fine without it — you just won't get in-app PRs until it's connected. Everything else (lanes, chat, diffs, history) works regardless.
</Tip>

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Pull requests" icon="code-pull-request" href="/tools/pull-requests">
    Create, review, and merge PRs once GitHub is connected.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Linear" icon="list-check" href="/integrations/linear">
    Link issues to lanes and PRs, and let merges close them.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>