---
url: https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/github.md
description: >-
  Connect GitHub so Pencel can summarize issues and pull requests, look through
  your code and open issues with your approval.
---

# GitHub

Connect your GitHub account and Pencel can keep you up to date on your repositories: what's open, what changed and what needs attention. It can also open and comment on issues for you, with your approval.

## What Pencel can do with it

* **Get a weekly picture.** On Home, ask "Summarize the open pull requests in our website repo and flag anything waiting more than five days."
* **Turn feedback into work.** "Open a GitHub issue for this customer bug report and label it bug."
* **Find something.** "Where in our code do we calculate shipping fees?" or "Is there already an issue about the login timeout?"
* **Catch up on changes.** "What changed in the main repo this week?"

What it can reach: the repositories your GitHub account can open, including their files, issues, pull requests and history.

## Connect it

1. Go to **Settings ▸ Connections ▸ Recommended**.
2. Find **GitHub** and click **Install**, then **Connect with GitHub**.
3. Pencel shows a short code and opens GitHub in your browser. Enter the code there (click **Copy** in Pencel to copy it) and authorize Pencel.
4. Back in Pencel, the GitHub card reads **Installed**.

### Use a personal access token instead

Signing in gives Pencel the same access to your repositories as your account has, including private ones. To limit it to certain repositories, use a fine-grained personal access token instead:

1. Create the token in your GitHub settings, limited to the repositories and permissions you want.
2. In Pencel, click **Install** on the GitHub card, then **Or connect with an API token**.
3. Click **Grant All & Continue**, paste the token into **Personal Access Token**, and click **Install & Connect**.

## What needs your approval

Opening or updating an issue, commenting, creating a branch or pull request, or changing a file all ask first. The approval card shows exactly what Pencel will write. You can approve it, **Edit fields** first, or **Reject** it.

For routine actions you trust, **Always Allow** stops Pencel asking about that action. In a room, deleting something asks every time.

## Good to know

* **Work accounts.** If your organization requires approval for third-party apps, an organization owner may need to approve Pencel before it can see the organization's private repositories.
* **Two organizations?** Add a second connection with **Add Connection** and give each a clear name, like "GitHub (Client work)".
* **Rooms use only their own accounts.** A room can read GitHub only if it's set up to use this connection. See its settings under **Advanced ▸ Tools & accounts**.

## Disconnect or change what it can do

Go to **Settings ▸ Connections ▸ Installed** and open the **⋮** menu on the GitHub card.

* **Manage Tools**: switch off anything you don't want Pencel to use, such as changing files. Click **Save changes**.
* **Disconnect**: stop Pencel using it for now.
* **Remove**: delete the connection and its saved sign-in from Pencel.

To also withdraw access on GitHub's side, revoke Pencel under the authorized apps in your GitHub settings, or delete the token.

## Related

* [Integrations](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/overview.html)
* [Approvals and permissions](https://pencel.ai/docs/privacy-and-security/approval-workflows.html)
* [Linear](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/linear.html)