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How to update fork repo from original repo

Mark Stevens

March 23, 2021

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When you fork a repository on GitHub, you create your own copy of the project, allowing you to make changes independently. However, as the original repository continues to be updated, it’s important to keep your forked repository up to date. This ensures that you have access to the latest features, bug fixes, and improvements made by the original repository’s maintainers.

Updating your forked repository from the original repository may seem like a daunting task, but it can actually be done with just a few simple steps. In this article, we will guide you through the process of updating your forked repository using the command line.

Step 1: Add the original repository as a remote

The first step is to add the original repository as a remote to your forked repository. This allows you to fetch the latest changes made to the original repository. To do this, open your terminal and navigate to the directory of your forked repository. Then, enter the following command:

git remote add upstream https://github.com/original-repo-owner/original-repo.git

Step 2: Fetch the latest changes

Next, you need to fetch the latest changes from the original repository. To do this, enter the following command:

git fetch upstream

This command will fetch the changes made to the original repository since you last forked it.

Step 3: Merge the changes

After fetching the latest changes, you need to merge them into your forked repository. To do this, enter the following command:

git merge upstream/master

This command will merge the changes from the original repository’s master branch into your forked repository’s master branch. If you are working on a different branch in your forked repository, make sure to switch to that branch before executing this command.

Step 4: Push the changes

Finally, you need to push the merged changes to your forked repository on GitHub. To do this, enter the following command:

git push origin master

This command will push the changes to your forked repository’s master branch. If you are working on a different branch, replace “master” with the name of your branch.

And that’s it! Your forked repository is now up to date with the latest changes from the original repository. Remember to regularly repeat these steps to keep your forked repository synced with the original one.

Note: If you have made changes to your forked repository that you don’t want to lose, it’s recommended to create a new branch for the updates instead of merging into your existing branch.

Create a new branch for updates

Before you start updating your forked repository from the original repository, it’s recommended to create a new branch. This will allow you to keep your changes separate from the main branch and easily manage any conflicts that may arise.

To create a new branch, follow these steps:

1. Go to your forked repository on GitHub.
2. Click on the branch dropdown menu.
3. Start typing a name for the new branch in the “Find or create a branch…” input field.
4. Select “Create branch: <branch-name>” from the dropdown menu that appears.
5. Your new branch is now created.

It’s a good practice to give your new branch a descriptive name that indicates the purpose of the updates. For example, if you’re updating some features, you might name it “update-features”. This will make it easier to track and manage your changes.

Once you have created your new branch, you can start updating your forked repository by following the necessary steps.

Synchronize the fork with the original repository

When you fork a repository on GitHub, you create a copy of the original repository in your account. However, if the original repository is updated with new commits or changes, it’s important to keep your forked repo synchronized to ensure you have the latest updates.

To synchronize your fork with the original repository, you can follow these steps:

1. Ensure you have cloned your forked repository to your local machine. If you haven’t, you can use the Git command: git clone <forked-repo-url>.
2. Navigate to the local repository directory using the command line or terminal.
3. Configure the upstream remote repository by entering the command: git remote add upstream <original-repo-url>. This allows you to fetch the latest changes from the original repository.
4. Fetch the latest changes from the original repository using the command: git fetch upstream.
5. Merge the fetched changes into your local branch using the command: git merge upstream/master. Replace master with the branch name you want to merge the changes into.
6. If there are any merge conflicts, resolve them manually by editing the conflicting files.
7. Commit the merged changes using the command: git commit -m "Merge changes from upstream repository".
8. Push the merged changes to your forked repository using the command: git push origin <branch-name>. Replace <branch-name> with the branch name you merged the changes into.

Following these steps ensures that your forked repository is synchronized with the original repository, allowing you to stay up to date with the latest changes and contributions made by others.

Fetch changes from the original repository

If you have forked a repository and want to update your fork with the latest changes from the original repository, you can do so by following these steps:

1. First, navigate to your forked repository on GitHub.
2. Click on the “Pull requests” tab at the top of the repository page.
3. Next, click on the green button that says “New pull request”.
4. In the base repository dropdown, select the original repository that you forked from.
5. GitHub will automatically compare the changes between your fork and the original repository.
6. If there are no conflicts, you can proceed to create a new pull request by clicking on the “Create pull request” button.
7. After creating the pull request, you can leave a comment explaining the changes you have made, if desired.
8. Finally, wait for the owner of the original repository to review and merge your pull request. Once the pull request is merged, your fork will be updated with the latest changes.

By following these steps, you can easily fetch changes from the original repository and keep your fork up-to-date with the latest developments.

Merge the changes into your forked repository

After you have synced your forked repository with the original repository, you may want to merge the changes into your forked repository. This will help you keep your fork up-to-date with the latest changes made in the original repository and ensure that your fork remains in sync with the parent repository.

To merge the changes into your forked repository, follow these steps:

Step 1: Fetch the changes

First, you need to fetch the changes made in the original repository. To do this, open your terminal and navigate to your local forked repository. Then, run the following command:

git fetch upstream

This command will retrieve all the changes made in the original repository and store them in a new branch called upstream/master.

Step 2: Merge the changes

Next, you need to merge the changes from the upstream/master branch into your local branch. To do this, run the following command:

git merge upstream/master

This will merge the changes made in the original repository into your local branch.

Step 3: Push the changes

Finally, you need to push the changes from your local branch to your forked repository on GitHub. To do this, run the following command:

git push origin master

This command will push the merged changes to your forked repository and update it with the latest changes from the original repository.

Congratulations! You have successfully merged the changes from the original repository into your forked repository. Now your forked repository is up-to-date!

Resolve any merge conflicts

When you try to update your forked repository from the original repository, you may encounter merge conflicts. These conflicts occur when the changes made in the original repository and your forked repository overlap and cannot be automatically merged.

To resolve merge conflicts, follow these steps:

1. First, open the project in your code editor or terminal and navigate to the local repository.
2. Use the command git branch to check which branch you are currently on.
3. If you are not on the branch you want to update, use the command git checkout branch_name to switch to the desired branch.
4. Then, use the command git remote -v to check the remote repositories connected to your local repository. Make sure the original repository is listed as upstream.
5. Next, use the command git fetch upstream to fetch all the changes from the original repository.
6. After fetching the changes, use the command git merge upstream/branch_name to merge the changes into your local branch. Replace branch_name with the branch you want to merge.
7. Now comes the important part – resolving the conflicts. Open the affected files in your code editor, and look for sections marked with conflict markers, such as <<<<<<< HEAD and >>>>>>> upstream/branch_name.
8. Review the conflicting sections carefully and decide which changes to keep. Remove the conflict markers.
9. Once you have resolved all the conflicts, save the files.
10. Use the command git add . to stage the changes.
11. Finally, use the command git commit -m “Resolved merge conflicts” to create a new commit with the resolved conflicts.
12. Now you can push the changes to your forked repository using the command git push origin branch_name.

Congratulations! You have successfully resolved the merge conflicts and updated your forked repository with the changes from the original repository.

Push the changes to your forked repository

Once you have made the necessary changes and committed them to your local branch, you need to push the changes to your forked repository on GitHub. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Check your current branch

Before pushing the changes, make sure that you are on the right branch. You can use the following command to check your current branch:

git branch

Step 2: Push the changes

Once you are on the correct branch, use the following command to push the changes to your forked repository:

git push origin [branch name]

Replace [branch name] with the name of your branch. This command will push the changes to the remote repository on GitHub.

After pushing the changes, you can go to your forked repository on GitHub and verify that the changes have been pushed successfully.