Use the REST API to manage repository forks.
Note
Most endpoints use Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN> and Accept: application/vnd.github+json headers, plus X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2026-03-10. Curl examples below omit these standard headers for brevity.
GET /repos/{owner}/{repo}/forks
accept (string)application/vnd.github+json is recommended.owner (string) (required)
The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.
repo (string) (required)
The name of the repository without the .git extension. The name is not case sensitive.
sort (string)
The sort order. stargazers will sort by star count.
Default: newest
Can be one of: newest, oldest, stargazers, watchers
per_page (integer)
The number of results per page (max 100). For more information, see "Using pagination in the REST API."
Default: 30
page (integer)
The page number of the results to fetch. For more information, see "Using pagination in the REST API."
Default: 1
200 - OK
400 - Bad Request
Request:
curl -L \
-X GET \
https://api.github.com/repos/OWNER/REPO/forks
Response schema (Status: 200):
Array of Minimal Repository:
id: required, integer, format: int64node_id: required, stringname: required, stringfull_name: required, stringowner: required, Simple User:
name: string or nullemail: string or nulllogin: required, stringid: required, integer, format: int64node_id: required, stringavatar_url: required, string, format: urigravatar_id: required, string or nullurl: required, string, format: urihtml_url: required, string, format: urifollowers_url: required, string, format: urifollowing_url: required, stringgists_url: required, stringstarred_url: required, stringsubscriptions_url: required, string, format: uriorganizations_url: required, string, format: urirepos_url: required, string, format: urievents_url: required, stringreceived_events_url: required, string, format: uritype: required, stringsite_admin: required, booleanstarred_at: stringuser_view_type: stringprivate: required, booleanhtml_url: required, string, format: uridescription: required, string or nullfork: required, booleanurl: required, string, format: uriarchive_url: required, stringassignees_url: required, stringblobs_url: required, stringbranches_url: required, stringcollaborators_url: required, stringcomments_url: required, stringcommits_url: required, stringcompare_url: required, stringcontents_url: required, stringcontributors_url: required, string, format: urideployments_url: required, string, format: uridownloads_url: required, string, format: urievents_url: required, string, format: uriforks_url: required, string, format: urigit_commits_url: required, stringgit_refs_url: required, stringgit_tags_url: required, stringgit_url: stringissue_comment_url: required, stringissue_events_url: required, stringissues_url: required, stringkeys_url: required, stringlabels_url: required, stringlanguages_url: required, string, format: urimerges_url: required, string, format: urimilestones_url: required, stringnotifications_url: required, stringpulls_url: required, stringreleases_url: required, stringssh_url: stringstargazers_url: required, string, format: uristatuses_url: required, stringsubscribers_url: required, string, format: urisubscription_url: required, string, format: uritags_url: required, string, format: uriteams_url: required, string, format: uritrees_url: required, stringclone_url: stringmirror_url: string or nullhooks_url: required, string, format: urisvn_url: stringhomepage: string or nulllanguage: string or nullforks_count: integerstargazers_count: integerwatchers_count: integersize: integerdefault_branch: stringopen_issues_count: integeris_template: booleantopics: array of stringhas_issues: booleanhas_projects: booleanhas_wiki: booleanhas_pages: booleanhas_discussions: booleanhas_pull_requests: booleanpull_request_creation_policy: string, enum: all, collaborators_onlyarchived: booleandisabled: booleanvisibility: stringpushed_at: string or null, format: date-timecreated_at: string or null, format: date-timeupdated_at: string or null, format: date-timepermissions: object:
admin: booleanmaintain: booleanpush: booleantriage: booleanpull: booleanrole_name: stringtemp_clone_token: stringdelete_branch_on_merge: booleansubscribers_count: integernetwork_count: integercode_of_conduct: Code Of Conduct:
key: required, stringname: required, stringurl: required, string, format: uribody: stringhtml_url: required, string or null, format: urilicense: object or null:
key: stringname: stringspdx_id: stringurl: string or nullnode_id: stringforks: integeropen_issues: integerwatchers: integerallow_forking: booleanweb_commit_signoff_required: booleansecurity_and_analysis: object or null:
advanced_security: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledcode_security: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disableddependabot_security_updates: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledsecret_scanning: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledsecret_scanning_push_protection: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledsecret_scanning_non_provider_patterns: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledsecret_scanning_ai_detection: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledsecret_scanning_delegated_alert_dismissal: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledsecret_scanning_delegated_bypass: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledsecret_scanning_delegated_bypass_options: object:
reviewers: array of objects:
reviewer_id: required, integerreviewer_type: required, string, enum: TEAM, ROLEmode: string, enum: ALWAYS, EXEMPT, default: "ALWAYS"custom_properties: object, additional properties allowedPOST /repos/{owner}/{repo}/forks
Create a fork for the authenticated user.
Note
Forking a Repository happens asynchronously. You may have to wait a short period of time before you can access the git objects. If this takes longer than 5 minutes, be sure to contact GitHub Support.
Note
Although this endpoint works with GitHub Apps, the GitHub App must be installed on the destination account with access to all repositories and on the source account with access to the source repository.
accept (string)application/vnd.github+json is recommended.owner (string) (required)
The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.
repo (string) (required)
The name of the repository without the .git extension. The name is not case sensitive.
organization (string)
Optional parameter to specify the organization name if forking into an organization.
name (string)
When forking from an existing repository, a new name for the fork.
default_branch_only (boolean)
When forking from an existing repository, fork with only the default branch.
202 - Accepted
400 - Bad Request
403 - Forbidden
404 - Resource not found
422 - Validation failed, or the endpoint has been spammed.
Request:
curl -L \
-X POST \
https://api.github.com/repos/OWNER/REPO/forks \
-d '{
"organization": "octocat",
"name": "Hello-World",
"default_branch_only": true
}'
Response schema (Status: 202):
id: required, integer, format: int64node_id: required, stringname: required, stringfull_name: required, stringowner: required, Simple User:
name: string or nullemail: string or nulllogin: required, stringid: required, integer, format: int64node_id: required, stringavatar_url: required, string, format: urigravatar_id: required, string or nullurl: required, string, format: urihtml_url: required, string, format: urifollowers_url: required, string, format: urifollowing_url: required, stringgists_url: required, stringstarred_url: required, stringsubscriptions_url: required, string, format: uriorganizations_url: required, string, format: urirepos_url: required, string, format: urievents_url: required, stringreceived_events_url: required, string, format: uritype: required, stringsite_admin: required, booleanstarred_at: stringuser_view_type: stringprivate: required, booleanhtml_url: required, string, format: uridescription: required, string or nullfork: required, booleanurl: required, string, format: uriarchive_url: required, stringassignees_url: required, stringblobs_url: required, stringbranches_url: required, stringcollaborators_url: required, stringcomments_url: required, stringcommits_url: required, stringcompare_url: required, stringcontents_url: required, stringcontributors_url: required, string, format: urideployments_url: required, string, format: uridownloads_url: required, string, format: urievents_url: required, string, format: uriforks_url: required, string, format: urigit_commits_url: required, stringgit_refs_url: required, stringgit_tags_url: required, stringgit_url: required, stringissue_comment_url: required, stringissue_events_url: required, stringissues_url: required, stringkeys_url: required, stringlabels_url: required, stringlanguages_url: required, string, format: urimerges_url: required, string, format: urimilestones_url: required, stringnotifications_url: required, stringpulls_url: required, stringreleases_url: required, stringssh_url: required, stringstargazers_url: required, string, format: uristatuses_url: required, stringsubscribers_url: required, string, format: urisubscription_url: required, string, format: uritags_url: required, string, format: uriteams_url: required, string, format: uritrees_url: required, stringclone_url: required, stringmirror_url: required, string or null, format: urihooks_url: required, string, format: urisvn_url: required, string, format: urihomepage: required, string or null, format: urilanguage: required, string or nullforks_count: required, integerstargazers_count: required, integerwatchers_count: required, integersize: required, integerdefault_branch: required, stringopen_issues_count: required, integeris_template: booleantopics: array of stringhas_issues: required, booleanhas_projects: required, booleanhas_wiki: required, booleanhas_pages: required, booleanhas_discussions: required, booleanhas_pull_requests: booleanpull_request_creation_policy: string, enum: all, collaborators_onlyarchived: required, booleandisabled: required, booleanvisibility: stringpushed_at: required, string, format: date-timecreated_at: required, string, format: date-timeupdated_at: required, string, format: date-timepermissions: object:
admin: required, booleanmaintain: booleanpush: required, booleantriage: booleanpull: required, booleanallow_rebase_merge: booleantemplate_repository: any of:
id: required, integer, format: int64node_id: required, stringname: required, stringfull_name: required, stringlicense: required, any of:
key: required, stringname: required, stringurl: required, string or null, format: urispdx_id: required, string or nullnode_id: required, stringhtml_url: string, format: uriforks: required, integerpermissions: object:
admin: required, booleanpull: required, booleantriage: booleanpush: required, booleanmaintain: booleanowner: required, Simple User (see above)private: required, boolean, default: falsehtml_url: required, string, format: uridescription: required, string or nullfork: required, booleanurl: required, string, format: uriarchive_url: required, stringassignees_url: required, stringblobs_url: required, stringbranches_url: required, stringcollaborators_url: required, stringcomments_url: required, stringcommits_url: required, stringcompare_url: required, stringcontents_url: required, stringcontributors_url: required, string, format: urideployments_url: required, string, format: uridownloads_url: required, string, format: urievents_url: required, string, format: uriforks_url: required, string, format: urigit_commits_url: required, stringgit_refs_url: required, stringgit_tags_url: required, stringgit_url: required, stringissue_comment_url: required, stringissue_events_url: required, stringissues_url: required, stringkeys_url: required, stringlabels_url: required, stringlanguages_url: required, string, format: urimerges_url: required, string, format: urimilestones_url: required, stringnotifications_url: required, stringpulls_url: required, stringreleases_url: required, stringssh_url: required, stringstargazers_url: required, string, format: uristatuses_url: required, stringsubscribers_url: required, string, format: urisubscription_url: required, string, format: uritags_url: required, string, format: uriteams_url: required, string, format: uritrees_url: required, stringclone_url: required, stringmirror_url: required, string or null, format: urihooks_url: required, string, format: urisvn_url: required, string, format: urihomepage: required, string or null, format: urilanguage: required, string or nullforks_count: required, integerstargazers_count: required, integerwatchers_count: required, integersize: required, integerdefault_branch: required, stringopen_issues_count: required, integeris_template: boolean, default: falsetopics: array of stringhas_issues: required, boolean, default: truehas_projects: required, boolean, default: truehas_wiki: required, boolean, default: truehas_pages: required, booleanhas_discussions: boolean, default: falsehas_pull_requests: boolean, default: truepull_request_creation_policy: string, enum: all, collaborators_onlyarchived: required, boolean, default: falsedisabled: required, booleanvisibility: string, default: "public"pushed_at: required, string or null, format: date-timecreated_at: required, string or null, format: date-timeupdated_at: required, string or null, format: date-timeallow_rebase_merge: boolean, default: truetemp_clone_token: stringallow_squash_merge: boolean, default: trueallow_auto_merge: boolean, default: falsedelete_branch_on_merge: boolean, default: falseallow_update_branch: boolean, default: falsesquash_merge_commit_title: string, enum: PR_TITLE, COMMIT_OR_PR_TITLEsquash_merge_commit_message: string, enum: PR_BODY, COMMIT_MESSAGES, BLANKmerge_commit_title: string, enum: PR_TITLE, MERGE_MESSAGEmerge_commit_message: string, enum: PR_BODY, PR_TITLE, BLANKallow_merge_commit: boolean, default: trueallow_forking: booleanweb_commit_signoff_required: boolean, default: falseopen_issues: required, integerwatchers: required, integerstarred_at: stringanonymous_access_enabled: booleancode_search_index_status: object:
lexical_search_ok: booleanlexical_commit_sha: stringtemp_clone_token: string or nullallow_squash_merge: booleanallow_auto_merge: booleandelete_branch_on_merge: booleanallow_merge_commit: booleanallow_update_branch: booleansquash_merge_commit_title: string, enum: PR_TITLE, COMMIT_OR_PR_TITLEsquash_merge_commit_message: string, enum: PR_BODY, COMMIT_MESSAGES, BLANKmerge_commit_title: string, enum: PR_TITLE, MERGE_MESSAGEmerge_commit_message: string, enum: PR_BODY, PR_TITLE, BLANKallow_forking: booleanweb_commit_signoff_required: booleansubscribers_count: required, integernetwork_count: required, integerlicense: required, any of:
organization: any of:
parent: Repository (see above)source: Repository (see above)forks: required, integermaster_branch: stringopen_issues: required, integerwatchers: required, integeranonymous_access_enabled: boolean, default: truecode_of_conduct: Code Of Conduct Simple:
url: required, string, format: urikey: required, stringname: required, stringhtml_url: required, string or null, format: urisecurity_and_analysis: object or null:
advanced_security: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledcode_security: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disableddependabot_security_updates: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledsecret_scanning: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledsecret_scanning_push_protection: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledsecret_scanning_non_provider_patterns: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledsecret_scanning_ai_detection: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledsecret_scanning_delegated_alert_dismissal: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledsecret_scanning_delegated_bypass: object:
status: string, enum: enabled, disabledsecret_scanning_delegated_bypass_options: object:
reviewers: array of objects:
reviewer_id: required, integerreviewer_type: required, string, enum: TEAM, ROLEmode: string, enum: ALWAYS, EXEMPT, default: "ALWAYS"custom_properties: object, additional properties allowed