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# Allow collaboration on merge requests across forks **(FREE)**
# Collaborate on merge requests across forks **(FREE)**
When a user opens a merge request from a fork, they are given the option to allow
upstream members to collaborate with them on the source branch. This allows
the members of the upstream project to make small fixes or rebase branches
before merging, reducing the back and forth of accepting external contributions.
When you open a merge request from your fork, you can allow upstream
members to collaborate with you on your branch.
When you enable this option, members who have permission to merge to the target branch get
permission to write to the merge request's source branch.
The members of the upstream project can then make small fixes or rebase branches
before merging.
This feature is available for merge requests across forked projects that are
publicly accessible.
When enabled for a merge request, members with merge access to the target
branch of the project is granted write permissions to the source branch
of the merge request.
## Allow commits from upstream members
## Enabling commit edits from upstream members
> Enabled by default in [GitLab 13.7 and later](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/23308).
In [GitLab 13.7 and later](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/23308),
this setting is enabled by default. It can be changed by users with the
Developer [role](../../permissions.md) for the source project. After it's enabled,
upstream members can retry the pipelines and jobs of the merge request:
As the author of a merge request, you can allow commit edits from
upstream members of the project you're contributing to:
1. While creating or editing a merge request, scroll to **Contribution** and
then select the **Allow commits from members who can merge to the target branch**.
select the **Allow commits from members who can merge to the target branch**
checkbox.
1. Finish creating your merge request.
After you create the merge request, the merge request widget displays a message:
**Members who can merge are allowed to add commits.**
After you create the merge request, the merge request widget displays the message
**Members who can merge are allowed to add commits**. Upstream members can then
commit directly to your branch, as well as retry the pipelines and jobs of the
merge request.
## Prevent commits from upstream members
## Pushing to the fork as the upstream member
As the author of a merge request, you can prevent commit edits from
upstream members of the project you're contributing to:
If the creator of the merge request has enabled contributions from upstream
members, you can push directly to the branch of the forked repository.
1. While creating or editing a merge request, scroll to **Contribution** and
clear the **Allow commits from members who can merge to the target branch**
checkbox.
1. Finish creating your merge request.
Assuming that:
## Push to the fork as the upstream member
- The forked project URL is `git@gitlab.com:thedude/awesome-project.git`.
- The branch of the merge request is `update-docs`.
You can push directly to the branch of the forked repository if:
To find and work with the changes from the fork:
- The author of the merge request has enabled contributions from upstream
members.
- You have at least the [Developer role](../../permissions.md) in the
upstream project.
In the following example:
- The forked repository URL is `git@gitlab.com:contributor/forked-project.git`.
- The branch of the merge request is `fork-branch`.
To change or add a commit to the contributor's merge request:
1. Open the merge request page, and select the **Overview** tab.
1. Scroll to the merge request widget, and select **Check out branch**:
1. In the modal window, select **{copy-to-clipboard}** (**Copy**) for step 1
to copy the `git fetch` and `git checkout` instructions to your clipboard.
Paste the commands (which look like this example) into your terminal:
1. Scroll to the merge request widget, and select **Check out branch**.
1. In the modal window, select **Copy** (**{copy-to-clipboard}**).
1. In your terminal, navigate to your cloned version of the repository, and
