To keep the fork synchronized with the original (upstream) repository, follow the following steps: 1. Add the upstream remote repository, run git remote add upstream https://github.com/original-owner/repo-name.git; 2. Get the latest upstream changes, run git fetch upstream; 3. Switch to the local branch and merge updates, run git checkout main and git merge upstream/main in turn. If there are any conflicts, you need to resolve them manually; Optional steps: Push the updated branch to your fork and run git push origin main. Additionally, it is recommended to sync regularly, use rebase (if applicable), and keep the main branch clean to simplify the process.

Keeping your fork in sync with the original (upstream) repository is a common task when contributing to open-source projects. If you don't update it regularly, your branch can fall behind, making pull requests harder and increasing the chance of merge conflicts.

Step 1: Add the upstream remote

Before syncing, you need to link your fork to the original repo — this is called the "upstream" repository.
If you haven't done this before, run:

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

You only need to do this once. To confirm it's set up correctly, use:

 git remote -v

This will show both origin (your fork) and upstream (original repo).

Step 2: Fetch the latest changes from upstream

Once you've added the upstream, fetch its latest commits. This downloads the new data but doesn't change your working files yet.

Run:

 git fetch upstream

You'll often see branches like upstream/main or upstream/master appears after this step.

Step 3: Switch to your local branch and merge updates

Now check out the branch you want to update — usually main or master , but could also be something like dev depending on the project.

 git checkout main

Then merge the latest changes from upstream into your branch:

 git merge upstream/main

This applies all the recent changes from the original repo into your local branch.

If there are conflicts, Git will tell you which files need fixing. Resolve them carefully and then commit the result.

Optional: Push the updated branch to your fork

After merging, your local branch is up-to-date, but your GitHub fork still has the old version. To push the updated branch:

 git push origin main

Now your fork's main branch matches the upstream version.

A few tips for smoother synchronization

• Sync regularly – The more often you do this, the fewer conflicts you'll face.

• Use rebase instead if preferred – Some developers prefer rebasing their changes on top of the upstream branch to keep history cleaner. That looks like:

   git rebase upstream/main

  But be careful — rebasing changes history and can complicate things if you've already pushed your branch.

• Keep a clean main branch – Avoid doing most of your work directly on main . Instead, create feature branches from it. That way, syncing main stays simple.

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That's basically how it works. It's not complicated once you get used to the flow, but it's easy to forget or skip steps — especially if you're juggling multiple forks. Just remember to fetch, merge, and occasionally push back to your origin.

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